The renewable energy changes and policy

Ozumoz66

Ozumoz66

Well-Known Member
BudmanTX said:
yeah i can see cost being the decision maker there.....i had a 76 short bed chevy pickup one time, i was rebuilding it at a friends of the families place...told the man i was finally time for the motor, the guy told me to look out back and pick a 350 i can rebuild, i said ok.....got the motor into the shop a low and behold the one i picked wasn't a 350, it was a 383 and i didn't tell anyone......i'm a stinker....

btw those kits for the Vw's are about 20g to do.....here:
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Good score on the 383. Thnx for the link.

Wish I still have my '72 Chev fleet side w/350 2brl. Got a rust free box & cab for it out of Oklahoma and had it painted British racing green. Sold it for $3500 in 2000 - regret it ever since.

Had a '76 super beetle with a fuel injected 1600cc engine, velour seat, air shocks - so mags wouldn't scrub, and 400watt amp to drive the 10" subs and 6x9s. Sold it when we purchased our first home - needed fridge, stove, washer and dryer. Fond memories.
 
Sativied

Sativied

Well-Known Member
www.spiegel.de

Electric Shock: An Existential Crisis in the German Auto Industry

Electric cars are selling poorly, and many German manufacturers are still focusing on the combustion engine. The threat from cheaper Chinese competitors is growing. Might this be the death knell of Germany's fabled automobile industry?
www.spiegel.de www.spiegel.de

The Chinese Offensive: "A Bloodbath"

“The reason for the overproduction: Almost all providers in China have state investors, either as joint venture partners or as major shareholders. It is in their interest to keep the factories running, even if there are no domestic customers for the vehicles. The government in Beijing wants to avoid unemployment and achieve the growth target of around 5 percent at all costs. This is another reason why BYD and the other Chinese cars are pushing onto the global markets – and causing a price war that some car company executives have described as a "bloodbath."

The fact that German manufacturers are giving them plenty of space is providing even more of a boost. BYD even ousted Volkswagen as a sponsor for the marketing of the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany.”

“In China, BYD is already selling what German manufacturers can't currently offer: an affordable mass model at a competitive price of less than 10,000 euros. The BYD Seagull will soon be available in Germany. The price tag is likely to be higher than it is in China. But even at 20,000 euros, the Chinese would still be undercutting all Western manufacturers.”

If that’s not bad enough, their profit margins are higher for BYD. While unfortunately often inevitable, I try to avoid buying anything made in China. Feels any effort is useless when the west is going to send billions more by buying their EVs.

It's very likely Tesla would have done extremely well in Europe if it had focused on smaller affordable models instead of the silly truck.

Although... Elon being Elon isn't helping either.
www.euronews.com

Potential Tesla buyers steer clear as Musk's reputation plunges

Elon Musk's increasingly controversial reputation has led to a steep drop in the number of customers considering buying a Tesla.
www.euronews.com www.euronews.com
 
cannabineer

cannabineer

Ursus marijanus
This Fox hit piece shows grooming in action. The base are being lectured on how green energy is bad, bad, bad. Note links to further negaprop on renewables as a Democrat axe against freedum.

Backlash against wind and solar projects is real, it’s global and it’s growing | Fox News

From rural England to the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, local communities are telling alt-energy developers to take their projects and put them where the sun doesn’t shine.
www.foxnews.com www.foxnews.com
 
Sativied

Sativied

Well-Known Member
The German car manufacturers oppose raising import taxes on Chinese EVs, worried that will cause a trade war. At first surprising but it makes sense given the export market, especially to China, is much larger. Mercedes and BMW are pretty popular among the richer Chinese.

www.euractiv.com

German car lobby chief criticises von der Leyen's solo run on Chinese EVs

The decision to open an anti-subsidy investigation against Chinese electric cars was not sufficiently coordinated with Berlin, the head of the German car industry association VDA said on Thursday (11 April), criticising von der Leyen’s solo effort.
www.euractiv.com www.euractiv.com

They also seem to see it for what it is, populism at EU level, not something based on research and reason regarding what's good for Germany on a national level. Never liked unelected Ursula. Admittedly partly because everything about her screams 'christian democrats', conservatives that held this part of Europe back on many topics even those less batshit Christians consider too progressives, but mostly because she's acting like she's POTEU, while she's merely president of the European Commission. No such thing as president of the EU. She'll probably get the position for another 5 years though.

Obviously could be worse with the current political climate, but the actual climate is not better off given the fact it's often the christian democrats (generally center/center-right conservatives) who choose to appease far-right and farmers on delaying or reducing climate measures. Especially in Germany. Which actually seems to work... Merkel like Ursula was also CDU. When Merkel left they lost, barely, and Scholz got to form a broader coalation, including the Greens. AfD (far-right) was rising, but appears to be losing gains in the poll, while CDU is large again, over 31% far ahead of others.
 
Sativied

Sativied

Well-Known Member
cannabineer said:
Teslas are jam-packed with Chinese content. We are not winning a massive trade war.
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Not winning and seemingly hardly even putting up a fight.

A new Tesla CEO, an ethics commission, a smaller/medium-size model, proper dealerships with physical locations, and europeans would be all over Tesla again. I think GM discontuining the Chevy Spark was a huge mistake too.

I bought several news cars, well, paid by then employer, and the normal way to go about that was to go to the dealers. Check out the models in a showroom, touch the steering wheel, test the seats, etc. Tesla you had to buy online. They have some ‘shops’ now. China (I think it’s fair to say China instead of Chinese carmakers) takes a different approach, sold online, use our ports for storage:

www.euronews.com

European ports turned into car parks as EV makers hunt buyers

Sales of electric cars in Europe are relatively low, but it is just one reason why the vehicles are piling up in Europe's major ports.
www.euronews.com www.euronews.com

The ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge in Belgium are reportedly flooded with EVs from China, however, the port told Euronews that it is not only Chinese vehicles which are involved. But they did not disclose any other exporter countries contributing to the problem.

However, Le Monde reported that at Calloo, near Antwerp, and Zeebrugge, the huge parking lots to accommodate 130,000 freshly shipped vehicles, are cramped now with Chinese models, including MG, BYD, Nio, XPeng, Lynk & Co, Omoda, Hongqi, among others.

(Peugeots in the pic so French cars too but that’s just a fraction).

Most sold EV in NL so far in 2024 is the Volvo EX30, second spot Tesla Y. In Germany VW and Tesla are neck and neck for the nr 1 spot. First half of 2023 Tesla sold more EVs to Germans than the major German car makers did combined. This year is looking different, especially BYD is doing well, stole Tesla’s position as most sold EV worldwide.

The building below is since a few days a ’showroom’ from Nio, Chinese EV. In the center of Amsterdam. Building commisioned by a NY insurance company in 1891, monumental status. Was tallest privately owned building at the time. Bought clothes there a few times, was only Abercrombie and Fitch location in NL. One of the most expensive places to rent in the city and because of its monument status very expensive to change the interior.

NIO reported ~750million(USD!) losses in Q4 2023… which is no problem cause China hands out billions in subsidies to flood the global market.

AFC9548A-FD33-4484-B393-C0C06E5CCE07.jpeg4AE89FE1-4065-4B67-8BC5-7BA5CA4F9848.jpeg

Another one recently opened one up down the street. It has 1 car and no soul…


Meanwhile China, in addition to the forced labor and unfair business practices, supports Russia’s war that is costing us billions as well. It’s stupid. Hard to impossible to avoid ‘made in China’ entirely but I’d be really embarrassed driving a Chinese EV. Trump’s china tarrifs were part of America First, but really, if anything, the aim should be China last…

Doesn’t make up for all the bad ideas, but this sure sounds good:
www.crfb.org

Donald Trump’s 60% Tariff on Chinese Imports | Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

2024-04-10-Former President and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump recently proposed implementing a
www.crfb.org www.crfb.org

“we estimate this tariff increase would reduce imports from China by about 85 percent”
 
hanimmal

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
https://apnews.com/article/biden-china-tariffs-electric-vehicles-evs-solar-2024ba735c47e04a50898a88425c5e2c
Screen Shot 2024-05-30 at 9.21.47 AM.png
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden slapped major new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, advanced batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment on Tuesday, taking potshots at Donald Trump along the way as he embraced a strategy that’s increasing friction between the world’s two largest economies.

The Democratic president said that Chinese government subsidies ensure the nation’s companies don’t have to turn a profit, giving them an unfair advantage in global trade.

“American workers can outwork and outcompete anyone as long as the competition is fair,” Biden said in the White House Rose Garden. “But for too long, it hasn’t been fair. For years, the Chinese government has poured state money into Chinese companies ... it’s not competition, it’s cheating.”

The tariffs come in the middle of a heated campaign between Biden and Trump, his Republican predecessor, to show who’s tougher on China. In a nod to the presidential campaign, Biden recognized lawmakers from Michigan in his remarks and spoke about workers in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, all battleground states in November’s election.

Asked to respond to Trump’s comments that China was eating America’s lunch, Biden said of his rival, “He’s been feeding them a long time.” The Democrat said Trump had failed to crack down on Chinese trade abuses as he had pledged he would do during his presidency.

Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign’s press secretary, called the new tariffs a “weak and futile attempt” to distract from Biden’s own support for EVs in the United States, which Trump says will lead to layoffs at auto factories.

The Chinese government was quick to push back against the tariffs, saying they “will seriously affect the atmosphere of bilateral cooperation.” The foreign ministry used the word “bullying.”

The tariffs are unlikely to have a broad inflationary impact in the short term because of how they’re structured, some not to take effect until 2026, but there could be price increases in the meantime for EV batteries, solar and some other specific items.

Biden administration officials said they think the tariffs won’t escalate tensions with China, yet they expect China will explore ways to respond to the new taxes on its products. It’s uncertain what the long-term impact on prices could be if the tariffs contribute to a wider trade dispute.

The tariffs are to be phased in over the next three years, with those that take effect in 2024 covering EVs, solar cells, syringes, needles, steel and aluminum and more. There are currently very few EVs from China in the U.S., but officials worry low-priced models made possible by Chinese government subsidies could soon start flooding the U.S. market.

Chinese firms can sell EVs for as little as $12,000. China’s solar cell plants and steel and aluminum mills have enough capacity to meet much of the world’s demand, with Chinese officials arguing their production keeps prices low and would aid a transition to the green economy.

China’s commerce ministry said in a statement that the tariffs were “typical political manipulation” as it expressed its “strong dissatisfaction” and pledged to “take resolute measures to defend its rights and interests.”

Under the findings of a four-year review on trade with China, the tax rate on imported Chinese EVs will rise to 102.5% this year, up from total levels of 27.5%. The review was undertaken under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the government to retaliate against trade practices deemed unfair or in violation of global standards.

Under the 301 guidelines, the tariff rate is to double to 50% on solar cell imports this year. Tariffs on certain Chinese steel and aluminum products will climb to 25% this year. Computer chip tariffs will double to 50% by 2025.

For lithium-ion EV batteries, tariffs will rise from 7.5% to 25% this year. But for non-EV batteries of the same type, the tariff increase will be implemented in 2026. There are also higher tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes, critical minerals and medical products.

The new tariffs, at least initially, are largely symbolic since they will apply to only about $18 billion in imports. A new analysis by Oxford Economics estimates the tariffs will have a barely noticeable impact on inflation by pushing up inflation by just 0.01%.

The Chinese EV maker BYD has explored the possibility of opening factories in Mexico for the Mexican market, possibly creating a way to ship goods into the United States. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said she was talking with industry and workers about the possibility and to “stay tuned.”

The auto industry is still trying to assess the impact of the tariffs. But at present, it appears they could be assessed on only two Chinese-made vehicles, the Polestar 2 luxury EV and potentially Volvo’s S90 luxury gas-electric hybrid midsize sedan.

“We’re still reviewing the tariffs to understand exactly what’s affected and how,” said Russell Datz, spokesman for Volvo, a Swedish brand now under China’s Geely group. A message was left seeking comment from Polestar, which also falls under Geely.

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said the U.S. is trampling on the principles of a market economy and international economic and trade rules.

“It’s a naked act of bullying,” Wang said.

The Chinese economy has been slowed by the collapse of the country’s real estate market and past coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, prompting Chinese President Xi Jinping to try to jumpstart growth by ramping up production of EVs and other products, making more than the Chinese market can absorb.

This strategy further exacerbates tensions with a U.S. government that claims it’s determined to strengthen its own manufacturing to compete with China, yet avoid a larger conflict.

“China’s factory-led recovery and weak consumption growth, which are translating into excess capacity and an aggressive search for foreign markets, in tandem with the looming U.S. election season add up to a perfect recipe for escalating U.S. trade fractions with China,’’ said Eswar Prasad, professor of trade policy at Cornell University.

The Europeans are worried, too. The EU launched an investigation last fall into Chinese subsidies and could impose an import tax on Chinese EVs.

After Xi’s visit to France last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that government-subsidized Chinese EVs and steel “are flooding the European market” and said, “The world cannot absorb China’s surplus production.’’

Biden’s administration views China, with its subsidies of manufacturing, as trying to globally control the EV and clean-energy sectors, whereas the administration says its own industrial support is geared toward ensuring domestic supplies to help meet U.S. demand.

“We do not seek to have global domination of manufacturing in these sectors, but we believe because these are strategic industries and for the sake of resilience of our supply chains, that we want to make sure that we have healthy and active firms,” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.

The tensions go far beyond a trade dispute to deeper questions about who leads the world economy as a seemingly indispensable nation. China’s policies could make the world more dependent on its factories, possibly giving it greater leverage in geopolitics. At the same time, the United States says it’s seeking for countries to operate by the same standards so competition can be fair.

China maintains the tariffs are in violation of the global trade rules the United States originally helped establish through the World Trade Organization. It accuses the U.S. of continuing to politicize trade issues and on Friday said the new tariffs compound the problems caused by tariffs the Trump administration previously put on Chinese goods, which Biden has kept.

Those issues are at the heart of November’s presidential election, with a bitterly divided electorate seemingly united by the idea of getting tough with China. Biden and Trump have overlapping but different strategies.

Biden sees targeted tariffs as needed to defend key industries and workers, while Trump has threatened broad 10% tariffs against all imports from rivals and allies alike.

Biden has staked his presidential legacy on the U.S. pulling ahead of China with its own government investments in factories to make EVs, computer chips and other advanced technologies.

Trump tells his supporters America is falling further behind China by not betting on oil to keep powering the economy, despite its climate change risks. The ex-president may believe tariffs can change Chinese behavior, but he believes the U.S. will be reliant on China for EV components and solar cells.

“Joe Biden’s economic plan is to make China rich and America poor,” he said at a rally this month in Wisconsin.
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