
No other nation is gaining as dramatically as China in the annual Forbes billionaire rankings. Last year, the number of new billionaires in the People’s Republic rose by 202 to 626. Some of the newcomers to the ranking have made their fortunes with unusual business ideas. A toy manufacturer is represented, as well as a liquor producer and two suppliers of e-cigarettes.
By Redaktion Table
Hydrogen engines have the potential to turn the car industry around in times of climate change. China initially wants to establish the technology primarily in commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses because the tanks can be better accommodated in large vehicles. China is already the world's largest producer of hydrogen, with an annual production of 20 million tons. Much of this is not yet green hydrogen.
By Frank Sieren
In 1957, Mao ordered 60 million Chinese to "cook steel" and built 240,000 small blast furnaces. That was the beginning of a steel addiction that has driven China's steel production up year after year ever since. With state-subsidized steel, Beijing floods the world market. Now, Xi Jinping says this has to stop because the steel glut is counteracting his goals for reducing CO2 emissions.
By Antje Sirleschtov
The technology companies Xiaomi and Foxconn are shaking up the Chinese market for electric mobility. Xiaomi wants to invest billions in the development of EV production – but then probably outsource the production itself. Foxconn has developed an open software and hardware platform and is forging more and more partnerships for it. Siemens, Bosch, and Leoni are ready.
By Christiane Kuehl