A common myth: “China’s Electric Vehicle industry succeeded only because of top-down governance.”

Wrong.

China succeeded:

NOT through authoritarian mandates

NOT through subsidies alone

But through ecosystem alignment—of markets, policies, and consumers

As tariffs escalate between the U.S. and China, electric vehicles (EVs) are the newest casualty.

But the real threat isn’t foreign competition—it’s domestic inaction.

While the U.S. protects its turf, China is building an electric future.

Trade wars don’t build industries. Ecosystem alignments do.

Five Reasons China Pulled Ahead and What it can Teach the U.S.