从中国看完后，他们“震惊”了

Core Insights - Foreign executives and experts visiting Chinese smart manufacturing factories expressed being "very shocked" by China's technological advancements [2][4]. Group 1: Technological Advancements - Ford CEO Jim Farley was surprised by innovations in autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and facial recognition after visiting a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing plant, noting that "China's production costs and car quality far exceed those of Western factories" [4]. - Andrew Forrest, president of Fortescue Metals Group, decided to abandon plans for in-house electric vehicle powertrain production after witnessing the efficiency of Chinese factories, which utilize extensive automation and robotics in their assembly lines [4]. - Greg Jackson, CEO of Octopus Energy, highlighted the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing, attributing it to a large pool of highly skilled and well-educated engineers driving innovation, moving beyond reliance on government subsidies and cheap labor [6]. Group 2: Automation and Robotics - The International Federation of Robotics (IFR) reported that the Chinese government is aggressively promoting automation, leading to a significant transformation in the industrial base over the past decade, with the number of industrial robots in China increasing from 189,000 in 2014 to over 2 million by 2024 [6]. - Despite the common explanation of China's achievements being due to its large population, data indicates that even on a per capita basis, China's robot usage surpasses that of the US, Germany, and the UK [6]. - China is increasingly recognized as a technological leader in sectors such as electric vehicles, batteries, and drones, contrasting with the previous perception of "cheap Chinese products" [6][7]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Sandor Tordor, chief economist at the European Centre for Reform, emphasized that Western countries must enhance their investment in robotics technology to keep pace with China's innovation and maintain the vitality of their manufacturing sectors [7].