GM is selling a $5,000 electric car in China

[Pekelo]

If it won't be wanted in the USA, I doubt it would be wanted in China

The 2 markets are different. Teslas are selling here like hotcakes, China with the biggest market buys only a few thousands. But let's go back to this tiny car:

1. Chinese are smaller than Americans, they fit the car better.
2. There are incentives there so the price is cheaper. Maybe not as a first car, but as a 3rd car for richer Chinese, it could be good for shopping.
3. It is clearly a town car, and easy to park. This is never a concern for Americans.

I am sure GM made a cost and market analysis when they decided to make it. Also it is possible they have to sell some kind of EV just to be able to stay in the market. They could just make it for that purpose to satisfy regulations, then they can swallow losses on it...

 

[vanzandt]

It'll make a hell of a golf cart too with minimal modifications.

 

[JSOP]

The 2 markets are different. Teslas are selling here like hotcakes, China with the biggest market buys only a few thousands. But let's go back to this tiny car:

1. Chinese are smaller than Americans, they fit the car better.
2. There are incentives there so the price is cheaper. Maybe not as a first car, but as a 3rd car for richer Chinese, it could be good for shopping.
3. It is clearly a town car, and easy to park. This is never a concern for Americans.

I am sure GM made a cost and market analysis when they decided to make it. Also it is possible they have to sell some kind of EV just to be able to stay in the market. They could just make it for that purpose to satisfy regulations, then they can swallow losses on it...

1. Yes but the alternative is mopeds and scooters which is even smaller yet doesn't require cramming into small spaces no matter how small people are, people still don't cramming.

2. Richer Chinese don't need a 3rd car for shopping. LOL They send out their domestic servants and nannies to do the shopping for them or they will just walk to the local market on the street to buy something quick which will not be equipped with parking lot for a car. Plus the richer Chinese are still mainly found in large cities where every square millimeter of space is gold, there is no extra garage space for that 3rd car. And this car, although small, is still big enough to require a garage space of its own.

3. Not easier than mopeds and scooters and bikes to park.

The Chinese car market is highly polarized I find reflecting the high polarization of income of people and the serious lack of space. You have the poor+middle class still mostly using mopeds, scooters, bikes, electronic bikes or public transportation (the old taking buses and the young taking subways) and then you have the rich just driving cars, regular cars simply because they can afford to with all the spaces reserved for them, the leather seat, the horsepower, the brand name for them to show off their wealth. They are NOT going to want to cram themselves into a tiny little car that doesn't even have enough trunk space for them to put all their LV's in. I suspect GM just made this car to like you said, "satisfy the regulations"; it's going to be a loss for them which is quite stupid. If they want to sell some kind of EV's, why don't they just make a REAL EV or Hybrid car to sell over there. At least it would appeal to the riches who are already able to afford to buy cars and now they just have the incentive to save gas.

 

[dealmaker]

GM acquires lidar company Strobe
General Motors has acquired lidar company Strobe Inc., a move expected to help boost self-driving vehicle production and slash cost on lidar units 99 percent. The value of the transaction, which occurred last week, was not disclosed. GM shares, which have been trading at or near post-bankruptcy highs for the last several days, rose 0.9 percent to close the day at $45.33.(Automotive News)