In 2025, your average new ute has more chips than a Bunnings sausage sizzle. The average car has about 1500 chips. Back in 2020, that silicon buffet cost about $500 per car. By 2028, it will be closer to $1400. And 88 per cent of those chips come from East Asia.

Meanwhile, China's turning the car game into a contact sport. BYD is flogging more cars in Europe than Tesla. The secret? Vertical integration — it makes the batteries, motors, semiconductors and even the seat heaters.