cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/16322892

While the US and EU are putting up barriers to Chinese cars, Australians are buying them at record levels

  • eatthecake@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    36
    ·
    5 months ago

    Probably because we don’t make cars, or anything else. We dig stuff up, send it to China and buy it back in the form of goods.

      • jonne@infosec.pub
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        12
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        5 months ago

        It is a colony. The King of England can just fire the Prime Minister any time he likes.

        • tal@lemmy.today
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          7
          ·
          5 months ago

          The governor-general of Australia doesn’t actually work for the King these days.

        • girlfreddy@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          5 months ago

          No he can’t. Australia, like Canada where I live, is simply a Commonwealth nation. As such Britain has absolutely zero control over politics or who leads the nation.

        • bfg9k@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          edit-2
          5 months ago

          That’s what guns are for in the US. Hunting, recreational sport, and keeping the King of England out of your face. It’s all in the Constitution

          (/s if it’s not blatantly obvious)

    • saltesc@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      23
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      Not anymore. The majority of what people drive are Japanese and Korean. However Ford along with VW and some other big EU manufacturers are also very popular. Other American manufacturers are trying hard to break in, but not doing well since American cars offer little, are overpriced, and generally suck compared to all the options from Asia next door. Ford does well because they make cars specifically for countries like us and the rest of APAC.

      Without research, I would tie most of this statistic to low-budget commercial fleets and a small few people new to the country from China. I have never seen a non-Chinese person in a Chinese car unless it’s some bash around work ute or truck for a penny pinching business, of which there are more and more. They are very unpopular to individuals. Even if $10K is the budget, everyone would look at the second-hand market instead.

      • zephyreks@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        5 months ago

        Chinese cars are so fucking good for 10k though. It’s like just strictly a superior product on the low end of the market.

        • saltesc@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          5
          ·
          5 months ago

          Yeah, I don’t think it’ll be long until they get up to a standard that starts battling their reputation. Happened with Hyundai and Kia over 7-8 years. Asian market is suuuuper competitive though, and APAC nations are spoiled for choice. But if another nation’s got the money to back it, it’s China and more competition is good.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      5 months ago

      Yes?

      I don’t know how many of them are actually built in Australia, mind, in the same way that many American cars aren’t built here (or are vaguely assembled from parts built elsewhere)

      • vividspecter@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        12
        ·
        5 months ago

        Most of them build track cars and the like. There is certainly no mainstream car manufacturers left.

        • neo@lemy.lol
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          5 months ago

          Now I’m picturing Mad Max cars…

          and now I wonder what Mad Max would look like with EVs? Would they fight over batteries?

      • ssladam@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        5 months ago

        Holden was the only real one. And a few firms used to produce locally. Then the government didn’t offer any subsidies to keep them on shore. They all shut down and left the country. Now everything is imported. Real shame. They were great pipelines of talent.

  • cyd@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    5 months ago

    They’re good products, and Australia has no vested economic interests in keeping them out. Hardly surprising.