The Real Story Behind China's EV Rise

How did China build a world-leading EV industry? China didn't just pick winners. Local governments and private entrepreneurs played a critical role alongside a broader national push into batteries and electric vehicle technology.In this episode, I talk with Fengming Lu, an assistant professor at Australian National University, about China's decades-long effort to build a world-class auto industry, its pivot to EVs, and what lessons other countries might learn.We discuss:• How Chinese local governments act like VC investors• What China learned from foreign automakers like GM, Volkswagen• The rise of upstarts like Geely, Chery, and BYD• What caused a wave of Chinese EV startups like NIO, Xpeng, Li Auto• The "Hefei model"Links:• The Rise of China’s Electric Vehicle Industry: Strategic Alliances Between Local Governments and Private Capital• Fengming's personal website• Fengming on Twitter / XFor transcripts and more information, check out the High Capacity newsletter.Follow host Kyle Chan on Twitter / X