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·
    18 days 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·
      18 days 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·
        17 days 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·
          17 days ago

          Wealth does not necessarily improve quality of life.

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

          • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
            2·
            17 days ago

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