But This Time It's Different

Zero to Zero Margin in 3.8 Seconds: The Rise and Fall of China's Electric Vehicle Market


Listen Later

In this episode, Sinead and Alex take you on a high-voltage joyride through China’s EV empire: from lithium-fueled ambition to zero-margin chaos.

They unpack how China leapfrogged the combustion engine, built a vertically integrated tech stack faster than you can say “subsidy,” and accidentally triggered the world’s most deranged price war.

Along the way, they ask:
What happens when your new car costs less than your phone?
Are Chinese EVs actually Huawei on wheels?
And can the West build anything besides white papers and vibes?

From robotaxis to battery geopolitics, this is a story about industrial overkill, strategic export flooding, and why your next road trip might also be a national security risk.


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

But This Time It's DifferentBy Brought to you by Sinead O'Sullivan and Alex Chalmers