Even if they changed how would they win?
They’re just too expensive to manufacture as compared to chinese ones.
Comment on Why Americans Can’t Buy the World’s Best Electric Car
Fedditor385@lemmy.world 6 days ago
American manufacturing seems very incapable of change. If things worked this way for decades, why change it? Meanwhile the world moved on and they ask themselves why doesn’t anyone wanna buy american…?
pugnaciousfarter@literature.cafe 6 days ago
Honytawk@feddit.nl 6 days ago
They could try going for quality or features.
But instead they are only going for size, what 94% of the world does not care or want. (this includes the 5% of Americans)
AA5B@lemmy.world 6 days ago
American car companies are focusing on their highest profit center, massive trucks. Milking that market for the short term.
…… regardless of their long term survival. It seems extremely short sighted.
Fedditor385@lemmy.world 6 days ago
American companies exist to maximize shareholder value. Remember that. There is no company, doing anything, for the better of the world or humanity. At least not as the primary motivation.
pugnaciousfarter@literature.cafe 6 days ago
Dunno, seems like a global problem. European car companies are scared too. And they don’t make those big cars.
The only issue I see is that china is very hostile with how it deals with other countries, otherwise this is just the trend of how things work out. In the 80s, it was the japanese car industry.
tb_@lemmy.world 6 days ago
They’ve got to keep their profit margins, or the CEO’s and shareholders might need to take a paycut.
ToadOfHypnosis@lemmy.world 6 days ago
I am union so don’t misunderstand the comment, but doesn’t BYD rely heavily on terribly paid non-union labor to reach it’s price advantage?
hanrahan@slrpnk.net 6 days ago
No, it relies on massive automation. Similary their solar industry etc
For example
tehn00bi@lemmy.world 6 days ago
It brings up a valid point. Assembly line manufacturing will soon require massive automation lines to remain profitable, and without massive government assistance in not just money, but education and training, these kinds of automation factories will likely never be fully realized here.
BehindTheBarrier@programming.dev 6 days ago
Tesla somehow manages to do well(at least prior to the nazi events). Still at a good price in Norway.
But all other manufacturers have dragged their feet with EVs, and that price cost of starting is large enough that they are in trouble. I’m not a huge fan of China, but they did the investment and are ahead exactly because of that (and crazy subsidies). Being left behind is their own fault imo, and I think that applies a lot to EU as well. Eg. WV.
rottingleaf@lemmy.world 6 days ago
If they are too expensive due to cost of labor, they can do, look at other comments, increased automation.
With automation China’s advantages over US are mostly in the bureaucratic efficiency area. Both in the government’s parts interacting with big companies and in the companies themselves.
US big companies are just too used to preferential treatment and solving market problems with lobbying, which worked when they were the spearhead of progress or something.
Fedditor385@lemmy.world 6 days ago
Expensive is not a problem it it’s followed by the appropriate quality. Also, US should be far more able to use tech to automate and make efficient, same as China can use cheap labour. In the end, a robot is a one-time fee, doesn’t get sick, and can work 24/7, easy and fast to learn new processes. Long term a robot will always outpeform a human.
atk007@lemmy.world 6 days ago
You think Americans can’t change, just look at German Automakers. They are stuck in Perpetual denial. VW only moved electric because of the massive diesel scandal, otherwise they also would have been like every other car manufacturer.
Fedditor385@lemmy.world 6 days ago
Yes, but nobody ever expected Germany to be quick and adapt. Germany does not do that in general. It takes something that exists, perfects it, and then sells the perfection of the existing thing. US on the other hand, has the reputation where innovation begins and does wonders.
It is the same situation, but the expectation is completely opposite.