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The week's question
In March 2025, in the thread "Re: OT, out", Umm asked the members: "Do you think it is because America is made up of magical soil that makes businesses based in America magically profitable?" This week it is put to everyone again. The button below opens the small thread re-asking it - read what others have said so far, then give your own answer as an ordinary reply.
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Personal Finance / Retirement Investing
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Author: ajm101 ✭  😊 😞
Number: of 1355 
Subject: Re: Cars, year one, no commuting
Date: 03/16/26 12:17 PM
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The buyers of NEW EVs will eventually catch on that they will lose a ton of money in the first 1-2 years due to the massive depreciation. So soon virtually nobody will buy a NEW EV.
So there won't be any 2-year old EVs available.

For there to be 2 year old cars, somebody needs to buy new ones.
But nobody will, so there won't be any used ones in 2 years.


That doesn't make any economic sense, rayvt.

You make good points but I think you have something getting in the way of clear thinking on this particular issue. Price elasticity and demand are intrinsic and EVs are not some sort of magic exception. They provide a utility and have well understood advantages and disadvantages compared to internal combustion vehicles. They have been around for decades and there are are companies around the world making them profitably.

Maybe post some follow up information about how much they depreciate vs gas vehicles with actual figures? I think you'll find the difference is not large on an annual or total cost basis. Pretty modest considering the economies of scale of production. The people buying them are pretty aware of this, since they are equally smart as you even if they disagree with your conclusions.

Talking about EV write-offs without acknowledging US policy changes in the last year is a bit disingenuous. I think the manufacturs know they can't globally compete with Chinese EVs and are giving up, and hoping to continue to ride the Chicken Tax and sell $100k pickups to people that can barely afford them.

Why can't you just say you don't like EVs and be content with that?
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This community has written 1,284 posts about Retirement Investing. The article-length ones it recommended most:
The Case for Long-Term Buy and Hold Investing · 49 recs · 2025
Transferring assets to the next generation · 20 recs · 2025
Retirement Year 8 · 17 recs · 2025
(nearly) year one of retirement has been good · 11 recs · 2026
Buying Treasuries Via Vanguard · 10 recs · 2023
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