Another EV - The Coda

[HyperMiler]

There are a few important points:

1. The Coda helps establish 6.6KW as the industry standard charging rate. That affects your choice of wiring for your home EVSE. SPX specifies 40 amps. It also should affect GM's 2014 Volt planning.

2. Coda left out everything they could but they included a TMS and a real 10 year battery warranty. Nissan take notice.

3. Detroit should not make the mistake they made when Japanese cars first showed up in the US. Historic quote from GM "We lose more cars in shipping". Now that China has access to the technology, and Coda hired a GM executive to run the company, the American EV industry can expect major price competition in a year or two.

You do not seem to understand that China is not like Japan or Korea at all. In China where 73% of auto sales are by foreign brands, worse than it is in the US. The foreign automakers have the complete control of the market above $12,000, while Chinese compete among themselves in the market segment below $12,000. Even worse, the Chinese brands' market share is shrinking rapidly as Chinese consumers with more money to spend are shunning Chinese brand cars and are going for foreign brand models instead.

This is the reason why you haven't seen the tsunami of Chinese brand cars in the US and Europe, as Chinese brands are struggling to survive in their home market against foreign onslaught.

Beside, the safety of Chinese lithium iron phosphate batter is questionable, as evident by the recent spectacular explosion of a BYD E6 taxi upon a rear end collision by a GT-R in China.

[mikeg3]

You do not seem to understand that China is not like Japan or Korea at all. In China where 73% of auto sales are by foreign brands, worse than it is in the US. The foreign automakers have the complete control of the market above $12,000, while Chinese compete among themselves in the market segment below $12,000. Even worse, the Chinese brands' market share is shrinking rapidly as Chinese consumers with more money to spend are shunning Chinese brand cars and are going for foreign brand models instead.

This is the reason why you haven't seen the tsunami of Chinese brand cars in the US and Europe, as Chinese brands are struggling to survive in their home market against foreign onslaught.

Beside, the safety of Chinese lithium iron phosphate batter is questionable, as evident by the recent spectacular explosion of a BYD E6 taxi upon a rear end collision by a GT-R in China.

What part of Communist dictatorship don't you understand?

When the Chinese government decides to help their domestic auto industry, they will.

The US has already complained about auto import tariffs but nothing will change.

There are dozens of industries that were once multinational and are now totally dominated by Chinese manufacturing.

I agree that relatively wealthy Chinese drivers will pay the import duties and buy foreign cars, but the auto business skews to the low end.

According to this New York Times article, the Chinese manufacturers are having serious quality problems. I suspect that they are not being allowed to sell in first world countries and harm the Chinese brand. They don't have to. There are plenty of countries where purchase price is everything and the mechanics to fix manufacturing defects earn $10/day.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/bu...pagewanted=all

[HyperMiler]

When the Chinese government decides to help their domestic auto industry, they will.

They have been trying for 20 years, yet Chinese domestic brands are getting weaker and weaker, not better in China's domestic market.

The US has already complained about auto import tariffs but nothing will change.

GM and Ford doesn't complain because they manufacture 95% of cars they sell in China anyway.

There are dozens of industries that were once multinational and are now totally dominated by Chinese manufacturing.

Such as? I can think of solar panel and some cheap low-value goods and that's it.

I agree that relatively wealthy Chinese drivers will pay the import duties and buy foreign cars

95% of VWs, Buicks, BMWs, and Toyotas sold in China are assembled in China.

According to this New York Times article, the Chinese manufacturers are having serious quality problems.

It is not just cars, but all Chinese brand goods suffering from quality problems.

I suspect that they are not being allowed to sell in first world countries and harm the Chinese brand.

Chinese brand cars can't even pass the US and EU crash and emissions test. Furthermore, the 10 year warranty in the US is longer than the designed lifespan of those cars in China, which is 7 years.(Yes, average Chinese brand cars are junked after 7 years on the road)

They don't have to. There are plenty of countries where purchase price is everything and the mechanics to fix manufacturing defects earn $10/day.

The US is not one of those countries, and you will not see Chinese brand cars take off in the US.

[mikeg3]

@HyperMiler:

Most of you comments are covered in the NY Times article I referenced:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/bu...pagewanted=all

However, I invite you to visit a Walmart or Target store and find a line of products with high manufacturing content that is not mostly made in China.

I agree with you, as does the NYT, that Chinese cars are not ready for first world countries. In fact, I said that in my post. Just give them time. I think that the Chinese companies are under orders not to sell low quality cars in the USA to protect the Made in China brand.

I just assembled a lamp made in China and the instructions were easy to follow and in fluent but stiff English.

If GM learned to build cars without multiple defects, so can China.