China bets on car-style rocket production to surpass SpaceX’s pace

China is revolutionizing its aerospace manufacturing by adopting a car-style mass production approach, known as the “final assembly pull” system, to compete with the US and SpaceX’s rapid launch pace. Inspired by lean manufacturing principles pioneered by Toyota, this system shifts from the traditional “push” production—where components are made based on forecasted demand—to a “pull” approach where parts are produced and assembled only as needed. This reduces waste, inventory bottlenecks, and delays, enabling faster and more cost-effective production of rockets and satellites while maintaining quality. The transformation involves a coordinated national strategy integrating state-owned enterprises, research institutes, and private suppliers, supported by AI, robotics, and a collaborative digital platform that provides real-time supply chain visibility. This modular and flexible manufacturing model allows China to dynamically reconfigure workflows and streamline production. With plans to deploy satellite mega-constellations such as Guowang, Qianfan, and Hongtu-3, China aims to significantly boost its orbital launch