In 2019, while working with a major European automotive OEM at Emerging Strategy, we discovered something both startling and inspiring: the transformative impact of China’s rapid EV ecosystem growth. What stood out wasn’t just the scale of its market but the speed at which the country was cultivating a robust and globally competitive talent pipeline. It was a firsthand reminder of how globalized—and competitive—the battle for talent in the automotive sector has become.
Today, China’s aggressive talent strategies, combined with unparalleled investments in R&D and education, are setting the stage for a seismic shift in the global automotive industry. The question is: How can the rest of the world respond?
