US Tariffs Embargoing New Automotive Technology
US Tariffs Embargoing New Automotive Technology
“Que sera, sera. Whatever will be, will be. The future’s not ours to see. Que sera, sera,” Doris Day sang the song in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1956 film, ‘The Man Who Knew Too Much.’
Imagine being an attendee at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, where electric cars were first on display for sale to the general public.
This Columbian Exposition, as it was called, was illuminated using Nikola Tesla’s inventions for A/C electricity and fluorescent lighting—it was a spectacle that amazed the world. If one did make the trek to this location, one would come from a farm that didn’t even yet have electricity. The Chicago World’s Fair was the first location to be lit by electricity, and this led to the eastern seaboard being lit by a Niagara Falls power station.
Snap to 2003, when I was at the yearly International Auto Show in sunny Toronto. Prototype fuel cell vehicles were on display. The frames of these vehicles were reputed to be interchangeable, allowing a sports car to become a four-seater, or even into a minivan. What else can they come up with next?
Rock and Roll to the year 2025, and one would see me again taking a stroll through the International Auto Show in sunny Toronto. True to form, I noticed the shiny new wheels on display.
One thing got my attention: Electric vehicles were cheaper. What is a hybrid? According to some sources on the internet, a hybrid automobile uses both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for propulsion, but the only fuel you’ll put in is gasoline. Diesel hybrids do exist, but they’re reputed to be mainly found in locomotives and other extreme heavy-duty applications, such as trucks.
At the 2025 auto show, however, I noticed if one wanted to buy an electric truck, it would be $70,000, but a diesel hybrid cost $90,000 and up. After seeing the latest wheels on the road, President Trump was in the White House, signing a flurry of executive orders. As I am typing this article, according to Reuters on February 25, President Trump announced he wants to impose 25% tariffs on imports of autos as soon as April 2. Separate 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum are slated to start on March 12.
Lol and behold, the good people of Google AI would say: “While Japan has historically been a leader in passenger fuel cell vehicle development, particularly with models like the Toyota Mirai, China has recently surpassed them in overall fuel cell vehicle ownership by focusing heavily on developing commercial vehicles like buses and trucks, making them the current frontrunner in the market for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
This shift is largely due to China prioritizing large-scale fuel cell adoption in commercial transportation, unlike Japan’s focus on passenger cars.
Key points about Japanese and Chinese fuel cell vehicles:
Japan’s Focus
The focus is primarily on passenger cars, with major manufacturers like Toyota and Honda leading the way with models like the Mirai.
China’s Focus
Primarily on commercial vehicles like buses and trucks, allowing them to gain a larger market share despite entering the market later than Japan.
Market Leadership
While Japan pioneered fuel cell technology, China now holds the largest market share in fuel cell vehicles due to its focus on commercial applications.
Joint Ventures
Companies like Nissan have partnered with Chinese manufacturers like Dongfeng to produce hydrogen-powered vehicles for the Chinese market.”
!#$@&% is what I have to say to the AI Google algorithm for coming up with such a gobble gook. BTW, more information can be found here. Chinadaily1 – Chinadaily2.
So, if one didn’t get the memo, China is ahead of North America not only in AI but… Japan & China together are also ahead of us in manufacturing and selling of Fuel Cell vehicles. Yes, I know, Elon Musk is lionized in social media because he owns Twitter, or X, but his Tesla vehicles are old technology.
His battery powered vehicles require people, actual people, to find and mine from lithium mines to power these electrical cars. FYI, we in North America sell hybrid vehicles and electric cars, and we are competing against Asia, which is selling fuel cell vehicles, and their cars emit a drop of water in pollution.
If I really wanted to wave the Canadian flag in everyone’s face, I would have to admit that Fuel Cell is a Canadian creation. Just look up Wiki, or ask the good people at Google AI for that confirmation.
Anyhoo, I spoke to a professional driver in my circles, and I discovered another horror to add to our list of worries. “American cars all have problems with their transmissions—all of them do!” a professional driver told me. “Asian cars don’t.” Going back to the issue, why would anyone in China, or Japan, like to buy a North American car? Is the general public supposed to buy electric cars, or even hybrid vehicles, because Elon Musk is who he is?
His creation (or rebranding) of Tesla and all the North American-made cars—these shiny, overpriced jalopies belong in a museum. How are North American automobile makers supposed to compete with China with 1893 technology available for sale? It makes no sense. Coming full circle, the US tariffs are an embargo against new automotive technology, and…How is this going to Make America Great Again?…
Full Disclosure
Firstly, if one is daring (and they have to be daring), they can reach out to me.
Secondly, I’m not bitter that Elon Musk suspended my Twitter account twice at @authorpcollins on the X platform.
Lastly, how can I confirm my identity on Twitter, X, or even on LinkedIn when I don’t even own a smartphone but an open flip phone?!
