In the latest episode in our China Rules series, we look at the rise and potential fall of China’s electric vehicle (EV) industry. Once scoffed at by Elon Musk, China’s EV industry is charging ahead in international markets with its top car brand, BYD, selling more cars than Tesla in 2025. Massive government subsidies and consistent policy have brought China to a point where it now leads in a range of technologies, from batteries to robotaxis. Yet headwinds are emerging, with domestic demand tanking and protectionism surging in the US and Europe. To discuss the rise, and potential demise, of China’s EV behemoth, Louisa and Graeme are joined by Fengming Lu from the Australian National University and Yu Yang, Principal Lead Analyst of Automotives and Robotics at Yole Group, a company that analyses tech markets.

Image: DarthArt, iStock. Beijing, China - February 25, 2026: Modern small city car Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.

Transcripts available at https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast

In the latest episode in our China Rules series, we look at the rise and potential fall of China&rsquo;s electric vehicle (EV) industry. Once scoffed at by Elon Musk, China&rsquo;s EV industry is charging ahead in international markets with its top car brand, BYD, selling more cars than Tesla in 2025. Massive government subsidies and consistent policy have brought China to a point where it now leads in a range of technologies, from batteries to robotaxis. Yet headwinds are emerging, with domestic demand tanking and protectionism surging in the US and Europe. To discuss the rise, and potential demise, of China&rsquo;s EV behemoth, Louisa and Graeme are joined by Fengming Lu from the Australian National University and Yu Yang, Principal Lead Analyst of Automotives and Robotics at Yole Group, a company that analyses tech markets.
Image: DarthArt, iStock. Beijing, China - February 25, 2026: Modern small city car Wuling Hongguang Mini EV.
Transcripts available at <a href="https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast">https://ciw.anu.edu.au/podcasts/little-red-podcast</a>

The Little Red Podcast: interviews and chat celebrating China beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Graeme Smith, China studies academic at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and Louisa Lim, former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, now with the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. We are the 2018 winners of podcast of the year in the News & Current Affairs category of the Australian Podcast Awards. Follow us @limlouisa and @GraemeKSmith, and find show notes at www.facebook.com/LittleRedPodcast/

The Little Red Podcast: interviews and chat celeb…

The Little Red Podcast

Award-winning interviews and chat celebrating China beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Graeme Smith, China studies academic at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and Louisa Lim, former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, now with the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. We are the 2018 winners of podcast of the year in the News & Current Affairs category of the Australian Podcast Awards and we're funded by the Australian National University's Centre on China in the World. Find us on your favourite platforms: we're on Stitcher, Spotify and even Podbean. Follow us @limlouisa and @GraemeKSmith, and find show notes at www.facebook.com/LittleRedPodcast/. Our editor is the Saturday Paper's Andy Hazel, background research is by Wing Kuang, Juliette Baxter looks after our socials and transcripts, our stirring theme tune was composed by Susie Wilkins and our iconic art is courtesy of Seb Danta.

Award-winning interviews and chat celebrating China beyond the Beijing beltway. Hosted by Graeme Smith, China studies academic at the Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs and Louisa Lim, former China correspondent for the BBC and NPR, now with the Centre for Advancing Journalism at Melbourne University. We are the 2018 winners of podcast of the year in the News &amp; Current Affairs category of the Australian Podcast Awards and we're funded by the Australian National University's Centre on China in the World. Find us on your favourite platforms: we're on Stitcher, Spotify and even Podbean. Follow us @limlouisa and @GraemeKSmith, and find show notes at www.facebook.com/LittleRedPodcast/. Our editor is the Saturday Paper's Andy Hazel, background research is by Wing Kuang, Juliette Baxter looks after our socials and transcripts, our stirring theme tune was composed by Susie Wilkins and our iconic art is courtesy of Seb Danta.