Made in China tsunami — and the Jaecoo J7 can beat the West

Chairman Mao — he of the little red book — once said, as he was leading the Chinese Revolution, that "a single spark can start a prairie fire," expressing his hope that his Communist ideology would sweep across not only his homeland, but ignite a conflagration which would destroy Western capitalism.

- Brendan Seery

We wonder what he would think of the 21st century reality, where a Chinese revolution is sweeping the world, but from a decidedly capitalist — albeit a state capitalist one — perspective.

So much of our daily consumption comes from China that we're probably not remotely aware of the influence of Beijing and its industrial muscle has on our ordinary activities. And I don't just mean Shein or Temu, either.

But what has become impossible to ignore is the tsunami of Chinese-made vehicles on South African roads. These are certainly not the tinny, rubbishy Changan small cars of 15 years ago — but can they compete with the offerings of established Western and Japanese manufacturers?