can that 13K vehicle be made in the USA without the regulatory B.S?
don’t think so...
Regarding the regulatory BS in the US - your question and answer are valid. The regulations are around to protect the monopoly of automakers against any newcomers.
Take away the unnecessary restrictions and overly complicated rules and regulations, and many outfits would be able to field a model to the market. But Ford, GM, Honda, et.al., all own their favorite congressmen and that prevents any chance of true competition in the auto industry.
Doesn’t help that the UAW also owns congressmen, so that even in a “right-to-work” state, they can unionize an entire shop (VW of Chattanooga) with a simple majority vote. And the UAW owns many DC critters.
The automakers are a quasi-monopoly, and the unions are as well. Antitrust would be a proper direction here, but don’t expect that to happen when the monopolies own congress.
Vehicle production levels and ultimate consumer costs are driven by the latest union contract.
Been that way since “The Strike”, circa 1970s