[thelastgallon]

Allowing foreign competition is a forcing function to be more productive and innovative. Japanese/German competition didn't annihilate US car industry, why would Chinese cars do it?

Cars are a way to signal status. Americans don't want to buy cheap cars, because cheap cars means low status. They'd rather go into significant debt and keep up with the Joneses. The people buying pickup trucks and SUVs are mostly picking up their kids from elementary school which is half a mile away.