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Today's Topics:
1. Chinese EVs (Stephen Loosley)
2. Prediction for 2026: Drone Shows vs Fireworks (Marghanita da Cruz)
3. Re: Prediction for 2026: Drone Shows vs Fireworks (David)
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Message: 1
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2026 22:01:57 +1030
From: Stephen Loosley <[email protected]>
To: "link" <[email protected]>
Subject: [LINK] Chinese EVs
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"
Chinese EVs are making inroads in North America. That worries industry experts
By ALEXA ST. JOHN Updated 10:04 AM GMT+11, January 17, 2026 Comments 18
https://apnews.com/article/china-electric-vehicles-automakers-canada-tariffs-7d396ab9ab0a7ee6c2c56cda23534918
DETROIT (AP) ? Chinese automakers have been making inroads around the world
with growing sales of their high-tech, stylish and affordable electric
vehicles.
That has had competitors concerned even before Canada this week agreed to cut
its tariffs on Chinese EVs in exchange for concessions on Canadian farm
products.
Experts now say an easier path into Canada could be a big boost for Chinese
carmakers looking to dominate the global market ? particularly as their
domestic market weakens. That poses a threat to other auto manufacturers,
particularly American companies.
U.S. officials acknowledged that in remarks at an assembly plant for Jeep-maker
Stellantis in Toledo, Ohio on Friday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said
the Chinese Communist Party invests in its auto industry to ?control this
industry.?
?Why? They want to take over the auto industry. They want to take away these
jobs,? Duffy said. As far as the Canadian trade deal, he added: ?They will live
to regret the day they partner with China and bring in their vehicles.?
Others say the shift is inevitable.
?This is telling us that Chinese automakers continue to be really popular, and
are doing better and better, and not just something that?s sold in global
markets that are more marginal or less important to U.S. automakers,? said
Ilaria Mazzocco, deputy director and senior fellow with the Trustee Chair in
Chinese Business and Economics at the Center for Strategic and International
Studies.
What makes Chinese vehicles stand out?
Chinese-made vehicles are high-quality, stylish and inexpensive, experts say.
?It?s clear that the vehicles made by Chinese brands come at a very competitive
cost, but are also technologically quite desirable,? Mazzocco said. ?They tend
to be connected vehicles, so they have a lot of additional software
capabilities that consumers seem to like. But the price point and the
competitiveness are really big selling points.?
These vehicles can cost as little as $10,000 to $20,000; in the U.S., new
vehicles are running close to $50,000 on average, and EVs even more so.
Chinese companies also have unique advantages as far as auto manufacturing and
production, efficiency and making vehicles lighter, which helps extend an
electrified vehicle?s driving range.
?They?ve found a way to make small and mid-sized cars ? cars that people want ?
at a reasonable price,? said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast
Solutions. ?These are the segments where GM and Ford and almost everybody else
have abandoned.?
Many automakers have discontinued smaller vehicles in favor of higher-margin,
large sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks that are far more profitable.
So why are Chinese EVs such a threat to U.S. automakers and others?
Much of the global auto market is electrifying, an ideal opportunity for
advanced Chinese automakers to capitalize on. China saw 17% growth in plug-in
hybrid and electric vehicles in 2025, according to data released by Benchmark
Mineral Intelligence this week, and Europe saw a 33% increase.
Meanwhile, U.S. sales of electrified cars grew just 1% last year. As the rest
of the world advances, U.S. automakers have weakened their once-ambitious,
multibillion dollar electrification plans, instead opting for more efficient
hybrid electric and gasoline vehicles amid the Trump administration?s shift
away from EV-friendly policy.
That shift threatens U.S. automakers? competitive edge in the coming years. As
is, Tesla lost its crown as the world?s bestselling electric vehicle maker last
year, delivering only 1.64 million vehicles in 2025 to Chinese rival BYD?s 2.26
million.
Trump administration policy slashing emissions rules at a time when Chinese
companies are advancing quickly has experts worried for the future of American
car manufacturers.
Chinese automakers will have to meet standards required for the Canadian auto
market for the latest trade arrangement to be successful ? standards that are
similar to those in the U.S. ? which is likely to incentivize Chinese auto
manufacturing investment in Canada.
They?ll also have to establish which segment of the market they are targeting
there: Higher-end vehicles, or less-expensive ones that sell at higher volumes.
Regardless, ?It brings it home to what is needed to compete globally,? said
Mark Wakefield, global automotive market lead at AlixPartners. The firm
predicts Chinese brands will account for 30% of the global market by 2030.
?They?ve already started in Europe. They started in South America. Now Mexico
and Canada,? Wakefield said. American carmakers ?don?t want to end up as a
Brazil with your ethanol-based cars that aren?t sellable anywhere else in the
world and ... like Britain or Australia that used to matter in the auto world,
and no longer really matter.?
Why have others sought to regulate Chinese EV-makers? expansion?
Countries have attempted to regulate Chinese EVs from entering their markets
for several reasons.
?China has become this overwhelming machine making inexpensive vehicles. And
the fear is that if you give them an inch, they?re going to take a mile,?
Fiorani said. ?The other issue is technology. These vehicles are data
centers... and the idea that a state-owned company in China could have access
to where a high portion of drivers are going gives them leverage for all kinds
of outlets.?
The European Union hiked tariffs on Chinese EVs last year, though the two have
been resolving that at the start of this year.
In 2024, former President Joe Biden set a 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars.
Canada matched that import tax on the vehicles until this week. And even with
an annual import cap, Canada cutting its tariffs this week means those
companies are another step closer to U.S. soil. The Mexican auto market has
welcomed Chinese EVs, with massive growth last year.
?The advance of Chinese manufacturers is inevitable. It will happen eventually.
Everybody is negotiating to put up the roadblocks to figure out: What data is
being processed, how much market share you?re going to allow Chinese
manufacturers to have?? Fiorani added.
?There are a lot of guardrails that have to be put up, but eventually they?re
going to make their way into all Western markets.?
___
Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X:
@alexa_stjohn. Reach her at [email protected]. St. John is a climate reporter
for The Associated Press based in Detroit. She covers environmental and energy
policy, breaking climate news and extreme weather.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2026 08:50:32 +1100
From: Marghanita da Cruz <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: [LINK] Prediction for 2026: Drone Shows vs Fireworks
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Seems Drone shows have matured.
*ELEVATE Sydney SkyShow 2023 - Original Soundtrack by
DOBBY?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neiOLuDh1MM
*Canberra Drone Show
https://www.act.gov.au/our-canberra/latest-news/2025/2026/flight-drone-skyshow-and-night-markets-return-in-2026
*China Welcomes 2026 with Firework Displays, Drone Shows
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxmANgNLNdM
and
> Seahawks Host Drone Show At Halftime Of Sunday Night Football Matchup
> vs. Green Bay Packers
> The Seahawks put together the first ever drone show at halftime of an
> NFL game during their Week 15 Sunday Night Football Matchup vs. the
> Green Bay Packers at Lumen Field.
https://www.seahawks.com/video/seahawks-host-drone-show-at-halftime-of-sunday-night-football-matchup-vs-green-bay-packers
Maybe NYE 2026 in Sydney will have a Drone Show.
Marghanita
--
Marghanita da Cruz
Telephone: 0414-869202
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://ramin.com.au
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2026 11:43:00 +1100
From: David <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [LINK] Prediction for 2026: Drone Shows vs Fireworks
Message-ID: <22391817.4csPzL39Zc@ulysses>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I suppose every festival, football match, public holiday or significant
occasion will soon have to outdo all previous drone shows. The mind boggles at
the possibilities... So call me an old grump, but I predict I'll be
increasingly pleased I no longer live near Sydney Harbour, or Barangaroo, or
indeed anywhere near Sydney.
But there's that damn sulphur-crested cockatoo trying to open the wire door at
the laundry again...
_DavidL_
------------------------------
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