AUGUSTA, Ga. – Club Car®, as part of the American Personal Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Coalition, filed critical circumstances allegations with the U.S. Department of Commerce on October 22, 2024, to address a massive increase in Chinese imports of low-speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs).
The Coalition seeks tariffs and duties on LSPTV products sold below market value and with the assistance of improper foreign government subsidies. Duties would be levied on any imports after Commerce’s preliminary determination beginning in November 2024. The latest import statistics show that Chinese manufacturers’ LSPTV shipments have increased by 109 percent since the Coalition’s petition was filed in June 2024.
“The surge in imports is a signal that Chinese manufacturers are intentionally shipping more products to the U.S. to avoid impending penalties and the rapid influx is causing even more harm to U.S. golf cart and personal vehicle manufacturers and threatening American businesses and jobs,” said Mark Wagner, CEO of Club Car. “We cannot stand by while our market is flooded with these unfairly priced products which are made without regard to the American safety standards and regulations.”
The attempt by Chinese companies to dump low-quality products into the American market ahead of any duties by the United States has escalated so quickly that Club Car and the Coalition have called for urgent action to impose retroactive duties on these Chinese imports. If the Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) rule in favor of this request, duties may apply retroactively, comprising shipments made up to 90 days before a final ruling is made.
“Our goal is to ensure the domestic market thrives and competition remains fair. These Chinese manufactured vehicles are priced unfairly, put the safety of Americans at risk and are destructive to the industry. Antidumping and countervailing duties will help protect U.S. manufacturers and level the playing field,” Wagner said.
On July 10, 2024, Commerce opened an AD/CVD investigation into Chinese LSPTV imports, and on August 2, 2024, the USITC unanimously confirmed that these imports are indeed harming U.S. manufacturers. The next and most immediate step is for Commerce to determine whether “critical circumstances” exist, in other words, whether the recent surge in imports warrants immediate action.
About Club Car
With over 60 years of experience of innovation and design in producing small-wheel vehicles, Club Car is a leading manufacturer of gas and electric golf, utility and personal transportation vehicles. Since 1958, the Club Car product portfolio has grown to include much more than golf cars, now encompassing vehicles for commercial and consumer markets, all built with an uncompromised desire for superior safety, quality, and performance. As a global leader in sustainability and electrification, the Club Car Vehicle Group includes luxury electric vehicle brand, Garia, and lightweight electric utility vehicle brand, Melex. Garia and Melex product portfolios share similar characteristics of reliability, thoughtful design, and proven performance. Club Car Vehicle Group is proud to be at the forefront of environmentally responsible Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) technologies. For more information, visit www.clubcar.com.
Media Contact: Lynthia Ross, Lynthia.Ross@clubcar.com, (706) 262-0533
