The World Shenzhen, China, becomes electric car capital of the world
Dec 4, 2025
Join journalist Jeremy Siegel as he shares how Shenzhen transformed from 'The World's Factory' to the electric vehicle capital, led by BYD's impressive rise. Dalia Hatuka provides a stark perspective on the escalating violence in the West Bank, detailing daily struggles and settler aggressions against Palestinians. Chitij Bajpay discusses the nuances of India-Russia relations amidst Putin's recent visit. Meanwhile, investigative journalist John Allen Namu sheds light on the troubling allegations against British troops in Kenya. A riveting mix of technology, conflict, and accountability!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Shenzhen's Rapid EV Transformation
- Shenzhen's government and manufacturers turned the city from "world's factory" into a global EV and tech hub centered on BYD.
- Massive state support plus manufacturing know-how made Chinese EVs cheaper and rapidly exportable.
Living Without Gas Cars In Shenzhen
- Bridget McCarthy says she hasn't ridden in an internal combustion car since moving to Shenzhen because most vehicles are electric.
- She points out buses went fully electric in 2017 and taxis in 2018, normalizing EV life there.
iPhone Manufacturing Sparked Local Innovation
- Apple outsourcing iPhone production trained a skilled local workforce that fueled broader hardware innovation.
- Those trained workers moved into companies like Huawei, DJI and BYD, enabling more complex products like EV batteries.
