China-based automakers have made leaps and bounds in the area of electric cars, thanks to a big push by the Chinese government to embrace the technology to reduce emissions. For years, Beijing has granted domestic automakers and consumers generous subsidies to switch to electric motors and has invested in EV charging infrastructure to support the changing automotive landscape—all to great success. China is now the world’s largest EV market and producer, with Chinese brands churning out affordable, high-tech electric vehicles for their country and beyond.
Chinese EVs haven't reached the US yet, but could they? Here's the lowdown...
Chinese EVs: Will They Come to the US?
- What's the Deal with Chinese Car Brands in the US?
- Can You Buy a Chinese Car in the U.S.?
- Are Chinese Cars Any Good?
- Do Chinese Cars Cost Less?
- The Top Chinese Electric-Car Companies
- Will Chinese EVs Come to the U.S.?
What's the Deal with Chinese Car Brands in the US?
Chinese car companies have yet to break into the U.S. market because the U.S. government has made it very difficult—or rather expensive—for them to do so. In 2018, the Trump administration imposed a 10% tariff on all kinds of goods imported from China, including automobiles. That graduated to 25% in 2019. Add to that the existing 2.5% tariff that all foreign-built passenger cars face and the tax on Chinese autos comes to 27.5%.
When the Biden administration took over in 2021, it kept this measure in place. Then in May 2024—in response to China’s business practices, for national security concerns, and in an effort to protect U.S. jobs—the government upped the tariff on Chinese electric vehicles to 100% (for a total of 102.5%). This has kept these firms from bringing even their cheapest models to the states.
Can You Buy a Chinese Car in the U.S.?
As of February 2025, you can buy a few China-made vehicles in the U.S. but not one from a Chinese automaker—or at least, not one wearing the badge of a Chinese automaker. The gas-powered Buick Envision (pictured) and Lincoln Nautilus SUVs come from Chinese factories. So too do a few models from Swedish carmakers Volvo and Polestar, in large part because they’re owned by Chinese automaker Geely.
It’s important to note that only China-made electric vehicles—including the Polestar 2 compact car and Volvo EX30 subcompact SUV — are subject to the full 102.5% tariff. The Envision, Nautilus, and Volvo S90 sedan (which comes in gas and plug-in-hybrid forms) face the original 27.5% duty. While that’s still a steep fine to pay, these automakers have found a way to offset the expense–a duty drawback program that dates back to 1789 means that companies are eligible for import tariff refunds if they produce similar products in the U.S. and export them to other countries. Volvo and Buick have both stated that they are currently taking advantage of this.
That said, high tariffs on China-made EVs—levied not only here but in the European Union—have made Volvo rethink its production strategy for the EX30; it will now assemble the U.S.-bound and Europe-bound models in Belgium instead of China.
Are Chinese Cars Any Good?
Automotive journalists have some good things to say about Chinese cars. MotorTrend drove a Zeekr, Xiaomi, and Nio in China and lauded all three for their advanced software, style, and value but felt they lacked “the dynamic polish Western drivers have come to expect.” In Europe, cars such as the BYD Seal, Nio ET5 (pictured) and Xiaomi SU7 have received good reviews and been compared favorably to big-selling EVs such as the Tesla Model 3.
J.D. Power—which performs an annual reliability review of China’s new-energy vehicles (i.e. plug-in hybrids and EVs)—has said that the quality of China’s range-extended vehicles is industry-leading. On the other hand, it also found an uptick in the number of design-based problems plaguing Chinese vehicles last year. Namely, new-car owners in China are experiencing more issues with driving-assistance tech and infotainment systems than before. Interior smell and road noise have also been persistent problems.
Do Chinese Cars Cost Less?
Americans might be willing to overlook any faults in Chinese cars for the right price, of course. If tariffs were lifted and the Chinese government continued to subsidize EV production, Chinese EVs could undercut everything on the U.S. market by thousands. This has aroused many fears among those in the auto industry. Lobbyists have decried the forthcoming China EV invasion as an “extinction-level event for the U.S. auto sector,” while Tesla CEO Elon Musk has predicted it would “demolish most other car companies in the world.”
The Top Chinese Electric-Car Companies
The list of Chinese electric-car companies is long and includes BYD, Geely, Chery, Li Auto, Great Wall Motor, and XPeng.
SAIC Motor is another big name in the Chinese automotive industry, in part due to its joint ventures with Western automakers like GM and Volkswagen. Chinese firm FAW partners with VW, too, in addition to Toyota. And Toyota has a relationship with yet another Chinese automaker: GAC Group.
The Chinese-market partnerships don’t end there. Ford works with Changan. BMW owns Brilliance Auto Group. Mercedes-Benz uses BAIC. And Honda and Nissan have hooked up with Dongfeng.
CATL is another name worth knowing. This Chinese company doesn’t make automobiles but rather lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
Will Chinese EVs Come to the U.S.?
There’s little doubt that Chinese brands will advance into the U.S. market someday, though the timeline remains very much up in the air. Given the current political climate, it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see their products on our roads before the decade’s end.
It’s worth noting, however, that Chinese brands are already exporting vehicles to global markets, including Brazil and Mexico, which have embraced them. A few Chinese companies have set up shop in Mexico, too, which has U.S. (and Canada) policymakers nervous and looking for stricter protection measures to be placed on Chinese autos.
