In the article “How collaboration with China can revitalize US automotive innovation,” Professor of Engineering Management and Systems Engineering John Helveston discusses how strategic collaboration with China can revitalize the U.S. automotive industry. The article, published in Science’s Policy Forum, shows how China is outcompeting and outpacing the U.S. in the electric vehicle (EV) marketplace and that current protectionist policies toward China, as well as the U.S.’s retreat from the EV marketplace, will ultimately hurt the U.S. automotive industry and other sectors that rely on advances in EV technologies such as solid state batteries and advanced materials.
Here is an excerpt from the article: “At the center of the PEV revolution lies a nexus of advanced computing, data security, and critical minerals that requires engagement to develop sustainable solutions. By developing a policy strategy that fosters FDI while protecting core interests, the United States can accelerate its electric transition and maintain a globally competitive automotive industry. The alternative—excluding Chinese technology and expertise—risks leaving US automakers uncompetitive while delaying the urgent global transition to sustainable transportation.”
Read the full article in Science here.
In a follow-up piece for New Security Beat, "Chinese Electric Cars Are Leaving American Automakers in the Dust," Helveston expands on his Science article by detailing what a road to smart collaboration could look like for America.
Here is an excerpt from the article: “First, U.S. firms could license Chinese battery technology, as Ford has explored with CATL. Second, the U.S. could welcome Chinese investment in U.S. manufacturing facilities (with appropriate security reviews), bringing both jobs and expertise to American workers. Third, the United States could leverage its strengths in software and advanced materials while learning from China’s manufacturing excellence."
Read the full article in New Security Beat here.