The missing $20,000 EV: Why small, cheap electric cars don't work on North American roads

New, very cheap EVs are booming overseas, but similar models largely aren’t showing up in North America. The article points to a recent Chinese debut of sub-$20,000 EVs from brands including Volkswagen, Hyundai and MG, with small hatchbacks even cheaper. It describes how European cities such as Paris, Milan and Amsterdam are filled with micro-vehicles like the $6,600 Citroën Ami and the Microlino, as well as the G-Wiz that sold in India and the UK but never made it to North America. In China, the International Energy Agency data cited says 70% of battery-electric cars sold cost less than the average internal-combustion vehicle. Yet U.S. and Canada pricing starts closer to $30,000, making the Chevrolet Bolt (~$29,900) the cheapest EV, while models like the BYD Seagull start around $10,000. The piece links the gap to regulatory classification, cheaper-fuel culture, and escalating safety requirements.