The belief that China relies on universally “cheap” labor is largely a myth. While wages were incredibly low during the late 20th century, decades of economic development, rapid wage growth, and high productivity have transformed the country into an advanced manufacturing hub rather than simply a low-cost production center.
Yes, the super high wages in China have gotten to a point where BYD’s average employee in China (that includes everything from manufacturing to top level leadership) makes about a third of what a manufacturing employee in the IG Metall union makes in Germany.
It’s like I keep saying. If the west wants to even dream of being competitive with Chinese manufacturers, unions need to go bye-bye. Or we can tariff the subsidized + cheap labour cars.
Mostly the main reason. That and state subsidies to kill the foreign car market with long term goals. Someone always suffers with capitalism. Even state capitalism. 🤷♂️
Apart from not being true, that doesn’t even make grammatical or mathematical sense 😄
That and state subsidies to kill the foreign car market with long term goals
Except that goes both ways, with Europe and the US subsidizing their automakers and disadvantaging the Chinese ones just as much if not even more.
Someone always suffers with capitalism.
True.
Even state capitalism
Also true, although protectionism ≠ state capitalism.
Capitalism is a philosophy/ideology where the maximum accumulation of capital possible is held up as the main goal of existence.
Protectionism DOESN’T maximize the capital of the state, or the majority of the people residing in it, only the companies benefitting from it and the politicians they bribe.
If I go buy a Tesla right now in Estonia, the US government isn’t paying Tesla extra for building the car, despite the fact that Musk was literally president of the united states a year ago. If I buy a Mercedes, Germany won’t pay the company to build the car. If I buy a BYD, the Chinese government will pay BYD.
Tesla received tax benefits and grants for building factories, but that’s normal, the Chinese do that too. Nobody’s complaining about that. It’s the fact that they literally still pay per car built, even if the cars are sold to other countries, long after the companies are successful.
Then there’s the working hours. 996 is technically illegal now, but plenty of Chinese companies still do it. There was another comment somewhere in this thread where a person said they thought Chinese factory employees have good living conditions, as he’d done the job for a few months and didn’t have any issues affording things. When asked how much they had to work? 84 hours. That’s worse than 996, which is “only” 72 hours.
Why aren’t US or other non-chinese car makers making more electric cars to compete?
Instead they take oil money to keep combustion engines around as the primary. Despite companies like Ford having been subsidised by the government to still exist with no real requirements.
Most countries have come all the told it needed to be able to do this and refused to adapt at the same time.
I’m the end it’s a race for the bottom which just sucks…
And also the fact that they control all the resources (like rare earth minerals) needed to make EV batteries while every other manufacturer is forced to buy them at a markup from China. They even have their own slave labor force to work the mines so that they can keep prices low for themselves.
Yes, because western employees like getting paid and working 40 hour weeks. Only way to be competitive is to start treating western employees like shit (unions won’t allow) or shifting manufacturing to China.
It probably has more to do with the cost of labour in China.
The belief that China relies on universally “cheap” labor is largely a myth. While wages were incredibly low during the late 20th century, decades of economic development, rapid wage growth, and high productivity have transformed the country into an advanced manufacturing hub rather than simply a low-cost production center.
https://www.aiu.edu/innovative/the-myth-of-cheap-chinese-labor-unpacking-a-complex-reality/
This is being fueled by a strong STEM educations system, whereas US education has been degrading since the 60s and university standards are a joke.
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2026/5/28/harvard-grade-cap-data/
Yes, the super high wages in China have gotten to a point where BYD’s average employee in China (that includes everything from manufacturing to top level leadership) makes about a third of what a manufacturing employee in the IG Metall union makes in Germany.
It’s like I keep saying. If the west wants to even dream of being competitive with Chinese manufacturers, unions need to go bye-bye. Or we can tariff the subsidized + cheap labour cars.
That’s another part of it, sure, but DEFINITELY not the whole or even main reason.
Mostly the main reason. That and state subsidies to kill the foreign car market with long term goals. Someone always suffers with capitalism. Even state capitalism. 🤷♂️
Apart from not being true, that doesn’t even make grammatical or mathematical sense 😄
Except that goes both ways, with Europe and the US subsidizing their automakers and disadvantaging the Chinese ones just as much if not even more.
True.
Also true, although protectionism ≠ state capitalism.
Capitalism is a philosophy/ideology where the maximum accumulation of capital possible is held up as the main goal of existence.
Protectionism DOESN’T maximize the capital of the state, or the majority of the people residing in it, only the companies benefitting from it and the politicians they bribe.
Europe and the US generally pay subsidies for EV purchases, not production.
If you buy a Chinese EV in most countries with an EV subsidy, you get two subsidies: the Chinese one for production and the local one for purchasing.
USA did the exact same thing with Tesla.
If I go buy a Tesla right now in Estonia, the US government isn’t paying Tesla extra for building the car, despite the fact that Musk was literally president of the united states a year ago. If I buy a Mercedes, Germany won’t pay the company to build the car. If I buy a BYD, the Chinese government will pay BYD.
Tesla received tax benefits and grants for building factories, but that’s normal, the Chinese do that too. Nobody’s complaining about that. It’s the fact that they literally still pay per car built, even if the cars are sold to other countries, long after the companies are successful.
Then there’s the working hours. 996 is technically illegal now, but plenty of Chinese companies still do it. There was another comment somewhere in this thread where a person said they thought Chinese factory employees have good living conditions, as he’d done the job for a few months and didn’t have any issues affording things. When asked how much they had to work? 84 hours. That’s worse than 996, which is “only” 72 hours.
That’s kind of the point though, no?
Why aren’t US or other non-chinese car makers making more electric cars to compete?
Instead they take oil money to keep combustion engines around as the primary. Despite companies like Ford having been subsidised by the government to still exist with no real requirements.
Most countries have come all the told it needed to be able to do this and refused to adapt at the same time.
I’m the end it’s a race for the bottom which just sucks…
Most countries don’t subsidise goods sold into other countries. It’s literal economic warfare.
Most companies also have plenty of EV offerings. They’re just not as popular as ICE counterparts yet.
🤡🪙
Good comeback 🙄
No point saying anything else, and you know that.
Sure, can’t just admit you were wrong like a big boy/girl/other. That’s obviously beyond your capabilities.
I’m not wrong because you typed words. You “but” capitalism. I don’t. You simp for capitalism when you personally like it. That’s pathetic.
Throwing more people at a design problem doesn’t often actually improve the rate of solving it.
And also the fact that they control all the resources (like rare earth minerals) needed to make EV batteries while every other manufacturer is forced to buy them at a markup from China. They even have their own slave labor force to work the mines so that they can keep prices low for themselves.
Many brands are assembling their cars in China. https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/which-new-cars-are-built-in-china/
Yes, because western employees like getting paid and working 40 hour weeks. Only way to be competitive is to start treating western employees like shit (unions won’t allow) or shifting manufacturing to China.