Alas, most Americans will never be able to buy one. Current US regulations effectively place these cars behind a 25-year “wait wall,” an import restriction enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It prevents foreign-market vehicles from being legally driven here until they are at least 25 years old, unless manufacturers spend heavily to certify them for US safety and emissions standards.
At the same time, satellite imagery revealed enormous European parking lots filled with surplus vehicles from another Chinese EV manufacturer, BYD—a potent visual reminder of the imbalance shaping the modern EV economy.
Meanwhile, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), citing “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of US persons,” in December implemented a ban on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), including drones, manufactured outside the US. In March, the FCC banned the sale of new foreign-made routers in the US, pointing to cybersecurity threats posed by vulnerable networking gear.