China’s rise in the automotive industry has been nothing short of jaw-dropping. The country’s development in the sector warrants a level of concern but also strategic reflection from its competitors, particularly from a British point of view.

The transformation from the rudimentary assembly lines I observed in 2003, when I was on the board of a Chinese light commercial vehicle manufacturer, to today’s highly sophisticated, highly automated and world-leading manufacturing hubs exemplifies a strategic vision realised.

That vision began in the early 2000s after the Chinese government spotted the likely popularity of electric vehicles and put in place long-term strategic policies to dominate the industry. Two decades later that plan seems to have worked.

Xiaomi, known for its consumer electronics and perhaps being China’s equivalent