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Episode #1329: Lawmakers push to block Chinese vehicles as they sit just miles from the U.S. border. Meanwhile, those same brands are gaining attention from American drivers. Plus, a new “most trusted companies” list shows how perception is shaping retail and automotive players alike.

Show Notes with links:

• A growing group of U.S. lawmakers is urging the Trump administration to keep Chinese automakers out of the American market entirely, even as consumer interest rises and some leaders float U.S.-based production.
  • More than 70 House Democrats are pushing to maintain a full ban on Chinese vehicles entering the U.S. market.
  • The current restrictions stem from 2025 rules citing national security concerns, especially around data collection from connected vehicles.
  • Despite high tariffs and bans, consumer curiosity about Chinese EVs is increasing, especially with the Beijing Auto Show currently happening
  • The debate gets complicated as Trump made comments in January welcoming Chinese automakers building plants and jobs on U.S. soil.
  • “We must not cede the American auto industry to a strategic competitor intent on global dominance,” lawmakers said.

• Chinese automakers may be locked out of the U.S., but just five miles from the Texas border, they’re gaining traction with low prices and high-tech features.
  • Chinese brands like BYD, Geely, and Great Wall are thriving in Mexico with EVs, hybrids, and gas vehicles priced well below U.S. offerings.
  • Dealerships near El Paso are attracting attention from American shoppers, with some buyers and drivers already bringing vehicles into the U.S. under legal exceptions.
  • One driver regularly commutes into Texas in a Chinese plug-in hybrid.
  • Executives warn the pricing pressure is real, with some saying competing at Chinese price points would mean losing money.
  • “If they were allowed to be sold in the United States…they would destroy the American car market,” said a Geely salesman,

• A new ranking of America’s most trustworthy companies is out, based on a survey of 25,000 consumers, with retail brands dominating the list and sparking debate about how trust is measured and which companies truly earn it.
  • Newsweek’s 2026 list ranks retailers like Chewy, Costco, Amazon, and Home Depot among the most trusted companies in the U.S.
  • The rankings are based on consumer perceptions of trust across industries, with retail heavily represented at the top.
  • The report emphasizes that trust is increasingly tied to transparency, reliability, and handling of customer data.
  • Some critics argue the list favors large corporations and question whether trust can truly be measured through surveys.

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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