posted in Technology
Americans Can’t Buy Chinese EVs. Waymo Is Importing Thousands
www.forbes.com/sites/alanohnsman/2026/08/02/americans-cant-buy-chinese-evs-waymo-is-importing-thousands/
ForbesAmericans Can’t Buy Chinese EVs. Waymo Is Importing ThousandsThe U.S. has used tariffs and security rules to keep Chinese cars off dealer lots. Alphabet’s robotaxi company appears to be buying them by the boatload.
Replying to @return2ozma@lemmy.world
Unpopular opinion: Google’s approach actually makes sense here. The value isn’t the rolling metal box, it’s the autonomous driving stack. If Zeekr can build a high quality EV platform more cheaply, why reinvent it? Buy the best chassis, replace the electronics you don’t trust, and focus engineering effort where your competitive advantage actually is.
Replying to @eicker@lemmy.world
I don’t think anyone is thinking Google is in doing the wrong decision. The problem is that Google, and other corporations, work with a set of rules different to normal, not corporate entities, don’t. Like they can bought the most competitive cars on the global markets, while regular Americans are stuck to whatever Ford and GM want to sell them.
Replying to @driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br
Google isn’t getting special treatment here because it’s Google: Waymo isn’t importing finished consumer cars, it’s importing a vehicle platform, removing the original electronics, and integrating its own autonomous system. That’s much closer to sourcing components than selling Chinese EVs directly to the public, so it’s not really an apples to apples comparison.