NHTSA is amidst rule-making that will mandate systems in cars to detect when a driver is drunk. This eventual rule begs many questions, such as whether a vehicle would be disabled if it detects a drunk driver. Senior Editor David Kiley talks with Bosch North America's expert at CES2024 about the technology and issues.
The entire auto industry is transitioning to software-based vehicles. Yes, there is hardware that we will be driving around town and on the highways. But all the controlling functions of the car will be managed by software, with repairs and updates coming via Over-The-Air. Host David Kiley and WardsIntelligence principal software-vehicle analyst Maite Bezerra talk about the latest issues around this monumental shift to software-based vehicles from the floor of CES 2024.
Much has transpired in 2023 witrh regard to the transformation of the auto industry from a century-plus of being centered around the internal combustion engine to the era ahead of electrification. There is pain and growing pains. Host David Kiley and Wards Intelligence Sustainability and Digital Economy Analyst Christie Schweinberg talk about the stories and what's ahead in 2024.
Lotus is a brand that has been part of the automotive scene since theb early 50s. It has been loved by collectors, designers and engineers. Today, Lotus is owned by Chinese auto group Geely. And while Lotus has been primarily known in recent years for the Elise roadster, today it is charting a growth plan around EVs that includes a new CUV and sporty sedan, with a new roadster on the horizon. Today, we chat with Lotus Chief Creative Officer Ben Payne.
It looks like it was sketched by Marvel Comics artists, and cast as a menacing robo-character in a blockbuster film. In reality, Tesla Motors' Cybertruck, which Founder and CEO Elon Musk began delivering to customers on Nov. 30, is just a wacky, difficult to manufacture, question mark. You have seen the picctures and the videos. Now, WardsAuto Podcast Host David Kiley discusses the truck everyone is talking about with Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst and associate director of research at S&P Global. Tune in and hear how we see Cybertruck and its possible threat to Detroit.
EV sales will top one million this year, and that's a 50% gain from 2022. But that growth is not fast enough to match the production plans and investments made by automakers and suppliers. Host David Kiley talks with Cox Automotive's industry analyst Michelle Krebs about what is holding back consumers.
Auto Shows aren't what they used to be, but the LA Auto Show '23 had a decent share of debuts including the Toyota Camry, Lucid Gravity, Subaru Forester, Hyundai Santa Fe and more. Plus a bonus look at Karma Automotive's new hyper-car EV Roadster in Las Vegas on the eve of the F1 race in Sin City. Host David Kiley talks to some of the executives behind these important models.
Dealer inventories of EVs are swelling, so discounting is kicking in and production plans are being rethought. But government and corporate fleets keep buying because they have mandates and zero-emission vehicle goals that aren't impacted by consumer adoption rates. That has opened up opportunities for entrepreneurs and start-ups like Lightning eMotors, which manufactures EV coaches, buses, etc., as well as Plug, which is brokering used EVs for dealers and fleets. Our guests this week are Plug CEO Jimmy Douglas and Lightning eMotors CEO Tim Reeser.
Nearly 40% 9f consumers surveyed are ready to consider an EV for their next purchase. But even with those folks, there is a certain amount of anxiety and trepidation over making a radical transition from an ICE vehicle to an EV. John Possumato is Founder and CEO of driveitaway.com, which is a company that works with dealers to allow customers rent to own vehicles. We can use the service for any type of vehicle, but in this week's episode Possumato talks about how appropriate and useful this service is to would-be EV buyers, and also how both dealers and consumers can take advantrage of the Federal tax credits vailable for many EVs.
The U.S. government is putting $7 billion into building hydrogen hubs across the country. There is more than $50 billion in additional investments in hydrogen production and applications: cars, hydrogen production, trains, planes, stationary power and even ships. The first big push, set to happen over the next ten to fifteen years, is converting diesel-powered semi-trucks and generators to hydrogen fuel-cells. Despite the promises of how the cleanest burning energy on the planet can mitigate carbon emissions, there is plenty of controversy and debate around whether we should or can develop a hydrogen economy. Thomas Stephenson--Founder, Chairman and CEO of Pajarito Powder--a New Mexico-based supplier to the hydrogen industry, and one of the most knowledgable advocates for hydrogen power, joins us to chew over the latest news about hydrogen.
WardsAuto announced its annual "10 Best Engines and Propulsion Systems" recently, and made the presentations to the winners at the Informa/WardsAuto Electrification 2023. The list of winners includes internal conbustion engines, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles. The judges--Editor-in-Chief Bob Gritzinger, Editorial Director Dave Zoia, Managing Editor Jim Irwin, WardsAuto Contributor Drew Winters, WardsAuto Intelligence Analyst Christie Schweinsberg and WardsAuto Senior Editor David Kiley--discussed how and why the winners were chosen. WardsAuto Podcast Host David Kiley moderated the panel at the Conference. And we share it here.
Government mandates are pushing the U.S., China and Europe to electrification of our personal vehicles. In a decade, two-thirds of all new-vehicle sales are supposed to be battery-electric-vehicles. But dealers are not exactly enthusiastic. An EV fleet will mean less service business for dealers, plus they are being required by automakers to make significant investments to sell, service and recharge electric vehicles. WardsAuto's principal retail analyst Nancy Dunham, and automotiveMastermind senior director of dealer relations talks to WardsAuto Podcast host David Kiley about the tension over EVs at the dealer level.
The car-driving public in the U.S., as well as Europe and China, is getting used to the idea that we are heading toward driving electric. By 2040, a scant 17 years from now, every new car sold is expected to be a battery-electric vehicle (BEV). But that is not the only big change coming. Over the same period, cars will get better and better at driving themselves. Ride with Host David Kiley as he experiences Ghost Autonomy's L4 Self-driving car.
Honda has an amazing reputation the world over for its internal combustion engines.But for its first BEVs, the Japanese automaker is using General Motors' Ultium platform. We address why. And we ventured to Utah's Zion National Park to put the the Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness Edition through off-road paces and diascuss the company's electrification plans.
There are always developments happening with batteries that will bring down prices and give us longer ranges. Wards Intelligence's battery analyst Adam Raggozzino chats about solid state tech and why battery prices are falling. And Steve Patton from global consulting firm EY talkis about what consumers like and fear about EVs. The WardsAuto Podcast is sponsored by leading global auto supplier AAM.
Range is extremely important in the BEV wars, and the '24 Acura ZDX has range up to 320 miles. Acura sales chief Emile Korkor joins us. Meantime, Hyundai added two more BEVs to the IIHS list of Top Pick+. We speak to Hyundai's global safety chief Brian Letouf about engineering safety into BEVs.
In episode 12, WardsAuto Podcast Host David Kiley talks to Mike Austin, senior analyst for EVs at GuideHouse Transportation Insights. Austin, a former journalist and now leading analyst jawbones the big issues with WardsAuto. WardsAuto Podcast is sponsored by American Axle.
Continental North America, a unit of Continental AG is a major supplier of systems, components and parts, as well as tires. But it is becoming a more software-focused company to maintain its leadership as a Tier One supplier to automakers as the whole global business shifts from internal combustion engines to electrification. CEO Aruna Anand talks about the shifts inside Continental that made it WardsAuto's Tier One Supplier of the Year in 2023.
There is a lot of pain and disruption in the transition from the ICE Age to the BEV Age. And ome of that pain and disruption can create tension and conflicts in an organization in which there are engineers and other personnel that have worked in the ICE world for decades and the newer fresh faces in the software engineering ranks. Gravitas Detroit's Jan Griffiths was an auto industry C-suiter and maverick who left it behind to be a consultant, executive coach and change manager. Host David Kiley talks to Griffiths about Culture Shock in the electric age.
Karma Automotive CEO Marques McCammon talks about the future of the automaker.