Jan. 14 at 4:51 PM
Chinese automakers could gain their first real U.S. foothold if President Donald Trump follows through on comments suggesting openness to allowing them to build factories in the country, according to Wolfe Research. Analyst Emmanuel Rosner said Trump indicated he would not oppose Chinese plants if they employ U.S. workers, noting this would not be unprecedented, citing Geely’s U.S. Volvo facility.
Wolfe cautioned that allowing Chinese production in the U.S. would be a significant negative for the domestic auto industry. For now, the U.S. remains the only major auto market largely protected from Chinese competition, unlike China and Europe, where Western automakers have lost share.
Europe is seen as a preview: Chinese brands grew market share from 2.7% in 2023 to over 5.5% in 2025, supported by strong cost advantages. BYD’s operating cost per vehicle is estimated at about
$21,000 in China, or roughly
$32,000 after tariffs and logistics, still below many European peers.
$BYDDF $F $TSLA