Is the game changer the BYD Seagull or just another batch of Chinese junk?

Remember insurance and depreciation. New, unfamiliar or unproven brands might be more expensive to insure, and lose value quickly.

I'm skeptical. When it passes all the regulatory hoops, US companies will have played catch up and matched their own cheap EVs.

It would be a fight tooth and nail to keep it out by the established brands. They’d argue that there were ‘safety concerns’ or some other excuse.

Absolutely! If you drive, the fuel savings alone would make up for the purchase price in a few years.

No brainer in places where EV incentives exist. Practically, you could get paid to drive this thing.

For lower income folks who have been priced out of the EV market it could be huge. That could be massively disruptive on its own.

No way. That thing would crumple into a tin can with one hit from a big SUV. For highway driving, I’ll stick to the larger vehicles.

It's not just about money. And the convenience of never having to go to a gas station ever again is something too.

I think the environmental benefits make up for it even if the overall cost is a bit more.

Why not if it meets safety standards? All around the world, small cars drive on highways. It's more about defensive driving.

It would be a game-changer. What if everyone had an EV? It would be a massive environmental impact.

The low top speed is actually a plus for highway safety. Slower is safer, right?

Absolutely. Just the price point would make other manufacturers raise their game. Perhaps this is the kick the US EV market needs.

I'm not convinced. You do save on gas, but that doesn't account for what repairs can cost. It may be difficult to find or expensive parts.

I find it an interesting question of perception versus reality. It may statistically be very safe, but I would still feel vulnerable.

I'd be nervous. It’s not so much the car itself that I worry about, it’s all the huge trucks and distracted drivers out there.

I would question the resale value, but the math probably works out. Will anyone want a used Chinese EV in 5 years?

I would want to see some independent crash test results first. Other countries may have different Chinese safety standards.

It depends on your situation. It could be a massive money saver if you have cheap electricity and a short commute.

The real disruption would be to force US companies to innovate faster. Competition is good for consumers.

Safety is not something I'd worry about while speed is not a problem either, but range anxiety is something I'd worry about on long highway trips. A crash seems scarier than running out of charge.

Safety is relative. Is it as safe as a Volvo? Probably not. Is it safer than a motorcycle or a 20 year old clunker? Absolutely.

Most likely it is safer than we think. It's not about size; it's crumple zones and safety tech. I bet it does well in crash tests, better than expected.

I'd feel fine. Small cars of today are so much safer than they used to be and EVs tend to have a low center of gravity which makes them more stable.

No way. Americans like bigger cars. Here, a tiny EV, even if cheap, won’t appeal to the mass market.

It would definitely shake things up though I don’t think it would take over. Or it could find a market for city dwellers and second cars.

In concept, it’s a game changer, but I’ll wait and see how it performs in real world conditions outside of China.

Calling it junk is unfair. They are leading in battery tech and have a good track record. This could be the Model T of EVs.

I'm skeptical. Do you remember how people believed the Tata Nano would reinvent India's cars? Sometimes ultra-cheap isn't the answer.

Game-changer for sure. It's not perfect, but it's seeing what we can do with an affordable EV. That's good for everyone.

It’s probably decent quality for the price, but I wouldn’t trust it in a serious accident. China has different safety standards.

It's probably somewhere in between. It's game changing price, but with likely somewhat of a compromise we haven't seen yet. The big question mark is long term reliability.

Cheap Chinese junk, no doubt. With no room in the budget for a safe, reliable vehicle, there's no way they are going to make one for that price. Something's gotta give.

I think it's a game-changer. From what I've seen the build quality seems pretty inline with the previous husk, and it's priced to die. Not luxury, not junk.