Design and Supply Landscape
When it comes to electric vehicles, batteries are the heart of the operation. Both General Motors and BMW know this well, and despite efforts to diversify supply chains, they still rely heavily on Chinese battery manufacturers. The reason is simple — China has spent years building expertise, scaling up production, and driving down costs in ways that other countries haven’t quite matched yet.
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Batteries from China have come a long way over the years. They’re no longer just about being cheap — they’ve gotten better at holding more charge, lasting longer, and staying safe in different conditions. For BMW, that means their electric cars can go farther without the constant worry about finding a charger. GM also gains an edge, especially for its more affordable EVs, where every dollar saved matters but quality still needs to be there. From what I’ve seen, this mix of performance and price is a big reason these brands keep going back to Chinese suppliers.
Market Reality
On paper, it sounds simple for carmakers to just shift battery production closer to home — but the reality isn’t that easy. Building a battery plant from scratch takes years, a lot of investment, and workers who know the technology inside out. China’s been doing this for decades, so they can turn around massive orders without breaking a sweat. For now, that’s a big reason why both GM and BMW still look to China while they work on expanding their own production closer to home.
My Take
I’ve seen this pattern in other industries too — when one region gets so far ahead in a key technology, it becomes almost impossible for others to ignore. For BMW, especially, it’s like choosing between building a car with proven, ready-to-go parts versus waiting years for a local supplier to catch up.
Why It Matters
As EV demand keeps growing, securing a steady supply of batteries is just as important as designing the car itself. GM and BMW’s ongoing partnerships with Chinese suppliers show that, for now, performance, reliability, and availability outweigh the push for total supply independence.