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BFD Expert Voices - Climate Deals

BFD Expert Voices

Revolutions are nothing without aesthetics — especially in cars: the 1987 Jeep Wrangler, the 1998 Cadillac Escalade, the 2012 Tesla Model S.  

Why it matters: A once-retired Manhattanite contends his low-cost, low-speed, made-in-China EV will remake neighborhood driving. 

The big picture: The Wink Mark3 is a four-seat, five-door bubble. It tops out at 25 mph, putting it in the same category as street-legal golf carts.

Yes, but: It's designed for conventional driving with a touchscreen, backup camera, climate-control, fold-down rear seats, and whatever else you'd expect in a normal car. That's far beyond what regulators require in a low-speed vehicle.

Between the lines: It may not be as fun as an open-air cart, but it's not supposed to be. 

"This is not a toy. This is an everyday usable vehicle," CEO Mark Dweck tells Axios Pro.

Then again, it plays Madonna at startup, followed by Chinese pop tunes.

State of play: For all the safety features crammed into the Mark3, it can retail for as little as $11,995, Dweck says — one-fifth the average price of a new car.

Yes, but: Tariffs have boosted the pricetag to $17,995.

Context: That sticker price is still less than summer-only carts, and a $2,000 discount from the Mark3's initial price. 

Reality check: It's also the cost of a decent used Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic — cars that are larger, drive at highway speeds, and include airbags.

Bottom line: There's plenty that's compelling about the Mark3 — neighbors regularly stopped by to ask about the cute ride in the driveway — but trade policy, at least for now, is stifling the revolution. 

Front-seat view of a modern car interior: gray steering wheel, digital dashboard, large central touchscreen, two gray cloth seats, and gear shifter; outside shows sunny day.

The Mark3's interior has the basics you'd expect in a conventional car — and more than you'd find in most street-legal carts. 

Dweck arranged for a fully charged Mark3 to be dropped off at my home in Rhode Island. 

State of play: A huge tractor-trailer pulled up, and an itty-bitty EV rolled out the back.

I drove it to friends' houses and town beaches, and to the grocery store downtown.

Charging time: Four hours from 30% to the recommended 80%. Slow for a conventional EV, but much faster than rival low-speed vehicles. 

Surprising cargo space with the second row folded down. We even used this car for a move. 

If there's a parking space too small, I haven't found it.

Some steering wobble at speed; not exactly the sturdiest-feeling ride. 

The bottom line: American automakers are feverishly fighting to keep Chinese EVs from the U.S. This little car shows they're right to be scared.

White hatchback with its trunk open, showing black rear seats, a small dashboard screen, and red circular taillights; parked on a sunny suburban street with green trees and houses in the background.

There's a surprising amount of room in the cargo area, especially once the rear seats are folded. Much to our surprise, we used the Mark3 to help with a move.

Dweck at one point asked whether I'd put my 5- and 1-year-old daughters in the car. I wasn't quite able to say yes. 

It has child-safe door-locks — unheard of in low-speed vehicles.

But the second row isn't suited for carseats — and like any other low-speed vehicle, which trades fewer regulations for slower driving, a crash would be disastrous. 

The other side: "It's light, but it's tight as a drum," Dweck says. 

My thought bubble: Limited to 25 mph, the Mark3 could be an ideal first-car for teens, especially with all its other standard safety features.  

The bottom line: Like other LSVs, this is a car for grownups or, at best, older kids. 

White compact car parked along a suburban street in the foreground, with lush green trees and a purple-leafed tree in the yard; a house and blue sky visible in the background on a sunny day.

The Mark3 resembles a roller-skate or, perhaps, a capybara.

Wink is for now selling most of its Mark3 vehicles to "techies, Palo Alto people," Dweck says. "I don't think that's our sweetspot."

Why it matters: The CEO has much bigger designs. 

Flashback: Dweck launched Wink in 2021, after a career importing and selling promotional toys for fast food kids' meals, soft drink makers, tobacco companies, and a range of other businesses. 

A "car nut" who at one point owned a 40-car collection, he one day stumbled across a video of someone showing off a small EV. 

"I launched a crusade," he says, buying four models — 10 vehicles each — finding a manufacturer, and then refining the specifications.

The intrigue: Dweck says he supplies many critical safety components, such as seatbelts, seatbelt mechanisms, and windshields, to avoid counterfeits. 

"I'm a nutjob entrepreneur, and I can't retire," he says.

State of play: Wink this year began fulfilling a two-year backlog of pre-orders. It expects to import 500-1,000 Mark3 models this year.

Dweck has his eye next on senior communities, where low-speed vehicles are popular, then broader sets of buyers.

What they're saying: "I believe this business has legs," Dweck says, "And I have a very good batting average."

Wheels: Wink Motors Mark3

A low-speed, made in China vehicle, designed to be a car.

White compact Wink Motors Mark3 four-door hatchback, parked on a residential street under green trees on a sunny day; power lines overhead and a house with windows in the background.

The Wink Motors Mark3, named for founder Mark Dweck, looks like a car and drives like a cart. Photos: Alan Neuhauser

Revolutions are nothing without aesthetics — especially in cars: the 1987 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jeep Wrangler" data-vars-click-url="https://www.google.com/search?q=1987+jeep+wrangler+yj&amp;sca_esv=91a56050fdbf678a&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n4Z4mzJgJslKVhXSVR4HMdfNo_ZqA%3A1779963131203&amp;ei=-xQYavmaDPStptQPv9mHAQ&amp;biw=1607&amp;bih=996&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi5hJix39uUAxX0lokEHb_sIQAQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=1987+jeep+wrangler+yj&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFTE5ODcgamVlcCB3cmFuZ2xlciB5ajIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgsQABiABBiKBRiRAjIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHkjEBVDtAlihBHACeAGQAQCYAWGgAakBqgEBMrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCBKACwQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDMy4xoAfOC7IHAzEuMbgHtgHCBwUwLjEuM8gHEIAIAQ&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" data-vars-content-id="627d5a11-8ae1-4ae3-a67e-1681a5bcc971" data-vars-headline="Wheels: Wink Motors Mark3" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=1987+jeep+wrangler+yj&amp;sca_esv=91a56050fdbf678a&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n4Z4mzJgJslKVhXSVR4HMdfNo_ZqA%3A1779963131203&amp;ei=-xQYavmaDPStptQPv9mHAQ&amp;biw=1607&amp;bih=996&amp;ved=0ahUKEwi5hJix39uUAxX0lokEHb_sIQAQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=1987+jeep+wrangler+yj&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFTE5ODcgamVlcCB3cmFuZ2xlciB5ajIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgsQABiABBiKBRiRAjIFEAAYgAQyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHkjEBVDtAlihBHACeAGQAQCYAWGgAakBqgEBMrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCBKACwQHCAgoQABhHGNYEGLADmAMAiAYBkAYIkgcDMy4xoAfOC7IHAzEuMbgHtgHCBwUwLjEuM8gHEIAIAQ&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank">Jeep Wrangler</a>, the 1998 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cadillac Escalade" data-vars-click-url="https://www.google.com/search?q=2002+cadillac+escalade&amp;sca_esv=91a56050fdbf678a&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;biw=1607&amp;bih=996&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n7KBYV9sHVME5JHVQ9Thdf1Xcml3w%3A1779963248788&amp;ei=cBUYatPxL8_bptQP7NeGuQQ&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjT6aDp39uUAxXPrYkEHeyrIUcQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=2002+cadillac+escalade&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFjIwMDIgY2FkaWxsYWMgZXNjYWxhZGUyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgsQABiABBiKBRiRAjILEAAYgAQYigUYkQIyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMggQLhiABBixAzILEAAYgAQYigUYkQIyBRAAGIAEMgUQLhiABDIFEAAYgAQyCBAAGIAEGLEDSNsUUKoCWK0UcAF4AZABAJgBY6AB1gSqAQE3uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIIoAKCBcICChAAGEcY1gQYsAPCAgoQABiABBiKBRhDwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAZgDAIgGAZAGCJIHAzcuMaAHpjWyBwM2LjG4B_wEwgcFMC4yLjbIBx-ACAE&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" data-vars-content-id="627d5a11-8ae1-4ae3-a67e-1681a5bcc971" data-vars-headline="Wheels: Wink Motors Mark3" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=2002+cadillac+escalade&amp;sca_esv=91a56050fdbf678a&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;biw=1607&amp;bih=996&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n7KBYV9sHVME5JHVQ9Thdf1Xcml3w%3A1779963248788&amp;ei=cBUYatPxL8_bptQP7NeGuQQ&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjT6aDp39uUAxXPrYkEHeyrIUcQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=2002+cadillac+escalade&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFjIwMDIgY2FkaWxsYWMgZXNjYWxhZGUyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgsQABiABBiKBRiRAjILEAAYgAQYigUYkQIyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMggQLhiABBixAzILEAAYgAQYigUYkQIyBRAAGIAEMgUQLhiABDIFEAAYgAQyCBAAGIAEGLEDSNsUUKoCWK0UcAF4AZABAJgBY6AB1gSqAQE3uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIIoAKCBcICChAAGEcY1gQYsAPCAgoQABiABBiKBRhDwgILEC4YgAQYxwEYrwHCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAZgDAIgGAZAGCJIHAzcuMaAHpjWyBwM2LjG4B_wEwgcFMC4yLjbIBx-ACAE&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank">Cadillac Escalade</a>, the 2012 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tesla Model S" data-vars-click-url="https://www.google.com/search?q=2012+tesla+model+s&amp;sca_esv=91a56050fdbf678a&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n4JryKUrXEMNrIrWRYSQUFZzgVccg%3A1779963209310&amp;ei=SRUYap7VEv6JptQP3rbb6Qk&amp;biw=1607&amp;bih=996&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjenbfW39uUAxX-hIkEHV7bNp0Q4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=2012+tesla+model+s&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiEjIwMTIgdGVzbGEgbW9kZWwgczILEAAYgAQYigUYkQIyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgUQABiABDILEC4YgAQYigUYkQIyBRAuGIAEMgsQABiABBiKBRiRAjILEC4YkQIYgAQYigUyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgARIow1QAFjLDHAAeAGQAQCYAWugAeoKqgEEMTYuMrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCEqACqAvCAgsQLhiABBjHARivAcICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAcICCBAuGIAEGLEDwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAg0QABiABBiKBRhDGOUEwgIKEC4YgAQYigUYQ8ICCxAuGIMBGLEDGIAEwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgsQABiABBixAxjlBJgDAJIHBDE2LjKgB5i8AbIHBDE2LjK4B6gLwgcGMC4xMi42yAcsgAgB&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" data-vars-content-id="627d5a11-8ae1-4ae3-a67e-1681a5bcc971" data-vars-headline="Wheels: Wink Motors Mark3" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=2012+tesla+model+s&amp;sca_esv=91a56050fdbf678a&amp;rlz=1C5GCCM_en&amp;sxsrf=ANbL-n4JryKUrXEMNrIrWRYSQUFZzgVccg%3A1779963209310&amp;ei=SRUYap7VEv6JptQP3rbb6Qk&amp;biw=1607&amp;bih=996&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjenbfW39uUAxX-hIkEHV7bNp0Q4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=2012+tesla+model+s&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiEjIwMTIgdGVzbGEgbW9kZWwgczILEAAYgAQYigUYkQIyCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECMgUQABiABDILEC4YgAQYigUYkQIyBRAuGIAEMgsQABiABBiKBRiRAjILEC4YkQIYgAQYigUyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgARIow1QAFjLDHAAeAGQAQCYAWugAeoKqgEEMTYuMrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCEqACqAvCAgsQLhiABBjHARivAcICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAcICCBAuGIAEGLEDwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAg0QABiABBiKBRhDGOUEwgIKEC4YgAQYigUYQ8ICCxAuGIMBGLEDGIAEwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgsQABiABBixAxjlBJgDAJIHBDE2LjKgB5i8AbIHBDE2LjK4B6gLwgcGMC4xMi42yAcsgAgB&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank">Tesla Model S</a>. Why it matters: A once-retired Manhattanite contends his low-cost, low-speed, made-in-China EV will remake neighborhood driving.

Wheels: Wink Motors Mark3

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