Question Details

Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.

During the current calendar year, one out of every four newly acquired automobiles in China is projected to be either a battery-electric model or a plug-in hybrid. The nation's charging infrastructure now boasts approximately four million stations—a figure that has doubled over the past twelve months and continues to expand rapidly. In contrast to alternate global markets that remain reliant on state financial aid, the Chinese consumer landscape has reached a distinct maturity phase: buyers are evaluating electric models against internal combustion alternatives predominantly on technological attributes and cost competitiveness, independent of government aid. Meanwhile, the United States trails significantly. While the U.S. recently crossed the benchmark of electric models comprising 5 percent of total new vehicle transactions, China cleared that identical milestone back in 2018. China represents one of the world's most rapidly expanding electric car sectors, with projected annual deliveries expected to double to nearly six million units—surpassing the combined total of all other nations.

Furthermore, newly introduced U.S. policy measures have sparked debate regarding their potential efficacy in alleviating market hurdles such as extended delivery delays, constrained vehicle inventories, and elevated retail pricing. The recently enacted Inflation Reduction Act introduced a $7,500 tax rebate for eligible electric vehicles, contingent on strict domestic assembly and battery sourcing mandates. Car manufacturers raised concerns that these criteria disqualify a vast majority of current electric models and that rigid supply chain stipulations could inadvertently elevate manufacturing expenses.

Establishing the bedrock of China's self-sustaining electric mobility sector required over ten years of sustained state subsidies, targeted long-range capital deployment, and extensive network building. Industry analysts now suggest that intense market rivalries and corporate agility are the primary growth catalysts, rather than state aid. China's commitment to advancing its domestic EV ecosystem was clearly demonstrated in 2018 when it facilitated Tesla's construction of a major manufacturing facility in Shanghai, an initiative aimed at compelling local enterprise to directly challenge a international sector leader.

In what way do recent policy measures in the United States fall short in mitigating challenges within its electric vehicle sector?

Options

A

Legislative tax benefits apply to a restricted range of vehicle models while imposing strict supply chain conditions that may raise costs.

B

Domestic car manufacturers are given insufficient financial motivation to maintain viable operations.

C

Mandatory regional constraints restrict production schedules based on local component availability.

D

All of the above

E

An over-reliance on state financial aid has fundamentally hindered the growth of the American market.

Show Answer

Correct Answer :

Option A

Legislative tax benefits apply to a restricted range of vehicle models while imposing strict supply chain conditions that may raise costs.

Solution :

Correct Answer: Legislative tax benefits apply to a restricted range of vehicle models while imposing strict supply chain conditions that may raise costs.

Step-by-Step Explanation:

Step 1: Analyze the question and locate relevant information in the text
The question asks how recent U.S. policy measures fall short in addressing challenges within the electric vehicle (EV) sector. We look at the second paragraph of the passage, which explicitly discusses the newly enacted U.S. policy measure: the Inflation Reduction Act.

Step 2: Examine the details of the U.S. policy measures
The passage states that the Inflation Reduction Act introduced a $7,500 tax rebate for eligible electric vehicles. However, this financial incentive is contingent upon strict mandates regarding domestic assembly and battery sourcing.

Step 3: Identify the specific drawbacks highlighted by industry experts
The passage outlines two major concerns raised by car manufacturers:
1. Restricted Eligibility: The strict mandates disqualify a vast majority of current electric models from receiving the tax benefits.
2. Elevated Costs: The rigid supply chain stipulations could inadvertently increase manufacturing expenses.

Step 4: Conclusion
These two drawbacks directly correspond to the statement that legislative tax benefits apply to a restricted range of vehicle models while imposing strict supply chain conditions that may raise costs. Thus, this option correctly identifies how the U.S. policies fall short.

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