How US Influencers Are Fueling Demand for Chinese EVs Despite US Sales Ban

Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) are legally barred from sale in the United States, yet they dominate American social media feeds. A recent survey reveals that one-third of US new-car shoppers now say they would consider purchasing a Chinese-built vehicle. Behind this trend is a Beijing-based platform called DCar, which is actively facilitating US influencers to test and review these EVs.

Influencers Driving Demand for Banned Chinese EVs

Despite the legal restrictions, Chinese car brands are cultivating a loyal fanbase in America, largely through targeted influencer campaigns. Popular automotive content creators are testing these vehicles on US roads, generating millions of views and sparking interest among potential buyers.

Forrest Jones, a pioneer of short-form car reviews on TikTok, has reviewed multiple Chinese EVs over the past two years. His content has amassed tens of millions of views, with some of his highest engagement coming from videos featuring these vehicles. In 2024, tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee tested the Xiaomi SU7 in the US. His video, which has garnered 10 million views, reportedly generated $1.2 million in unpaid brand exposure for Xiaomi.

The impact of Brownlee’s video was immediate. Data from Sprout Social shows that Xiaomi’s TikTok following increased by 20% in 2025, with half of the platform’s 7.8 million followers based in the United States. The video also triggered a surge in inquiries from Americans. According to China EV Marketplace, an e-commerce platform exporting Chinese EVs overseas, the company received over 1,000 price-quote requests from the US after Brownlee’s video was released. Many of these inquiries came from people seemingly unaware that EVs like the SU7 cannot be legally insured or titled in the US.

DCar: The Platform Behind the Campaigns

A Chinese automotive content platform, Beijing Dongchedi Technology Co., Ltd. (DCar), is playing a central role in promoting Chinese EVs in the US. Spun out of ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, in 2023, DCar has been actively courting American influencers to create content for its mobile app and showcase Chinese automotive technology. The platform boasts 10 million daily active users in China.

In early 2025, DCar funded a trip to Alaska for several YouTubers, including Richard Benoit, known online as Rich Rebuilds. The company presented him with a catalog of electric models, such as the BYD Fangchengbao and Wuling Bingo, before shipping the cars to the US. DCar covered Benoit’s travel expenses and paid him a fee equivalent to the price of a cheap Chinese EV for his coverage, he told Bloomberg. The company stated it purchased or rented all the models itself, with no involvement from the carmakers, to maintain objectivity and veracity in the content.

In return, DCar gains access to a barrage of influencer posts that introduce its platform to a wider audience. While these posts are slickly produced and engaging, they also serve as a marketing tool for Chinese automotive brands, despite the legal barriers to selling their vehicles in the US.

Chinese Brands Remain Cautious About US Market Entry

Despite the growing interest, major Chinese brands like BYD and Xiaomi have stated they have no immediate plans to begin selling passenger cars in the United States. However, the aggressive influencer campaigns are creating a groundswell of demand that could pressure established automakers to take notice. If these brands ever secure approval to sell cars in the US, they may already have a built-in customer base thanks to the viral content circulating on social media.

The phenomenon highlights a loophole in the current regulatory landscape, where social media influence is outpacing legal restrictions. As influencers continue to test and review these vehicles, the line between promotion and actual market entry becomes increasingly blurred.