A new documentary being developed by three Canadian filmmakers will examine the rapid evolution of China’s automotive industry, a topic of growing interest as dealers consider the potential arrival of Chinese brands in Canada.
The working title is Driven: Inside Chinese Automotive Revolution. Executive producer Justin Poy is working with producer-director Craig Thompson of Stratford-based Ballinran Entertainment and producer Paul Lewis, whose television career includes launching Discovery Channel Canada’s Daily Planet. The filmmakers expect to shoot inside automotive plants in China.
Thompson and Poy previously collaborated on Exclusion: Beyond the Silence, a documentary about Canada’s Chinese Immigration Act of 1923. As for Lewis, who has worked extensively in China, he introduced the new project to Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV. Poy said a memorandum of understanding has been signed with the broadcaster.
The filmmakers say the documentary will look beyond the growth of electric vehicles to explore China’s manufacturing capabilities, vehicle technology and changing ideas about what consumers expect from a car.
“The film is really about how China’s automotive revolution is changing our relationship with the car on a global scale, not just technology and politics,” Thompson told Canadian auto dealer.
He said the project is intended as a broader societal documentary rather than a news report about trade policy or individual automotive brands.
Thompson points to the impact the automobile had on North American life in the 20th century — influencing everything from roads and suburbs to travel and retail — and wants to explore whether technological and consumer trends emerging in China could produce another significant shift.
China’s automotive market has developed rapidly over the past several decades, with domestic manufacturers becoming increasingly prominent in electric vehicles, software and connected-vehicle technology.
Thompson said Chinese automakers are also approaching the vehicle differently in areas such as retailing, infotainment and in-car features.
“It’s not just about battery technology,” he said. “It’s about the accoutrements in the car — self-driving, heads-up display, massage chairs. They’re treating the car not as a utility, but as a lifestyle, a living room on wheels.”
The subject has growing relevance in Canada as policymakers, automakers and dealers assess the potential impact of increased access for Chinese-made EVs and the possibility that Chinese brands could eventually establish a larger presence in the market.
That prospect presents both opportunities and concerns for Canadian dealers. New brands could offer additional franchise opportunities and greater consumer choice, but increased competition could also put pressure on pricing and dealer margins. Questions remain about parts and service support, the long-term commitment of new entrants and the potential impact on established brands.
Poy said the production team expects to have access to automotive manufacturing facilities in China, giving viewers a look at highly automated plants and production methods that may be unfamiliar to North American audiences.
He said the documentary will also examine China’s development of digital ecosystems and manufacturing efficiency rather than concentrating solely on electrification.
“If we just talk about the EV revolution, it’s a little too simplistic,” said Poy. “That would be a very incomplete story.”
Thompson said the filmmakers are aiming to complete and distribute the documentary in 2028.
