Irrational Fear Or True Car Threat?

Issue #195

Today, we explore how big automakers are fearing China. Their claims raise one concern: should we do something?

Or, you can continue to read by scrolling down.

Market News

• New cars became a bit easier to afford in March. Here’s why. 

• Stellantis announces its core brands. Jeep is one of them. Here are the other three. 

• Tesla is betting big on this technology. If it works, it could change the game. 

• Hyundai US workers were subject to horrible working conditions. Here’s more. 

• This pickup has been making headlines lately. Its latest victim? The Ford Maverick.

Safety and Recalls

• Jaguar Land Rover (Or JLR as the kids say) issues its biggest recall in history. Here’s more. 

• Toyota recalls four 2025 Toyota RAV4 vehicles. Only four. Here’s why. 

• Mitsubishi recalls 108,000 vehicles for an injury-inducing defect.

Car Culture

• This long-forgotten automaker is unveiling a new model and people are excited. 

• China is creating a V8 supercar that aims to defeat Ferrari. Here’s more. 

• Chrysler is reinventing the Pacifica. It will now be an off-roader minivan. That sounds awesome. Here’s what it will look like. 

• The Subaru Outback isn’t a wagon anymore. Here’s why it matters. 

• People talk about brake-by-wire like it’s a new thing. This article explains how it has existed for 25 years. 

Video Of The Week

Here’s a fun cheap car challenge that brings us back to the glory of Top Gear. 

In The Know

“We Will Not Survive”

For years, American automakers treated Chinese car brands as a distant concern, as something that wouldn’t happen in the US, but that’s no longer the case. The Big Three are increasingly vocal about the rise of Chinese competitors, and the fear could be turning into a reality. 

Ford, reportedly, (always, reportedly) had explored talks with Geely about potentially licensing Chinese vehicle technology for the U.S. market. You can read more about it here. 

While those discussions reportedly stalled, the mere fact they happened speaks volumes. Ford has publicly warned about Chinese automakers, yet privately it appears willing to study or even use their technology. Here’s more on these concerns. 

Now, this contradiction is shocking at a US level, but it shouldn’t be surprising if we consider other markets. In South America and Africa, Ford already works with Chinese manufacturers to sell some of their most successful products, as you can read here. 

It’s also a hard truth: Chinese automakers are no longer cheap imitators. Companies such as BYD and Geely now build competitive EVs and hybrids packed with advanced software, strong battery technology, and aggressive pricing. This is key. These cars offer a good package at a much lower price. That’s why, in Europe, Chinese brands have quickly gained market share, even reaching a “China shock.”  

Ford CEO Jim Farley has been unusually blunt on the subject. He has previously described Chinese EV competition as a major threat, and warned that allowing a flood of low-cost Chinese vehicles into America without a plan could be devastating for domestic jobs and manufacturers. Those are not casual comments—they are the language of an industry under pressure. 

Don’t you find it fascinating how openly he talks about China? 

Nor is Ford alone. Headlines this month highlighted warnings tied to leaders at Toyota Motor Corporation, Honda Motor Co., and Ford that traditional automakers may struggle to survive if Chinese dominance continues unchecked. 

Sorry, not “may struggle.”

They basically they’re done. Here’s more. 

While dramatic, the statement captures the anxiety spreading through the global auto sector.

Why the fear? It comes down to speed and cost. Chinese manufacturers have compressed product development cycles, mastered battery supply chains, and built vehicles at prices many Western rivals cannot match. They also benefit from a massive domestic market that lets them scale quickly before exporting abroad.

Meanwhile, Detroit still depends heavily on trucks and SUVs for profits, faces expensive union labor costs, and has struggled to make EV programs profitable. That leaves legacy automakers vulnerable if Chinese brands ever gain meaningful access to North America, as even Edmunds said. 

The U.S. can delay that challenge through tariffs, software bans, and industrial policy. But walls rarely last forever. Consumers eventually notice better value, and global competition tends to find a route in—through partnerships, local factories, licensing deals, or neighboring markets.

That may be the real meaning behind Ford’s reported Geely talks. Even the most iconic American automakers understand that resisting Chinese competition may not be enough. At some point, they may need to outbuild it, outprice it, or work with it.

Competition, in other words, may be unavoidable.