Forget the 'startup' label—brands like Zeekr and NIO are the battle-hardened survivors of a domestic Darwinism that makes Formula 1 look like a leisure stroll.
The misconception in the Western clubhouse is that Chinese EVs are winning purely on a low-handicap price point.
This competitive evolution is manifesting in a sudden strategic pivot that mimics a golfer switching to a hybrid on a long par five.
The speed of this market dominance was punctuated this week by NIO’s latest sub-brand, Firefly.
Forget the 'startup' label—brands like Zeekr and NIO are the battle-hardened survivors of a domestic Darwinism that makes Formula 1 look like a leisure stroll.