Why a small China-made EV has global auto execs and politicians on edge

The China-built BYD Seagull, a small all-electric hatchback, starts at just 69,800 yuan , and reportedly banks a profit for the increasingly influential Chinese automaker.

latter point — EV profits where U.S. automakers have mostly failed to turn any — combined with the expansion of Chinese automakers into Europe, Latin America and elsewhere has automotive executives and politicians, from Detroit and Texas to Germany and Japan, on edge.Though the Seagull isn't yet sold on U.S. soil, BYD is expanding its vehicles globally, and some believe it's only a matter of time before more China-made vehicles arrive in the U.S.

Its initial study of the BYD Seagull found it to be efficiently and simplistically designed, engineered and executed, but with unexpected quality and anticipated reliability.For the price it's a well-equipped vehicle. The Tesla Model 3, for example, no longer has a floor. Instead, the car's highly protected battery case takes the place of a traditional vehicle body at the base. That type of change, enacted at Tesla over the last several years, wouldn't typically take place at a traditional automaker until a full redesign of a vehicle.BYD is similarly quick to adapt. The company has quickly rolled out new and updated products.

"We are very concerned about China bigfooting our industry in the United States even as we are building up now this incredible backbone of manufacturing," Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said March 6 during a "What we've seen over time is automotive manufacturers eventually enter all the markets that matter … Ultimately the Chinese will come to the U.S.," said Marin Gjaja, chief operating officer for Ford's EV unit, during a

Source: Energy Industry News (energyindustrynews.net)

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