MIT Sloan Management Review Article on Where China Is Leading the Mobility Revolution

The nation once known more for technological imitation than innovation is now an international leader in electric vehicles and other next-generation mobility products.

For years, China has been perceived as a nation that relied more on imitation and copycatting than on innovation for economic growth. It appeared to many that China was getting its best ideas working with companies based elsewhere, and there continue to be frequent accusations that its manufacturers don’t respect intellectual property laws. While its high-volume, low-cost manufacturing prowess was never questioned, the line on China has been that it could not compete when it came to innovation.

Those days seem to be behind us. In the 21st century, China is emerging as a leader in many new technologies — especially those related to mobility. The Chinese government has pledged to convert the nation into an international innovation leader by 2030, but in many ways the nation has already reached that status, certainly when it comes to electric vehicles, batteries, drones, and high-speed rail.