GM, Ford, and Chrysler (now Stellantis or whatever they call themselves) could easily be described as the same with all the subsidies and trade protection they get.
For example, aero headlights were not legal in the US for ages until Ford wanted to use them in the upcoming Taurus. European and Japanese companies had to use US-specific headlights, usually sealed beam units.
This nonsense still goes on today. Why do you think CCS has a unique-to-US charge connector? To make things more expensive for foreign car companies.
Then we have the insane "must be built here" restrictions...
Looking only at raw subsidies for the main company is bad for both western and eastern manufacturers as it skews to what is published and forgets tax breaks, local subsidies, subsidiary subsidies, subsidies down the supply chain etc.
Tesla got $300million for battery swapping and $1 billion for a Buffalo solar plant. Many other billions total with federal and Nevada, Texas. And various state incentive programs.
Their partner Panasonic is a keiretsu and I think has gotten billions in EV battery related subsidies overall.
BYD I think is similar order of magnitude to the two partners combined.
Next thing you know, having affordable and quality state unis pumping out a huge number of engineers annually will constitute a state-backed subsidy :)
And Tesla isn't? https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-musk-subsidies-201...
GM, Ford, and Chrysler (now Stellantis or whatever they call themselves) could easily be described as the same with all the subsidies and trade protection they get.
For example, aero headlights were not legal in the US for ages until Ford wanted to use them in the upcoming Taurus. European and Japanese companies had to use US-specific headlights, usually sealed beam units.
This nonsense still goes on today. Why do you think CCS has a unique-to-US charge connector? To make things more expensive for foreign car companies.
Then we have the insane "must be built here" restrictions...