[kEiThZ]

My bad, I hadn't realized that the Hyundai Group, which included Hyundai Heavy Industries (produces the KSS-III submarine) and the Hyundai Motor Company (produces cars under Hyundai, Kia and Genesis) was broken up in the early 2000s. That scuppers my plan.

Not just that. The company that is bidding in the Canadian submarine program is Hanhwa Ocean. Literally a competitor to Hyundai Heavy Industries. So not even the same family.

 

[picard102]

I suspect the risk here is that the US simply starts disallowing blanket clearance to drive into the US if there's a substantial divergence on standards. If that's not a risk, it would be easier to do this.

They already allow EU cars in the US if they are collector cars, meaning 15 years or older.
I can't imagine why a EU car wouldn't pass US standards or Canadian standards for that matter.

 

[kEiThZ]

They already allow EU cars in the US if they are collector cars, meaning 15 years or older.
I can't imagine why a EU car wouldn't pass US standards or Canadian standards for that matter.

The standards are different. US (and synch'd Canadian) standards are heavily focused on crash safety. European standards are focused more on pedestrian safety. There are distinctive design choices there that can be contradictory in each jurisdiction.

There's also all kinds of little differences that I found out when importing my Canadian standard German built VW to the US when I was posted there. From seatbelt buttons being different colours to mandatory requirements for tire pressure monitoring systems in the US. Ultimately, I simply kept my Canadian plates on, because the hassle of trying to get my car to meet US standards was too much work for the 2.5 years I was there. But I also had exemptions under state law for foreign military personnel, which would apply to normal imports.

All in all, the standards are different enough to be a substantial barrier to imports. As a fan of European cars, I'd be thrilled to have EU standards. But I also know from experience what a hassle taking a car to the US was. And I worry that Americans might use this as an excuse to thicken the border.