I am going to say something that I never thought I would say: The US (and technically the Germans, Koreans, & Japanese as well) have lost their mojo in ingenuity in the auto industry. China has outplayed them. It has been no secret that China has been gobbling-up rare earths, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and etc. mines around the world for decades. It has been no secret that they have been developing the best battery technology and refining systems for years now. All the western countries auto manufacturers have watched them in all these things without countering it. Now look at us now, way behind.
As an American I believe in free speech, freedom of religion, & Capitalism. We have strong armed many industries such as the high tech industry around the world. Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and etc. have bought out competitors and silenced others who are of threat. Because we have not innovated faster or better the auto industry, China moved in. We now see that we are being spanked and if it goes any further, we may lose our auto industries. That is why the west is putting tariffs on Chinese imports of EVs. This reminds me of the financial crisis where government decided that a bank was to big to fail. One banks failure could be another banks windfall, but, that didn't happen. What about free markets and Capitalism?
The auto industry in the US still doesn't get the big picture. The auto unions went on strike a while back demanding even more money, not job security. Did you see how much of a raise they wanted? It was like $35 an hour. How can they compete with China (or even South Korea & Japan) doing that?
Imagine how much market share other auto makers could achieve or even how many new auto manufacturers could be created from the fallout of one or more failures of an auto maker. If Elon Musk can build Tesla from the ground up to be one of the largest EV manufacturers in the world, then why can't other entrepreneurs do as well?
Just set aside for a moment the cost difference between a Chinese made EV and an American/Japanese/Korean/German model. Look at the styling and the looks of their autos. Look at the state of the art manufacturing plants. Costs will eventually get lower if they innovate and give their customers something they really like/want. Not a Chevy Bolt.
I believe the tariffs could potentially help western auto manufacturers catch up, but, will they do what is necessary to catch up or keep fighting tooth and nail not to? We still really haven't seen Us manufacturers trying very hard to shore up their supply chains. As everyday goes buy, they lose another supplier of minerals to China. The EV future is coming and is here. Either the west get with the program or stand aside and let China take over. The only way I see EVs not being the new way autos are made is that something even cleaner, safer, cheaper, and cleaner is developed. Maybe the big oil companies decide to let some of their patents on gas engines come into development that they have been accumulating for decades. It would be better for them that gas engines get 100-200miles per gallon than 0.
I believe these tariffs on Chinese EVs and batteries will hurt SYA and all miners since most EV/battery sales and manufacturing are done in China. This will lead to less exports (for at least a few years till the west catches up) and that means less lithium needed.
Just my thoughts. You may agree or disagree. GLTAH.
Expand
(20min delay)