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Gavin Newsom faces backlash for flaunting hybrid EV made by Chinese firm he once awarded a $990M no-bid contract

During his recent diplomatic visit to China, Gavin Newsom tried out a hybrid EV manufactured by the massive Chinese corporation, BYD Company

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In a move that has drawn the ire of several California lawmakers and critics, Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom promoted a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer during his recent diplomatic visit to the country.

Newsom took a test drive of a hybrid vehicle produced by BYD Company, a massive Chinese corporation, igniting a political firestorm, as he previously awarded the business a no-bid contract, according to the Daily Caller.

BYD Company's questionable ties

BYD Company, according to a 2019 report by the Alliance for American Manufacturing, has direct ties to the Chinese Communist Party's industrial policy apparatus and has been the recipient of billions of dollars in grants and subsidies from the government.

Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to award BYD a $990 million no-bid contract in 2020, during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, further raises eyebrows as the company is actively involved in China's "Belt and Road Initiative."

His China tour is a weeklong trip beginning with a stop in Hong Kong and will proceed to Beijing, Jiangsu, and Shanghai. However, the promotional video of Newsom's visit to BYD's facilities has sparked significant backlash from California Republicans and a wave of criticism on social media.

Representative Darrell Issa did not mince words and said, "Governor Newsom ought to know that China isn’t a trusted partner and shouldn’t be an example for us to follow," as per Fox Business.

"Endorsing Beijing manufacturing — so much of which is stolen from American innovators — may advance partisan climate politics, but it won’t do anything to deliver real prosperity to Californians suffering under the failed policies of Sacramento and the record inflation of Bidenomics," added the California Rep. 

Controversy surrounding climate initiatives

Representative Doug LaMalfa, another California Republican, expressed similar sentiments, remarking, "Governor Newsom is more interested in promoting Chinese companies than American. Ultimately, anything produced in China will be dirtier and produced with potential slave labor."

He went on to add, "To promote China’s polluting industry while destroying California jobs and making everything more expensive is a textbook example of democrat priorities. His shadow Presidential campaign should be focused on supporting American exceptionalism, not pandering to the Chinese Communist Party."

Prior to the trip, Governor Gavin Newsom had pledged to use it as an opportunity to further California-China cooperation on various climate issues, including "cleaning the air, accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, protecting people from extreme weather, and conserving lands and oceans."

Representative Michelle Steel, also a California Republican, criticized Newsom's choice to promote Chinese EVs, saying, "It is a slap in the face to Californians to see Gov Newsom promote the CCP’s electric cars, built off the backs of slave labor, while he and the Democratic party discourage the mining of critical minerals required to make the batteries for these cars."

She argued that US domestic mining is cleaner and safer and would bring significant economic benefits.

However, China currently dominates the global EV supply chain, producing a substantial share of lithium-ion batteries and key minerals.

Governor Newsom's trip to China comes amid his aggressive push for a green energy transition in California. His administration issued environmental regulations in August 2022 that would ban gas-powered cars and mandate electric cars by 2035.

Nevertheless, in a bipartisan vote last month, the House voted to overturn this mandate by revoking an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver that enabled these regulations.

Impact of China's EV dominance

"I find it ironic that Gov Newsom is using his time in China to promote the Chinese-produced BYD hybrid when his own administration is attempting to restrict sales of hybrid vehicles like the one he drove," said GOP Rep Jay Obernolte to Fox Business.

He added, "I hope he will reconsider his misinformed attempt to limit the sale of hybrids and withdraw his request for an EPA waiver that would allow him to impose this decision on California consumers."

"If not, my bill, the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act, which recently passed the House on a bipartisan basis, will direct the EPA to deny his waiver and protect Americans right to make their own choices about which vehicle is best for their families," continued Obernolte. 

Furthermore, China's dominance in the global EV supply chain raises concerns that US mandates would largely benefit the Chinese industry.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), China produces approximately 75% of all lithium-ion batteries globally, along with substantial production capacity for other critical EV components.

The IEA data also revealed that more than 50% of lithium, cobalt, and graphite processing and refining capacity is located in China. To secure control over mineral production, Chinese investment firms have been actively acquiring stakes in African mines, particularly those rich in cobalt.

Several barriers to entry, including permitting and environmental regulations, have largely prevented the US from establishing a strong foothold in the global EV supply chain.

In 2022, the US produced negligible amounts of critical minerals, such as graphite, cobalt, nickel, and copper, according to federal geological data.

Internet reacts to Gavin Newsom checking out BYD Company's hybrid EV

Soon after the video of Gavin Newsom trying out BYD Company's hybrid EV made it to X (formerly Twitter), netizens started to slam the California Gov for further associations with a Chinese company. 

One wrote, "So tired of this grifter," while another added, "China can have Newsom… and fact keep him pleaseeeee." 

"California has thousands of problems and this idiot is in China," stated a person. 

"Why the hell is he there?? No wonder we are the laughing stock of the world…all of these clowns kissing China’s a**," remarked someone else.

One more inquired, "Glad he's having such a good time. How are the citizen's in his state faring? Will the average Californian be able to afford this vehicle? Will they want to, when they also have to worry about rent, food, gas & maintaining jobs to provide for their families while companies leave?"