This year’s Shanghai Auto Show has widely been covered as a seminal moment for the Chinese auto-industry. Demonstrating the vibrancy and innovation of Chinese companies and cementing the position of that largest players as auto powerhouses, powerhouses focused on both the domestic and international market.

At the heart of this new world order is the Chinese economy’s dominance of EV battery component and manufacturing industry. As China rules the roost in terms of battery manufacture it therefore has an inherent advantage as the auto-industry moves over the tipping point from ICE to BEV.

Beneath that competitive advantage lies a more complex story of how China’s economy is effective at resource mobilisation. Where China is Beating the World explores electric vehicles, high speed rail and solar power as three prime examples of how China has subsidised, accepted short-term ineffciency and enabled agile industrial planning to achieve eye-watering growth compared to other countries.