Not too long ago, the Chinese came West to learn, and possibly copy, how companies develop technologies. In today's global automotive industry, the tables have turned.
![xiaopeng He LI | The Ojo-Yoshida Report Western Car OEMs’ New Motto: ‘Copy China’](https://ojoyoshidareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/xiaopeng-He-LI-1024x690.webp)
Xiaopeng He, chairman and CEO, at Xpeng Motors (the third from left) and Ralf Brandstätter, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, China (second from the right) (Image: Xpeng CEO's LinkedIn post)
By Junko Yoshida
What’s at stake:
Why are incumbent automakers flocking to China? Gaining a share in China – now the world’s largest automotive market – is an obvious reason. But there’s another, bigger reason. They want Chinese partners.
Auto OEMs in the West know they need the nimbleness and daring necessary to build cars at a 12-18-month design cycle, faster than the current cycle of several years.
In short, they want to copy China.