'Joint venture in reverse': foreign carmakers seek edge with China partners

'Joint venture in reverse': foreign carmakers seek edge with China partners

Hefei, China (AFP) April 27, 2026 In a sprawling office in Hefei, the eastern Chinese electric vehicle hub, hundreds of employees and several robotic arms sat refining software developed jointly by German behemoth Volkswagen and Chinese EV maker XPeng. The days when foreign firms saw such partnerships largely as a necessary entrance fee to the world's largest auto market are long gone. Legacy overseas brands are now seek