Rick Lazio: We’ve lost an auto race before, China’s EV climb should worry us
Source: Fortune ·
New tech won't help if U.S. factories can't produce it efficiently. Automakers and suppliers need incentives to invest in robotics and advanced equipment.
From the source
Tesla’s newly unveiled Roadster is a reminder that America can still produce breakthroughs that capture the world’s imagination. The car can accelerate from zero-60 in less than a second and perform feats that once belonged in science fiction. The engineering is thrilling. Give Tesla an A for design innovation. The harder question is whether it can commercialize even the base Performance model. It includes the fan-powered suction system but none of the thrusters behind the Roadster’s headline-grabbing acceleration or airborne maneuvers. Or will Chinese manufacturers use their state-supported supply chains and generous R&D incentives to make comparable technology affordable first? Chinese automakers are already gaining ground in Britain with vehicles that combine advanced technology and aggressive pricing. The Jaecoo 7, a Chinese-built SUV nicknamed the “Temu Range Rover,” became Britain’s best-selling new vehicle in September. Chinese brands captured nearly a quarter of the country’s…