, Columnist
Chinese EVs, Spy Cars, and America’s Next Red Line
Modern autos carry an extraordinary array of sensors and cameras, perfect for collating data and aiding espionage.
Test drive.
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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China is catching up in the race to build and deploy technology, so its preeminent position in electric vehicles and batteries makes for notable success on the world stage. Expect US political leaders to fight back, not with better products or pricing, but non-tariff barriers.
One measure from the Biden administration will be to put restrictions on how tax subsidies for EVs can be applied. Under new rules, a $7,500 federal credit to consumers might not apply if the vehicle contains battery materials from a “foreign entity of concern.” That’s code for China.