Will China Power GM Out of a Coronavirus Recession?
China is the world’s largest automotive market by far. General Motors is the second largest foreign automaker in China. The country is also GM’s top-selling vehicle market, with sales slightly over 3 million vehicles in 2019. As business activity in China recovers...
Does COVID-19 Help Tesla?
Coronavirus could give Tesla advantages over traditional automakers both in electric vehicle investment as well as the development of self-driving systems. In a Medium article written prior to the current coronavirus environment, I wrote about Tesla having potential...
Will Autonomous Vehicle Investments Decline Now?
I believe Tesla is leading the world in a race to develop the technology enabling mobility solutions using self-driving vehicle capability as outlined in this Medium article, Tesla's Insurmountable Advantages. However, in an interview this week with Automotive News,...
Porsche Says, “Tesla is not a Competitor”
In a recent AutoNews article (subscription required), Porsche's head of R&D says Tesla's goal to be a volume producer of EVs means Tesla really doesn't compete with Porsche. I'm not buying it! Taycan is Porsche's first and best attempt at creating a proper Porsche...
Electric Vehicle and Autonomous Vehicle Investments During Covid-19
Yesterday's announcement from General Motors cutting white collar salaries and freezing work on some vehicle programs due to coronavirus, also highlighted a few less than immediately profitable programs where engineering development will not be delayed. According to...
Covid-19 Impact on Autonomous Vehicle and TaaS Companies
It was reported today that autonomous vehicle software company, Aptiv, will access a $1.7 billion credit line, as well as suspend its $225 million dividend to conserve cash as part of the company's survival plan to weather the Covid-19 economic storm. How might this...
Automakers Fight Coronavirus
GM, VW and other automakers around the globe are using their manufacturing, logistics, and purchasing expertise to help fight Covid-19. Automotive News has the story (subscription required) about auto company plans to help with ventilator production. Reminiscent of...
Waymo is Suspending Service
According to CNBC, Waymo (Alphabet's self-driving taxi service being tested in Phoenix and Detroit), is halting much of its operations until at least April 8 due to Covid-19.
Automotive Had an Early Hint at Covid-19
The publisher of Automotive News, Jason Stein, wrote a commentary piece (subscription required) this week that his team had an early hint of what was coming due to coronavirus. Stein described a WhatsApp conversation with his associate editor who is in Europe. On...
Morgan Stanley Thinks GM’s EVs Will Grow Faster than Tesla’s
After the General Motors Electric Vehicle Day presentation last week, Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas believes GM's EV sales will grow 30 times in 10 years. This will represent 20% of GM's total vehicle sales, rising to 70% of sales in 20 years. Jonas believes Tesla's EV...