Chinese EV Makers Playing Long Game for US Market, Analysts Say

Employees work on an electric vehicle (EV) production line at the Leapmotor factory in Jinhua, China’s eastern Zhejiang province, on Sept. 18, 2024. Adek Berry/AFP via Getty ImagesChinese electric vehicle (EV) makers may appear locked out of the U.S. market amid tariffs, political scrutiny, software restrictions, and trade tensions, but industry analysts say many may still be pursuing a long-term strategy for eventual entry.The strategy mirrors the gradual rise of Japanese and Korean automakers in the United States, such as Toyota and Hyundai, and comes as Chinese automakers face mounting pressure to expand overseas.