The automotive arm of a large Chinese corporation, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, is looking to gain a foothold in the U.S. market and may get a boost from President Joe Biden’s administration.- Polestar is hoping that some of the all-electric SUVs made at its upcoming South Carolina factory will qualify for a $7,500 consumer tax credit offered through Biden’s cornerstone climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, which subsidize the purchase of electric vehicles, Yahoo Finance reported.
- Geely chairman Li Shufu is a rare Chinese business leader who does not have membership in the Chinese Communist Party, but does serve as a member of a major “political consultative body” advising the Chinese government, according to the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
A Chinese conglomerate is looking to gain a foothold in the U.S. auto market and may get a boost from President Joe Biden’s administration.
Polestar — founded in 2017 by the Chinese corporation Zhejiang Geely Holding Group and its Swedish subsidiary Volvo — has most recently made inroads with the U.S. auto industry by becoming the latest in a series of auto companies to commit to using U.S.-based Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), a standardized charging port configuration for electric cars, according to Reuters. In addition to utilizing the NACS — which was partially subsidizedby the Biden administration — Polestar is hoping that some of the all-electric SUVs made at its upcoming South Carolina factory will qualify for a $7,500 consumer tax credit offered through President Joe Biden’s cornerstone climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which subsidize the purchase of electric vehicles, Yahoo Finance reported in late March.
The company will first launch a premium version of its upcoming Polestar 3 SUV in mid-2024, starting at roughly $84,000, but that price point would surpass the $80,000 threshold for SUVs to qualify for the credit, Yahoo Finance reported. To take advantage of the tax credits, Polestar plans to launch a cheaper variant with fewer amenities soon after production begins.
The Biden administration has made competition with China a priority as relations between the two nations have soured in recent months. While IRA tax credits do not directly finance the Chinese conglomerate, the administration expects that tax credits will help sales of qualifying vehicles — such as the upcoming Polestar 3 variant.
“These commitments are part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to spur domestic manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, boost U.S. competitiveness and create good-paying jobs,” reads a White House fact sheet. The statement continues, arguing that the IRA “adds and expands tax credits for purchases of new and used EVs—helping bring the benefits of clean energy to communities across the nation.”
The more expensive Polestar 3 variant could still qualify for the $7,500 tax credit through a provision that allows some leased electric vehicles to qualify for the credit regardless of country of origin or cost, Yahoo Finance reported. Foreign automakers lobbied heavily for this exemption, and some analysts expect it to make leasing the primary way U.S. consumers acquire electric vehicles, at least in the near future, Bloomberg reported.
“It will be a big milestone for our brand,” Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath said in a 2021 interview with CNBC, referring to the South Carolina factory. “The expression of the car will be so much Polestar and show where our brand is going in the future ahead.”
Geely chairman Li Shufu is a rare Chinese business leader who does not have membership in the Chinese Communist Party, but does serve as a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which describes itself as a “national political consultative body” advising the Chinese government. The firm’s $1.8 billion purchase of Volvo from Ford in 2010 was largely financed by low-interest loans from a trio of Chinese cities, where the company would eventually locate a pair of factories and a technology center, according to Reuters.
Chinese electric vehicle firms have increasingly been making progress in both Europe and the U.S., leveraging their sheer dominance in mineral supply chains and technical know-how in electrical vehicles to muscle into Western markets, Politico reported on Monday. Roughly 5.4 million electric vehicles, around two-thirds of the global total, were registered in China last year, and 19% of all cars sold in China last year were fully electric.
Chinese automakers “are leveraging their specific product know-how over incumbent European brands that employ a lot of people to make engines,” an anonymous auto manager told Politico. “[Volkswagen] would need to lay off half its staff” to meet the efficiency of its Chinese competitors, the manager added.
Several major clean energy projects — particularly in battery manufacturing and power generation — looking to take advantage of IRA tax credits rely on Chinese technology or intellectual property.
Geely, Polestar and The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
