I think we're seeing a bit of playacting here. As recently as a few months ago BYD, the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer (counting hybrids) was saying:
The Biden administration reportedly will slap a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports, except that no Chinese cars presently are offered for sale in the United States.
If they were, they would crush the American competition, even with the present 25% tariff. Chevy’s Bolt, a starter EV with a US$29,000 sticker price, has the same size and less range than the Dongfeng Nammi 01 hatchback priced at just $11,000.
If China wanted to retaliate against the new American tariffs, it has a target-rich environment. General Motors last year sold 2.1 million cars in China. In most years, GM sells more cars in China than in the United States.
Chances are that China will ignore the American tariffs. China’s automotive industry association forecasts a 22% increase in the country’s auto exports during 2024, following a more than 60% increase in 2023, with the strongest growth in East Asia and the Middle East.
....MUCH MORE
And that is why Elon Musk was so focused on the cost-cutting that allowed the price-cutting that kept Tesla competitive for the last eighteen months.
In January 2023 this bit of nonsense was making the rounds:
Tesla is about to experience the seven perils of discounting
It went in the same folder as 2015's:
Tesla's Battery: No Thanks
