Why a Chinese Gadget Company Can Make an Electric Car and Apple Can’t.
Why a Chinese Gadget Company Can Make an Electric Car and Apple Can’t
Xiaomi, which produces smartphones and consumer electronics, delivered 135,000 E.V.s last year after tapping China’s robust manufacturing supply chain.
Meaghan Tobin reported from Taipei, Taiwan, and Claire Fu from Seoul.
After nearly a decade of trying, Apple finally gave up its effort to produce an electric car last year, canceling a project that soaked up $10 billion.
But last year in China, the electronics maker Xiaomi launched its first electric car after just three years of development and delivered
135,000 vehicles. It has vowed to double that number in 2025.
Xiaomi’s ability to succeed where Apple could not shows how thoroughly China has come to dominate the supply chain for electric vehicles. Chinese
companies have mastered
electric vehicle manufacturing. By tapping that infrastructure, Xiaomi was able to get components quickly and cheaply.
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The Rise of Electric Vehicles
Ending Shift to Electric Cars?: The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are preparing an unusual legislative maneuver in an effort to eliminate one of the country’s most ambitious climate policies, an order that was designed to shift the auto industry toward electric cars.
Self-Driving Cars in China: Tesla said that some drivers in China would be able to use the company’s Autopilot feature on city streets to help with lane changes and other more advanced tasks, a breakthrough for Elon Musk in the country.
China’s Price War: In China’s fast growing but crowded domestic market for electric vehicles, Chinese automakers are pressuring suppliers to deliver hefty cost cuts.
New Mail Trucks: They may look like ducks, but new electric mail trucks have a side cargo door and air-conditioning, promising some long-overdue relief for carriers, who haven’t had an upgrade since the 1980s.
Tax Credit in Jeopardy: Many car buyers have come to rely on a $7,500 federal tax credit on electric vehicles to soften the blow of their high prices. But those credits could disappear after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
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