Interesting Article on China's EVs

[Rayden]

Like a lot of us here, I'm interested in EVs and all the tech that goes with it. I'm probably a bit more "Curious George" compared to some of the 100 lb head engineer types in here but find it intriguing just the same. This article from Destination Charged gives a pretty frank update on the current state of EVs in China and how attitudes and tech have shifted there. I have stated before that I have no trust for any high tech anything owned by a chinese company due to inherent government compromise. But I do think their success is going to be something to watch for sure.
The future just drove by: Why China’s EV revolution is leaving the world in the dust

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[chriserx]

So the way I see it, it's a multifaceted issue.

1) Most manufacturers, especially those outside of China, treat features as something to be monetized separately. If there isn't money to be made, they aren't interested.
2) On the global stage Chinese manufacturing has a reputation for being cheap and unreliable so the government, in an attempt to reverse that perception, has invested/subsidized manufacturing a globally used product. One that also happens to evoke emotions and has a front and center view in most peoples lives. One could also make the argument that it's a trojan horse for data at a global scale, one which is not tied to the intangible world like the internet.
3) These Chinese manufacturers have taken significant strides through subsidies to vertically integrate, this allows them to have more control over every aspect of the vehicle and a much better user experience. This level of control and development is expensive, what's lost on 'legacy' manufacturers is that, overall it makes the UX desirable to have, driving sales, lowering the per unit costs and software, unlike hardware is for the most part reusable between models and subsequent years, especially when you have vertical integration.

TLDR
Using subsidies provided by the Chinese government, Chinese manufacturers have taken the playbook brought by Apple, Samsung, Facebook, US government, et al. and took it to the next level. If only domestic manufacturers and US lawmakers had that level of foresight...

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

On the global stage Chinese manufacturing has a reputation for being cheap and unreliable so the government, in an attempt to reverse that perception, has invested/subsidized manufacturing a globally used product.

For years I was involved in the nascent Chinese EV industry (15 trips to China); I’ve stood on the floors of many its car factories and sat in countless meetings with vehicle engineers. Your assessment is generally accurate and thoughtful.

The chief issue with Chinese EVs entering the US market today (aside from tariffs) is homologation. After that, a state-side infrastructure to sell and service them.

 

[Tony Burgh]

In 70’s & 80’s, Japan Inc went from cheap transistor radios to practically destroying Detroit’s big three. While they were offering one side galavized body panels and engines built to tighter tolerances. Detroit was touting “fine Corinthian leather”.

American auto business denigrated Japanese cars in public but was chitting bricks in meetings with US steel makers. One side galvanizing was developed in the US but perfected in Japan. If you don’t have a customer, you put the tech on a shelf.

 

[Jseis]

I taught an intro to field ecology at UC Irvine in the 80’s. Students split between engineering & med. 50% were Chinese. About 10? or so years ago I read an interesting article about China’s investment in engineering. One of their goals was to build 70 new engineering universities! So they’ve been cranking out engineers by the thousands, probably tens of thousands. Their ability to design-produce-refine/redesign-produce is astonishing. Farley saw that hands on during his visit. And with a declining population they’ll make that transition to robotics too.

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