Over the years, car manufacturers, leaders, and car aficionados have been expressing concerns about the impact of Chinese automakers on our nation and the automotive sector as a whole. Although no Chinese corporations have yet entered the American market to directly sell vehicles, a few established brands have surreptitiously introduced cars made in China to American consumers. In the year 2024 so far, more than 40,000 cars manufactured in China have been purchased in the United States, and this figure is expected to rise further.
The second iteration of the Lincoln Nautilus was primarily designed and developed with the Chinese market in focus. Since its launch in the U.S. in early 2024, it has rapidly become the top-selling model for the brand. In the initial half of the year, 17,504 units of the Nautilus were sold, marking a 41.7% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Surpassing the Corsair, the brand’s next best-seller, by approximately 5,000 units. Lincoln recorded sales of 8,273 Nautiluses in Q2, a 20.8% increase from Q2 of the previous year.
Buick’s Envision SUV made history as the first China-manufactured vehicle to be available for sale in the U.S. back in 2015. Now in its second iteration with a far more appealing design, the Envision continues to be manufactured in China and sold to American consumers. Buick reported sales of 21,860 Envisions in the initial six months of the year, experiencing a nearly 21% decrease likely stemming from the recent facelift given to the model.
Thanks to its parent company Geely, the U.S. market has received Volvo cars manufactured in China for over five years. Presently, the only model available is the S90 sedan, which has never been a strong seller. Volvo consolidates sales figures for the S90 with the V90 wagon produced in Sweden, with only 808 units of the 90 series sold in the first half of the year.
Another brand under the Geely umbrella, the China-built Polestar 2, has been marketed in the U.S. since 2020. However, Polestar’s global sales have significantly declined this year, with only 3,301 units of the Polestar 2 delivered in America in the initial half of the year. The Polestar 4, also to be manufactured in China before transitioning production to South Korea next year, is set to hit the market later this year.
