The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) today released an executive summary highlighting key insights from its China Speed: Mapping the Product Development Race and North America’s Response roundtable, held June 17 in conjunction with CAR MBS 2026.* The roundtable brought together automotive leaders from the United States and Canada to examine how China’s automotive industry has accelerated vehicle development, manufacturing scale and technology deployment and what North American companies and policymakers can do to respond. [Highly unlikely under the Trump mis-adminstation – AutoCrat.]
“China’s automotive growth is not the result of a single technology, company or policy,” said Elizabeth Krear, President & CEO of the Center for Automotive Research. “It reflects a coordinated system designed to move quickly and build scale. North America does not need to replicate that system, but it must become more intentional about reducing complexity, accelerating collaboration and investing in the capabilities that will define the next generation of automotive leadership.”
Participants described “China Speed” as more than a shorter product-development cycle. The discussion emphasized that China’s competitive position is supported by an interconnected system of industrial policy, access to capital, streamlined decision-making, localized sourcing, vertical integration, rapid product iteration and digital-first vehicle development.
Key Takeaways from China Speed
Roundtable participants identified several factors contributing to China’s competitive momentum:
- Coordinated industrial development: Alignment among national, provincial and local governments can accelerate investment, infrastructure development, permitting and factory construction.
- Operational agility: Larger engineering teams, common components, rapid iteration and streamlined decision-making allow manufacturers to move products from concept to market more quickly.
- Selective adoption of proven practices: Newer Chinese manufacturers have incorporated established global manufacturing principles without inheriting every legacy process or requirement.
- Digital-first vehicle strategies: Chinese automakers increasingly treat vehicles as continuously evolving technology platforms, with software and features updated after the vehicle is sold.
- Access to capital and state support: Participants raised concerns about subsidies, low-cost capital and other structural advantages that can create an uneven global competitive environment.
The discussion also made clear that tariffs or other protectionist measures alone will not close the competitive gap. Participants emphasized that North America must pair fair rules of market engagement with a broader strategy to improve product-development speed, strengthen innovation capacity and capitalize on regional advantages.
A North American Path Forward?
Participants identified several opportunities for industry and policymakers:
- Use artificial intelligence, machine learning and systems-based engineering to accelerate decisions throughout the development process.
- Expand collaborative, pre-competitive research in areas such as batteries, autonomous-driving software, connectivity and advanced manufacturing.
- Increase benchmarking of Chinese automakers and newer North American manufacturers to challenge legacy assumptions and identify more efficient practices.
- Establish clear standards for cybersecurity, connected-vehicle data, safety and supply-chain transparency.
- Build on North American strengths in advanced automation, software, artificial intelligence, engineering and regional innovation ecosystems.
“North America has the engineering talent, technology base and innovation capacity to compete,” Krear said “The challenge is translating those strengths into faster execution. CAR will continue convening leaders and conducting independent research that helps the industry move from discussion to actionable strategy.”
CAR said it will use the perspectives gathered during the roundtable to help inform future research, stakeholder discussions and industry reports.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
Center for Automotive Research on “China Speed”
The Center for Automotive Research (CAR) today released an executive summary highlighting key insights from its China Speed: Mapping the Product Development Race and North America’s Response roundtable, held June 17 in conjunction with CAR MBS 2026.* The roundtable brought together automotive leaders from the United States and Canada to examine how China’s automotive industry has accelerated vehicle development, manufacturing scale and technology deployment and what North American companies and policymakers can do to respond. [Highly unlikely under the Trump mis-adminstation – AutoCrat.]
“China’s automotive growth is not the result of a single technology, company or policy,” said Elizabeth Krear, President & CEO of the Center for Automotive Research. “It reflects a coordinated system designed to move quickly and build scale. North America does not need to replicate that system, but it must become more intentional about reducing complexity, accelerating collaboration and investing in the capabilities that will define the next generation of automotive leadership.”
Participants described “China Speed” as more than a shorter product-development cycle. The discussion emphasized that China’s competitive position is supported by an interconnected system of industrial policy, access to capital, streamlined decision-making, localized sourcing, vertical integration, rapid product iteration and digital-first vehicle development.
Key Takeaways from China Speed
Roundtable participants identified several factors contributing to China’s competitive momentum:
The discussion also made clear that tariffs or other protectionist measures alone will not close the competitive gap. Participants emphasized that North America must pair fair rules of market engagement with a broader strategy to improve product-development speed, strengthen innovation capacity and capitalize on regional advantages.
A North American Path Forward?
Participants identified several opportunities for industry and policymakers:
“North America has the engineering talent, technology base and innovation capacity to compete,” Krear said “The challenge is translating those strengths into faster execution. CAR will continue convening leaders and conducting independent research that helps the industry move from discussion to actionable strategy.”
CAR said it will use the perspectives gathered during the roundtable to help inform future research, stakeholder discussions and industry reports.
*AutoInformed on
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.