Is there any reasonable cost-effective way to import these into the USA? Or is that path blocked due to regulatory safety things?
Is there any reasonable cost-effective way to import these into the USA? Or is that path blocked due to regulatory safety things?
No, between safety and emissions, a normal person effectively have to wait out the 25 year as spelled out in the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988. Once you hit that, it's relatively straightforward to import the car (straightforward if you know how to do it, there are importers who specialize in this market).
There are some small exceptions for show cars (as is, never used on public roads) and similar things, but they all limit/prohibit use on public roads.
Even if you do wait the mandatory period or it was otherwise ok, if the government catches wind that you're trying to do something less stupid than buying the trash the current manufacturers are pedalling, they will clamp down. Kei trucks and the Mahindra Roxor are just more examples of why you can't run something more efficient down any road for various poor reasons likely because they cut into someone else's profits.
Yeah, that's the other problem... Kei cars/trucks, despite being 25 years old, have been banned in a few states because "safety" (even though you can buy a new motorcycle, or a US-spec 1950 whatever, etc).
You're probably, maybe ok for something like a 25 year old full-size car that doesn't look too wild (ie, could pass a a US-spec). Like a Japanese-market Lancer Evo, or Mitsubishi Pajero.
1. Buy a BYD in Mexico.
2. Buy a scrapped Tesla in the US.
3. Rebadge the BYD with the Tesla's logos.
4. Bury the Tesla in your yard.
5. Register the rebadged BYD with the Tesla's VIN, slap some plates on it, and drive.
You still have to deal with people thinking you drive a tesla.
Could probably do the same with a Nissan Leaf, would be cheaper too.
If you live in the other 95% of the US where there aren't insufferable people who judge you for driving a Tesla it's not a big deal.
It's funny I don't live in the USA and my own neighbour sold his Tesla after the Nazi salute. The brand worldwide is suffering and sales are dropping everywhere, not just in the USA.
Tesla is pretty much non existent anymore in Switzerland, where it was really really huge no 5 years ago.
That gets done with stolen vehicles and some rebuilds occasionally, but a VIN swap like that is a fast path to federal pound me in the ass prison.
I'd skip the Tesla part and just have it be a car you made. I think it'd be easier to get that approved and it's more legal.
Step 6. Fines and maybe a night in jail.
FBI open up
there are limitations, a non resident can get a car in for a year, and if it’s plated in Mexico a resident might get a similar permit.
My understanding is that it’s close to impossible for a US resident to bring one of the Chinese EVs into the states. You have to live in Mexico
register it with mexican plates and drive it over