Auto Start/Stop killed by EPA rules deregulation

[Zig]

Do you think we'll ever see the return of budget/value car brands in the future? That is, new/revived brands with cars specifically made for the demographic willing to spend, I don't know, $10K-30K tops for a new car...or is that a dream long gone for the US market due to tech/safety regulations?

Yes

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[keithwalton]

Do you think we'll ever see the return of budget/value car brands in the future? That is, new/revived brands with cars specifically made for the demographic willing to spend, I don't know, $10K-30K tops for a new car...or is that a dream long gone for the US market due to tech/safety regulations?

In the UK that's being covered by brands such as BYD and MG.
The formers sales were up nearly 500% in 2025 (up 40k+ sales) and nearly half that of Fords since entering the market 2 years ago. More strong growth in 2026 and they'll surpass ford. They've already overtaken Tesla here.

Ford on the other hand took a near 30% drop in sales in 2024 and only recovered by single digit % in '25.
BYD's are sold by some Ford dealers and fill the lower end market that Ford abandoned.

 

[LouG]

Do you think we'll ever see the return of budget/value car brands in the future? That is, new/revived brands with cars specifically made for the demographic willing to spend, I don't know, $10K-30K tops for a new car...or is that a dream long gone for the US market due to tech/safety regulations?

China. My neighbour just bought a Cherry crossover, same class as my wife's car with 1.5 turbo, very nice interior, build quality looked OK, OZ Wheels magazine import of the year.
Our Skoda is now $NZ54000, he paid $NZ27000 with 7 years warranty.
How many people would look at that difference and go Hmmmmm.

 

[Gregs24]

In the UK that's being covered by brands such as BYD and MG.
The formers sales were up nearly 500% in 2025 (up 40k+ sales) and nearly half that of Fords since entering the market 2 years ago. More strong growth in 2026 and they'll surpass ford. They've already overtaken Tesla here.

Ford on the other hand took a near 30% drop in sales in 2024 and only recovered by single digit % in '25.
BYD's are sold by some Ford dealers and fill the lower end market that Ford abandoned.

I think you need to go lower than those two.

Dacia make the cheapest cars together with low end Hyundai / Kia. Fairly stripped out but sell well.

Sales are not everything of course - no point selling a cheap car and making no profit or even making a loss.

 

[Gregs24]

BYD has just overtaken Ford for global sales!

 

[Neggytive]

If this start/stop stuff goes away in the US market, I'll be thrlled

Ever work on a Chrysler with the 2 battery setup they need for the auto start/stop system
They are more trouble than they are worth, the little batteries are $$$, there is no way to defeat the system even if you take the terminals off the small battery and connect them to the main battery, the computer knows and it tosses all sorts of codes.

When that crappy little battery starts going bad not only will it light the dashboard up like Times Square, it will drain the main battery trying to equalize the charge, they are not completely isolated as they should be.

Then we have Toyota, the computer counts the start cycles and the start stop cycles and at a certain point it tosses a code and they want you to replace the starter and 2 relays.

On my Toyota I shut it off as soon as I start the car and if I am in the computer with my scan tool I reset the count to zero

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