"Chinese cars are very popular in Mexico and have a strong influence, with many dealerships across the country."

John Romer, a 73-year-old retired radiologist from Huntsville, Alabama, currently resides in Mexico. He visits his family in Alabama four times a year.

Recently, the German edition of Business Insider reported that last October, John Romer bought a BYD Song Plus plug-in hybrid SUV in Mexico. After a few months of use, there have been no problems so far. At home in the United States, he also has a Tesla Model 3. This retired radiologist said he prefers BYD and plans to give this Tesla to his 16-year-old grandson next year and buy a BYD Dolphin Mini for his wife.

Chinese cars sailing to all corners of the world

Data shows that Mexico, a less popular country for "Made in China" exports, has become the largest destination for Chinese car exports!

Between January and July 2025, the total number of cars exported from China to Mexico reached 272,100, an increase of 25.5% compared to the previous year. Chinese automakers such as BYD are rapidly expanding in Mexico. However, due to tariffs, Chinese brand cars cannot enter the US market.

The report from the German edition of Business Insider

John Romer told Business Insider why he prefers Chinese cars:

I am a 73-year-old former radiologist. After working in Huntsville, Alabama for 35 years, I retired nine years ago. After retiring, I moved to Florida. But after a while, my wife and I decided to move back to Alabama, where we bought a small house so that we could be closer to our children and grandchildren. But now, I spend most of my time in Mexico. I have been living there intermittently for eight years, and I am currently spending about nine months a year in Mexico and four months a year in Alabama to visit my family.

Chinese cars are very popular in Mexico. When I was considering buying a new car, BYD was the obvious choice. The company has a strong market presence in Mexico with many dealerships across the country.

A retired American radiologist driving a Chinese car

Last October, I test drove a BYD Song Plus plug-in hybrid SUV, and I was very impressed. I bought it for approximately 777,000 pesos (about RMB 298,300), and I received it in early November. I have been driving it for several months, and there have been no problems so far.

It is very fuel-efficient—I can get over 14 kilometers per liter of fuel—and the plug-in hybrid allows me to go anywhere I want flexibly.

I originally wanted to choose an electric vehicle, but Mexico does not yet have the charging infrastructure like Europe or the United States, so I think plug-in hybrids are more suitable here. The Song Plus is very comfortable, and it has many safety features that I really like. It has a large space, which might make driving a bit difficult, but it has a blind spot warning and automatic braking in front and rear. If you don't notice the traffic conditions in front and behind, it will automatically brake.

John Romer's BYD car

I have a Tesla Model 3 at home, which I bought two years ago, and its price is similar to that of the BYD Song Plus. I drive it when I go to my daughter's house in Kentucky, Alabama, but now it is mostly kept in the garage. I may give it to my grandson, who will be 16 next year.

Comparing plug-in hybrid cars and electric vehicles is like comparing apples and oranges. But I prefer BYD over Tesla. Tesla is a good car, but it's a bit troublesome. When I drive to my daughter's house in Kentucky, Alabama, I have to stop to charge it. It's not a big deal, but it's uncomfortable. If I were driving a plug-in hybrid, I would almost certainly not have to stop. I also don't like Tesla's "Autopilot" (autonomous driving) mode. I update it regularly, but it still doesn't work the way I want it to. For example, based on my experience, it can't handle roundabouts, and it also performs poorly on construction sites.

BYD also has similar systems, but I haven't used them yet. There are many construction sites in the area where I live, and the infrastructure isn't great, so I'm a bit cautious about using it here.

The quality of Tesla's craftsmanship is not as good as that of the BYD Song Plus. BYD feels solid, the interior is well-filled, and in my opinion, its quality is better than Tesla's.

John Romer values the advanced technology of Chinese cars

I am a true tech enthusiast, and BYD has a lot of advanced technology.

In addition to the head-up display and automatic lights, it also displays a beautiful 3D model of the car on the screen (Tesla also has it, but not as accurate as BYD's), which is very useful when parking and operating the car.

BYD is everywhere in Mexico and offers very competitive prices. I plan to buy a BYD Dolphin Mini for my wife. The BYD Dolphin Mini costs $21,000 (approximately RMB 149,400) and comes with an eight-year battery warranty.

Mexico has become the largest export destination for Chinese cars

Finally, he emphasized: "I disagree with the US imposing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. I have always believed in free trade. I am very disappointed with the tariffs imposed by Trump. I believe competition is always good because it promotes the development of new technologies and higher-quality products. If you lack competitiveness in an industry, you should find another place and let nature take its course. Instead of trying to artificially promote the industry through tariffs, which only increases prices."

It's easy to imagine that without Trump's outrageously high tariffs, many American drivers are expected to buy Chinese cars like John Romer and give a thumbs up!

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7567721927696056859/

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