• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      Polestar Automotive Holding UK PLC, or simply Polestar, is a Swedish automotive manufacturer

      Principally owned by Li Shufu

      Li Shufu is a Chinese billionaire entrepreneur.

      Lolz. Lmao, even.

      I do find it amusing that we’ve been chained at the waste to the hydrocarbon industry for decades longer than necessary, in no small part because we needed to prop up the Middle East as a buttress against a now-defunct Soviet Union. And now we’re frantically switching to electric seemingly entirely because we’re terrified of a Chinese Industrial Century.

      When will western state leaders decide on domestic policy on its own terms and stop chasing the foreign devils? You don’t need to switch to electric because of China. You can devise a sensible domestic policy based purely on what is best for EU member states.

      • shawn1122@sh.itjust.works
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        7 days ago

        Interestingly, the moral imperative behind the switch to electric was largely acknowledged up until China established itself as a major player in the industry.

        As soon as it became apparent a non Western-aligned country / corporation could be leading this shift, there’s been hesitation either in the form of doubling down on hydrocarbons or rapid adoption / incentives to spur indigineous manufacturing in the West.

        The reality is China has the lead and, at this rate, is going to keep widening the gap. The question is what is best for EU member states? To accept what may become a long term dependence on Chinese technology or try to play catch up.