How a Man Wisely Navigated US Tariffs to Legally Bring in a Chinese Electric Vehicle | Carscoops

      Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) face significant restrictions in the USA, yet in 2021, a man from Oklahoma successfully imported a Wuling Macaron legally.

      While it appears that Chinese EVs are poised to dominate the global market, the situation in the US is quite different. Last year, President Biden raised tariffs from 25% to 100% to eliminate their cost advantage. Although Trump's new tariffs further complicated matters, someone managed to import a Wuling in 2021.

      The US and China have been in a prolonged conflict, which seems to be intensifying with time. This rivalry could be likened to a modern-day version of the US versus USSR scenario – some might call it Cold War 2.0, with China taking the place of the Soviet Union after its sudden collapse in the early 1990s. Nations often need a significant adversary to rally their citizens and keep their military and industrial sectors engaged.

      One of the most contentious battlegrounds in this ongoing conflict is the automotive industry. Historically, China was perceived similarly to the Soviet Union, viewed by Westerners as monolithic and antiquated, with its citizens granted virtually no freedom. Many did not own cars at all, and those who did were stuck with locally produced options that fell short of Western standards. The dynamics have shifted dramatically since then.

      The US Is Facing a “National Security” Dilemma

      Now, it seems the world fears a potential invasion from China, but not through military means. Instead, it's through the seemingly innocent proliferation of electric vehicles. Not the inexpensive alternatives from Europe or the US, but sophisticated EVs with advanced technology, contemporary designs, numerous features, and performance that competes effectively with other brands, all offered at more affordable prices.

      This has prompted the US to actively prevent the importation of these vehicles under the pretense of safeguarding national security.

      This situation didn't originate under Donald Trump, although the 47th president has been quite vocal about reversing China's gains. It was Joe Biden, his predecessor, who raised tariffs on Chinese vehicles from 25% to 100% in 2024 and banned tech company Huawei from operating in the US, citing national security concerns as well.

      Aside from vehicles manufactured by brands like Volvo, Polestar, and Ford that are produced in China, no cars from the People's Republic can be sold in the US, while GM and Ford have been operating in China for years, even producing cars tailored to the preferences of local consumers.

      A Man’s Determination to Own GM's Wuling Macaron

      This brings us to John Karlin, who may have considered all these factors when he stumbled upon an article in 2021 stating that GM China’s Wuling Hongguang Mini EV was outpacing the Tesla Model 3 in sales in China. "I saw an article saying the most popular EV in the world is the Hongguang Mini EV, but you can’t have one. So that got me asking: Well, why is it the most popular vehicle? And why can’t I have one?" he recounted to Wired.

      Curious about the hype, he ordered a Wuling Macaron, a more upscale variant of the Mini EV, and was determined to make it his daily driver, even though car imports from China are officially banned.

      Undaunted, he purchased one and began searching for a legal route to import the EV to the US. Acquiring it was straightforward and cost him under $8,000. However, navigating the processes of importing, registering, and legally driving it in the US proved to be the real challenge. By October, Karlin, a registered nurse and quality process analyst, was driving from Oklahoma City to Freeport, Texas, to collect it. This naturally raises the question: how did he achieve this?

      A Legal Loophole and Clever Strategy

      Karlin's first obstacle was the 25-year import law which allows vehicles of that age or older to bypass the federal certification process. The issue was that China hadn't been manufacturing EVs for that long. Grey or parallel imports, which thrive in countries like the UK where many Japanese cars have been imported, were also not an option due to a Congressional decision in 1988 that outlawed them to protect American-made cars during times of increased competition from European and Japanese manufacturers.

      Nonetheless, Karlin found another avenue. He discovered that certain states, including Oklahoma, have their own safety regulations for low- and medium-speed vehicles that are not permitted on highways. Although these laws are intended for street-legal golf carts or farm vehicles, the compact Wuling Macaron also fit this criteria.

      To register it, he simply needed to modify the EV’s top speed to 35 mph, demonstrating that it wouldn't be highway-legal. While this might deter some, Karlin reasoned that since he only needed it for commuting and grocery trips, the limited speed was not a significant issue for him.

      Once past this