Chinese electric car giant BYD is investing US$290 million to build a lithium cathode factory in Chile, after securing raw materials at a discount from local suppliers.

Recent months have seen announcements from Chinese battery and electric vehicle company BYD Co Ltd about new investments in both Brazil and Thailand.

Under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed into law this year, tax credits are available for purchases of electric vehicles, but they are subject to various conditions related to the place of assembly of the product and the national origin of its components. Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD

Chile has long been considered a relatively free market-oriented bastion in South America, with more openness to foreign investment and trade than most countries on the continent. In recent years, though, there have been rising protests from the left against existing economic policies, with concerns raised about inequality and unfairness.

A U.S. federal government effort to provide more funding to state/local governments and agencies for electric vehicles is moving ahead, but Chinese companies will not be eligible.

Leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker BYD has received approval to sell a low-priced SUV in Australia and has made its first shipment there.

Last month, we wrote about a provision in the U.S. National Defense Authorization Act for 2020 designed to restrict Chinese-owned companies from selling rail cars or buses to be used in U.S. transit. While doing further research on the example we provided of electric bus purchases in Broward