American YouTuber guides foreigners around Chinese cars US buyers can't get 

[BEIJING] An American YouTuber is giving foreign visitors a first-hand look at the Chinese high-tech cars many US consumers can only see online.

At the Beijing Auto Show, which opened on Friday (Apr 24), 34-year-old Ethan Robertson shepherded more than a dozen people from Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere through sprawling halls packed with electric sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), pickup trucks and futuristic concept cars – offering an up-close look at the vehicles making China’s auto industry increasingly hard to ignore.

The North Carolina native is the co-founder of Wheelsboy, a YouTube channel specialising in Chinese cars for English-speaking audiences. For many on his tour, the appeal of the vehicles was obvious: low prices, advanced technology and plenty of variety.

At one booth, he showed off a luxury electric SUV from Stellantis-backed Leapmotor, which sports wide screens and a fridge in the back seat.

“You’re looking at a car that’s maybe US$30,000 and that car is fully equipped,” he said. In comparison, “US$30,000 barely gets you into any electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid” in the United States.

“Can’t believe” the US won’t sell this car

That price difference is a big reason why his largely American audience reacts with a mix of fascination and frustration.

“Our comment section is full of people saying things like, ‘I can’t believe the government won’t allow them to sell this car in my country,’” Robertson said.

One participant on the tour, New Zealand retiree John Cordell, was drawn to a shiny yellow Deepal S07 midsize crossover.

“First of all, I was attracted to the colour,” the 77-year-old former heating and ventilation engineer said. But it was more than the paintwork that won him over. He praised the interior, the heads-up display, the screens and the surround-view camera system.

SEE ALSO

Nissan bets on ‘China speed’ to get back on its feet

Ford denies reported talks with Geely to bring China tech to US

BYD’s car discounts show China’s EV price war is getting worse

China’s global EV push reflects its ambition - and harsh economics at home

More

His brother-in-law and his son accompanied him on the two-day, US$399 per person tour.

Cordell already owns a Chinese EV back home – a BYD Atto 3 – and said technology was a major selling point. “Everything is very well-engineered,” he said.

Changing perceptions

Andrew Pertsoulis, a 62-year-old retired performance coach from Sydney, said what stood out most was how futuristic the cars felt inside.

“It’s what separates them,” he said. The large screens and tech-rich interiors made him feel like he had “stepped into a new generation of vehicle”.

Robertson, who lives in China, said the perception of Chinese cars among US viewers has changed in the six years he has been covering the industry.

While the cars were seen as low-quality copycats early on, that has given way to recognition that many brands are now pushing the industry forward in areas such as battery performance, software and charging speeds.

Robertson, who started studying Chinese as an undergraduate, said he still sometimes gets accused of working for Chinese companies or the government because of positive coverage on his channel, which has 210,000 subscribers. He doesn’t work for either, he said.

More Americans are starting to follow the industry more closely.

Lei Xing is the American co-host of the China EVs & More podcast. Even for him, China’s industry – with more than 100 automakers – is huge and complex. “I get lost,” he said.

While he doesn’t expect Chinese brands to enter the US market quickly, due to hostile politics, he expects the cars will eventually reach American shores.

“It’s a matter of time,” he said. “I know in my life I’m going to be able to buy a Chinese EV.” REUTERS