TikTok has been flooding Americans with content featuring Chinese-made electric vehicles, stirring up demand for cars that are not currently for sale in the United States due to steep tariffs and regulations. Chinese car brands such as BYD, Xiaomi, and Zeekr are enticing US consumers with EVs that appear both luxurious and affordable.
Influencer Alexandra Kozak praised the 2023 BYD Seagull hatchback, listed at just $13,000, highlighting its 10-inch rotating touchscreen, Amazon Music, wireless charger, and four-airbag system. She described it as a “great price-point that people deserve to have here,” contrasting it with US cars starting at $30,000.
Car influencer Forrest Jones, who has 8.2 million followers on TikTok, showcased the Zeekr 9X, calling it the “most powerful SUV on the planet.” He demonstrated features such as massaging seats, dual touchscreens, a panoramic roof, reclining back seats with a heated leg-rest and footrest, a cooler, and a removable tablet. The Zeekr 9X costs $83,000.
In 2024, the Biden administration imposed a 100 percent tariff on Chinese EVs and later banned vehicle software and hardware from US adversaries, effectively blocking Chinese cars from US roads. Additionally, President Biden signed a law pressuring Chinese-owned ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations on national security grounds.
Chinese carmakers have not signalled plans to enter the US market soon. Geely, Zeekr’s parent company, told Bloomberg that collaborations with American influencers “are not a signal of an imminent US launch.” BYD and Xiaomi also stated they have no US launch plans. However, a Cox Automotive study found that 38 percent of Americans would be extremely or very likely to consider buying a Chinese car if available.
