BajaNomad

Baja Electric Vehicles

JDCanuck - 3-30-2024 at 04:32 PM

When I flew into Mexico last fall I was surprised to note all the ads at the airport for the BYD EV's now available in Mexico. The BYD Dolphin was advertised as available in Mexico City for the low price of 31000 USD, including taxes and without any rebates. This vehicle is significantly cheaper than any other EVs available yet in Mexico and has the US unions up in arms in case they attempt to export to the US.
Range is very good, and the latest models have the additional ability to feed back to homes in case of power outages.
Now there is an even cheaper, more compact model being produced in China, about the size and appearance of a Honda Fit, getting good ratings globally for practicality. Will it ever be allowed into the US and Canada or is it too doomed to only be available in Mexico and other Latin American countries?
Here it is:
https://www.carsales.com.au/editorial/details/byd-dolphin-mi...

SFandH - 3-30-2024 at 08:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck  
Will it ever be allowed into the US and Canada or is it too doomed to only be available in Mexico and other Latin American countries?


I've read that BYD is going to build a plant in Mexico. Thanks to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, Chinese cars built in Mexico can be sold in the US without imposing the current tariff (27.5%) on Chinese vehicles.

I bet it happens.

I saw a cool-looking Chinese car yesterday in Mulege.


[Edited on 3-31-2024 by SFandH]

JDCanuck - 3-31-2024 at 09:31 AM

We have been watching entrenched US industry fight the adoption of EV's for decades now. Thankfully, at the same time Tesla fought that trend and kept NA as a player in the industry. Otherwise, we would have seen almost complete domination by forward moving Chinese industry led by BYD.

KurtG - 3-31-2024 at 06:18 PM

This is a partial list of cars and trucks built in Mexico and sold in the US. Chinese car companies have already announced their intent to build factories in Mexico to build ev's for the US market.
https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/advice/made-in-mexico

RFClark - 4-1-2024 at 03:55 AM

Lobsterman,

PB doesn't like container houses either. But your description fits him to a “T”!

Electric vehicles will never be popular in Mexico until CFE’s rate policy changes.which could happen after this years election.

We probably use 200KWH a month operating our PHEV if we were on CFE not solar that would be very expensave.

[Edited on 4-1-2024 by RFClark]

surabi - 4-1-2024 at 08:23 AM

I don't see anything wrong with CFE's rate structure. The people who live simply and aren't heavy consumers of electricity get their bill subsidized and those who are heavy consumers can obviously afford to have lots of things which consume electricity, like to indulge themselves in being comfortable at all times, and having all the electric appliances and toys they want, and should pay higher rates, or pay to set up solar.
I live quite comfortably, don't have solar, and have never had a CFE bill over 275 pesos for 2 months.

stillnbaja - 4-1-2024 at 09:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
I don't see anything wrong with CFE's rate structure. The people who live simply and aren't heavy consumers of electricity get their bill subsidized and those who are heavy consumers can obviously afford to have lots of things which consume electricity, like to indulge themselves in being comfortable at all times, and having all the electric appliances and toys they want, and should pay higher rates, or pay to set up solar.
I live quite comfortably, don't have solar, and have never had a CFE bill over 275 pesos for 2 months.


same here but recently mines crept up into the 400 peso area.....but I love my air fryer!

RFClark - 4-1-2024 at 10:41 AM

You’re never going to replace gasoline and diesel with electric rates that tax one group to buy votes from a different group!

That said we don’t pay CFE a Peso so it’s not a problem!

surabi - 4-1-2024 at 10:57 AM

I agree that if we want to encourage people to transition to EVs, there should be rebates that would offset the cost of the increased electricity bills.

But just lowering the DAC rate wouldn't necessarily increase the number of gas guzzlers being replaced with EVs. High electric consumers may not have any interest in getting an EV vehicle, they would just benefit from lower rates for all their creature comforts, like pools, hot tubs, pressure pumps, AC in every room, etc.


[Edited on 4-1-2024 by surabi]

RFClark - 4-1-2024 at 11:50 AM

It’s necessary to view the economy and political structure together.

Mexico has a VAT of between 0% and 16%. It’s weighted towards the poor.

CFE has a rate structure for businesses and homes also weighted towards the poor.

PEMEX has gas and Diesel prices that don’t reflect the local cost of selling the products.

Where any of the monies raised by the above goes is less than transparent.

The possible next President of Mexico is talking about changing things. Changing because Mexico’s three pillars of foreign exchange, Oil sales, Tourism and remissions from the U.S. are changing.

What you can say is that the very rich and very poor won't pay for it.

surabi - 4-1-2024 at 01:16 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  


Mexico has a VAT of between 0% and 16%. It’s weighted towards the poor.




??? IVA is not 0-16%. It is either 16% or not applied at all, as on human food.
No one gets a break, according to their income level, on the things that the 16% IVA is charged on.
Where have you ever encountered an IVA charge of more than 0 but less than 16%?

RFClark - 4-1-2024 at 01:40 PM

First the Mexico VAT rates.

“0”, 8%, 16%! Google it!

The rates will need to change to cover the social programs and the things that need to be done to move away from a very oil based economy. Roads for electric cars need the potholes filled as well as lots of chargers. The fuel income won’t pay for it!

There’s lots of grease in the PEMEX system. That too needs to be replaced! Government runs on grease!

Tioloco - 4-1-2024 at 01:40 PM

Will be interesting to see what happens if Mexico loses its large scale oil export profits. Lots of unintended consequences to be sorted out if so.

surabi - 4-1-2024 at 03:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
First the Mexico VAT rates.

“0”, 8%, 16%! Google it!



The only place the IVA (VAT) is reduced to 8% on some things is in the northern or southern border regions. Otherwise it is always 16%, or 0 on exempted goods and services.

And it has nothing to do with favoring those of lower income, as you stated. It's the category of goods or services that determines whether there is IVA charged or not, it has nothing to do with the consumer.

BajaGringo - 4-1-2024 at 03:12 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Tioloco  
Will be interesting to see what happens if Mexico loses its large scale oil export profits. Lots of unintended consequences to be sorted out if so.


Pemex has been losing money for decades due to corruption, large scale gasoline theft (huachicoleros) and largely due to the lack of any long term planning/strategies for operating such a huge business.

Mexico changes its president every 6 years and all they have left once they take office and get the ball rolling is about 5 years if they are lucky to make any serious changes before the next president takes office, rolls back the changes and comes out with an entirely new strategy.

It's a stupid way to operate any really large company but that's what you get with a state run oil company.

The main reason why they keep it under government control is that it gives them access to billions of dollars in cash flow each month and they just kick the growing debt can down the road for the next administration to deal with.

Under AMLO, Pemex is losing 32 dollars on each barrel of oil processed through their refineries, more than doubling the losses per barrel from the previous administration:

https://www.elfinanciero.com.mx/economia/2024/02/13/pierde-p...




[Edited on 4-1-2024 by BajaGringo]

RFClark - 4-1-2024 at 03:30 PM

Like I said Government tuns on Grease!

mtgoat666 - 4-1-2024 at 03:50 PM

Elec vehicles will be beneficial for mexico’s urban areas and it’s horrible air pollution, e.g. mexico city.

surabi - 4-1-2024 at 04:03 PM

I remember reading years ago that Mexico.City was removing topes, as studies had shown increased levels of pollution near them, as traffic slowed down to a crawl when having to go over a tope.

Tioloco - 4-1-2024 at 05:08 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi  
I remember reading years ago that Mexico.City was removing topes, as studies had shown increased levels of pollution near them, as traffic slowed down to a crawl when having to go over a tope.


The lack of "smart" traffic control devices (red lights) is a far larger burden on the efficiency of vehicles. Unfortunately it hasnt been a big priority yet.