Car Wars

As the automobile—long a pillar of American identity and economic power—faces its biggest transformation in a century, industry insider Michael Dunne reveals how China dominated the electric vehicle market and what it means for America’s economic and technological future. In Car Wars, veteran auto industry insider Michael Dunne reveals how China executed one of the most consequential industrial strategies of the 21st century: building a dominant manufacturing ecosystem for electric vehicles, batteries, and software-defined cars right under the noses of Western automakers. Why did executives in Detroit dismiss Elon Musk and China’s production prowess for years, only to be blindsided in the 2020s by a Chinese EV fleet that is more advanced, more attractive to consumers, and dramatically cheaper than Western options? Drawing on decades of firsthand experience from Detroit to California and throughout Asia, Dunne traces the pivotal decisions, personalities, and policies that reshaped the global auto industry. The stakes extend far beyond cars. As vehicles become platforms for software, chips, and data, the outcome of the EV race will influence economic power, national security, and technological leadership for decades to come. Car Wars explains how China pulled ahead—and what the United States must do to catch up.