What is the real strength of Chinese automotive industry?

I loved the iPad when it came out. The idea of keyless entry, handwriting, and replacing a laptop felt like the future.

More than a decade later, my iPads are gathering dust. My MacBook still handles 80% of the work (the rest is on the iPhone). I even bought a keyboard and mouse to lift the MacBook for better posture. The iPad looked like the future then. It didn’t materialise. 

It feels to me that the car industry is going through a similar phase with the “software-defined vehicle.” But this time it’s not Apple, it's China setting the pace. 

I read an article by Dr. Gabriel Seiberth on the hidden costs of the Chinese automotive industry, and then comments from several respected automotive experts like Hakan DOGU and Michael Sura. 

I saw two worlds: one obsessed with touchscreens, OTA updates and the breakneck speed of Chinese automotive industry growth. The other is more sceptical, highlighting unsustainable business models, government oversight and (so far) limited geographical penetration. There are tons of insights both in the article and in the comments and the linked articles. Check it out! 

For me, that takeaway from the discussion and my own experiences is that touchscreens and voice controls are like iPads (which they are) - cool, nice to have, but ultimately useless. 

#Batteries are a different matter. 

China’s real strength in EVs isn’t WeChat integration or going from idea to vehicle in three years. It’s in batteries, their supply chain, and manufacturing discipline.

Take that away, and no hyperscreen will save the Chinese automakers. And that’s the fundamental weakness of Western car makers. Until they master batteries and their supply chain, China will dominate global #EV markets, regardless of whether knobs or voice commands regulate your cockpit temperature.