Tariffs are easy, just pay them. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are harder... But maybe there's a loophole for commercial transport? or maybe they paid to have the testing done?
They do have a loophole; they import them as kits and “build” them at a Magna facility in Arizona (similar to how early Sprinter vans were re-assembled in the US and sold as Freightliners). But, they are FMVSS compliant (besides steering wheel) and have had several NHTSA organized recalls like any other compliant car might.
Which isn’t even really that prohibitive because Chinese vehicles beat Western pricing by five figures.
Plus, all the sensor equipment is made in China anyway. There’s almost certainly no way to have it manufactured in the US.
On top of that, fleet sales don’t have to deal with the antiquated dealer network laws in the US.
And of course American market car manufacturers refuse to produce vehicles that are like this one: space efficient and reasonably sized, instead opting for gigantic bean shaped SUVs with sloping rear roofs that rob you of cargo space while taking up maximum curb real estate.
Ford E-Transit is an electric van for a lot of money. But it looks like Ford wants to stop making them, and 2 seat models look much easier to find. But you'd be able to fit your board no problem.
Not sure if it's sold in the US (assuming you are from there), but the Kia PV5 is probably your best bet. On top of that it's very reasonably priced (in contrast to the ID buzz)
