Led by the automaker BYD, China has established itself as the main car supplier in Mexico. The US worries China could use Mexico as a “back door” to sidestep tariffs and gain footing in the US market.

Foreign investment would be an economic boost for Mexico. The company has claimed that a plant there would create about 10,000 jobs. A Tesla competitor, BYD markets its Dolphin Mini model in Mexico for about 398,800 pesos—about $21,300 dollars—a little more than half the price of the cheapest Tesla model.

  • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
    91·
    4 months ago

    Is it a better product? How is the quality, the maintainability?

    I’m guessing it’s like 80% as good for half the cost. That’s usually how it goes with Chinese stuff.

    How do they treat the environment and their workers?

    Now that’s just commie talk. /s

    • naturalgasbad@lemmy.caEnglish
      13·
      4 months ago

      The Teslas from Shanghai are straight up better than the ones from Fremont… And if we’re being honest Shanghai probably has better quality of life than San Jose.

      • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        3·
        4 months ago

        Teslas are anomalously bad to start with, so I can’t write that possibility off. I would definitely buy BYD before Tesla just as a consumer.

        Shanghai being better than San Jose seems unlikely, though. America is definitely a lot richer, despite the warts.

        • naturalgasbad@lemmy.caEnglish
          21·
          4 months ago

          Wealth does not necessarily improve quality of life.

          Notably, electricity (among other things) is substantially cheaper in Shanghai.

          • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
            2·
            4 months ago

            On an individual level, sure there’s sad rich people, and happy slum refugees. On a population level it makes a huge difference.