China's EV makers can't follow Japan's 'flying geese' offshoring strategy

As domestic demand cools, automakers turn to exports but face protectionist headwinds

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People view the newly unveiled Onvo L60 SUV, the first vehicle of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio's new lower-priced brand, in Shanghai in May. © Reuters

Alicia Garcia-Herrero is chief economist for Asia-Pacific at investment bank Natixis in Hong Kong and senior research fellow at Bruegel, a Brussels-based economic think tank.

From being a laggard in the combustion engine industry, China has moved to pole position both in the production and consumption of electric vehicles. How it got there is a combination of industrial policy, hard work, a competitive environment, and technological transfer from foreign companies in exchange for market access.

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