They also invested early in battery technology. China was able to build a competitive battery industry with state support and little environmental protection.
The world is still waiting on a huge battery revolution to happen. It looks like it will actually happen Really Soon Now, and there are multiple technologies vying for first place. I hope someone with industry experience drops in and explains what is going on, because I haven't seen a comment like that here on HN for a couple years now. :-D
But honestly whoever gets 2x the density at the same cost will win, and it may be that incumbent advantages don't end up meaning much. AFAIK China's advantage isn't in much cheaper batteries, it is in cost savings everywhere else in making EVs.
For example, VW released a $60k USD EV minivan with mediocre range, and they thought that was a good idea. That sort of acceptance of mediocrity is why traditional automakers are going to get hammered into the ground, except instead of Japanese automakers teaching the lesson, this time it will be Chinese automakers. (Irony: At one point it was VW who helped teach American automakers the same lesson....)
Amprius is shipping batteries with ~30% better mass density for 10x the cost. Other companies are shipping cheaper LiFePo. Battery applications are so diverse there's going to be many winners. I also wish someone would come and give a good market analysis.
But honestly whoever gets 2x the density at the same cost will win, and it may be that incumbent advantages don't end up meaning much. AFAIK China's advantage isn't in much cheaper batteries, it is in cost savings everywhere else in making EVs.
For example, VW released a $60k USD EV minivan with mediocre range, and they thought that was a good idea. That sort of acceptance of mediocrity is why traditional automakers are going to get hammered into the ground, except instead of Japanese automakers teaching the lesson, this time it will be Chinese automakers. (Irony: At one point it was VW who helped teach American automakers the same lesson....)