by Zak Dychtwald
Global executives in far too many industries are waiting to see Chinese products in their own markets before they take them seriously. But tariffs, geopolitics, and China’s evolving approach to global expansion mean that any company with a “wait and see” strategy will often be the last to recognize where things are headed. By the time executives have seen these products in their home market, many will already have been successful globally. BYD is a case in point: Most Americans have never heard of the company, even though it is the most popular maker of electric vehicles in many global markets. This article discusses China’s rapid emergence as a proving ground for innovative products with global appeal and then recommends four ways in which executives who hope to compete globally should respond.