In the EV race, Japan’s most dangerous rival could be closer to home than China

LAST year, I had a friendly argument with senior management from Zeekr, a Chinese carmaker that has an unusually clear idea of what it wants its cars to be – namely, more luxurious than Teslas and more high-tech than Mercedes-Benzes.

I suggested that when it comes to electric vehicles (EVs), the Chinese have opened up a formidable technology gap over the rest of the automotive world, but legacy brands have built up a heritage gap. The older brands are woven into the very fabric of our lives.

Surely these players can close the technology gap long before the likes of Zeekr can close the heritage gap, I asked?