I would not want to be an auto manufacturer right now.

Recall Solyndra's fate.

A single US-based manufacturer with very modest govt support vs China's all-in strategic industrial policy, commitment to dominating the market, spinning up the entire supply chain composed of 100s of companies.

Its the same situation with batteries and automobiles.

I agree they're in a horrible bind.

In a different timeline, we'd have a "master plan" of how to ensure industry (and the populous) is able to thrive in the future. I believe it's technically a solvable problem but it requires adults in the room, who value the the country as a whole. We do not have that, and I'm afraid it's possible we never will.