7/13/2023

John,
                We met years ago when you were a celebrity-driver for my wife Emma Brooks when she ran the Neon races at various CART events. The reason for my note is to ask you if you have ever seen an old automotive film depicting the building of a convertible? You-tube videos showing old films of auto assembly plants seem easier to find, but I’ve always wanted to see “how” convertibles were made in their day since having owned one that required a “new” top during its’ life seemed to take an unusual amount of time to install and I couldn’t help but wonder how it was done more quickly at the plant. Sorry to “ramble”, but in closing, your son is doing a great job on the daily podcast and you should be proud.
 
Thanks for reading this!
 
Joe Brooks

6/23/2023

Sean/John
Thought you would find this article interesting if you haven’t already seen it.
 
Robert Stewart
Manufacturing Engineer
Magna International

6/23/2023

John
This weeks show was extremely interesting, outstanding.  Mathew’s insight was awesome between legacy and EV start up’s.  The workings of Tesla and showing actual production differences.  Terry’s contribution and his knowledge from his GM career spot on.
Regards
Chuck

6/20/2023

Greetings,
I wanted to know in your expert opinion what would be the market capitalization of stellantis north america (formerly FCA US) if it were to be an independent publicly listed entity?
And why are GM & Ford market caps so low?
looking forward to your reply
thanks in advance. 

Jawad

6/20/2023

Greetings,
First and foremost, I love Autoline's Thursday afternoon group Q&A sessions on YouTube.  I almost always tune in live. 

I do have a suggestion.  I think it would be a great improvement if you were to get participants from the new crop of reputable automotive journalists / analysts beyond the old standbys like Motortrend and Automotive. 

The show needs a wider mix of commenters from a larger range of demographics.

Thank you for reading my comments.

Kind Regards,

Marlin

6/12/2023

Hi Autoline,

I have a question about the IRA EV tax credit.  I am sure it is a question many people may have.  If a person normally receives a tax refund, how does the EV tax credit work?

Regards,

Doug

6/12/2023

Hey John and Sean,

Just saw a recent Munro Live vid where they show the content and construction aspects of the Ultium battery pack from an Hummer EV.

I have shared John’s belief, that GM set them self up for success by doing a new, dedicated design to build their EV family on.  But the breakdown look of the pack left me with a very different impression.

For a blank-sheet design, the Ultium battery pack had what looked like a very unsofisticated build with multiple odd, seemingly non-optimal-for-function design choices.  Probably due to the notable complexity, here’s a partial explanation on why so few Ultium based vehicles have made it to the street to date.  This battery is very complex in execution and part count and has to be slow to build, especially to build at high quality.  Looks like the savings attempted from a materials choice, were given back and then some from a complexity-of-build standpoint.

Sure hope GM redesigns this before putting it into Silverado EV or 1-layer versions into the future and current SUV versions of Ultium.

Ground-up design? Hamburger, not excellence in design (structure or manufacture ease/efficiency).  Big MISS in design.

Again, I’m ‘hoping’ this is “GEN1” that will be superseded by something that has a chance of being manufactured fast, automated, at consistent high quality.

Thanks for all you and your staff do to bring us news from the WW auto industry!!

Dave

5-15-2023

Hello, 

This could be an interesting story. I think Jeep may have hoped everyone would forget about the Easter Egg contest. They received lots of ideas with the promise that someone would get a free Jeep. 
• See below for our prior correspondence on this and the response from FCA.
• Here is Jim Morrison's response when questioned. - Timestamp 24:25  -  from October 2021. "Stay tuned to Moab, as we want to bring the winner out to Easter Jeep safari"  This happened in March 2022. 
• I suppose there is a chance that they will still announce a winner, but based on Jim's response, I bet they deprioritized and forgot about it. 
I'm not salty that I didn't win (the chances obviously were super slim), I just don't think it's right to hold a contest, then hope everyone forgets about it to avoid paying out the prize.

Regards,
Jon

5-15-2023

Hi,

If you need more content, you might Google "valley of death" that shows two curves: ICE decline, and EV ascension with the valley being where the curves overlap. 

I am reminded that the late Bob Lutz claimed GM had a 'moat' of pickup trucks that doomed Tesla lacks. IMHO, Tesla was free of the existing ICE anchor.

Bob

5-15-2023

Hi John,

I read that IRA is helping to keep Chinese EVs out of the US.

Not sure if that’s true, in-part or in full.

But I am curious if you know why Chinese EVs are not in Canada like they are in Europe and Australia.

Thanks, still faithfully watching everything from Autoline Network,

Michael

5-15-2023

You may find it interesting,

Rick

5-15-2023

Hello,

You reported on the Fisker Bloomberg article today as if it were fact. Fisker has come out strong saying it was fabricated. 

The article was released just hours before earnings, so it was likely coordinated by short sellers. 

While I personally believe Fisker probaby is experiencing some software issues, its important to provide the response from Fisker, as reporting nothing gives the impression that the reporting was not contested. 

Best,
Jon

5-8-2023

Dear Autoline,

These guys are on topic with what you all are on, but slicing it on a different bias.  If you had not seen this yet, this episode is pretty interesting

5-8-2023

Sean/John
 
We keep hearing about the advantages of the EV assembly plant and how it requires less space, yet we also keep hearing about the next big Mega-plant to build EVs.
I have been in many assembly plants including the huge Ford Kentucky truck plant, Rouge complex, Lansing grand river and Delta township and Hamtramck (before and after the Volt) and Tesla’s Fremont plant.
The Tesla plant which was an ICE plant was converted to EVs and when the model 3 came around they put up tents out in the parking lot because they needed more room. So is an EV plant really smaller?
I have walked the assembly lines I don’t see much that would be that different when assembling an EV. The body shop will be essentially the same, the paint shop the same, and most of the assembly process the same.
An EV still has all the same interior components to be installed like seats carpet panels and headliner etc.. They still have brake lines and wiring and suspension not that much different.
So whats really the difference?  In most assembly plants the engines and transmissions come to the plant assembled. Those are being replaced with a motor and a battery. So you eliminate a few items like gas tank and exhaust.
Where is this huge savings that is going to allow the EV plant to be so much smaller?  Also what is specifically so different that requires a new assembly plant?
Yeah I get that having a nice new plant helps promote the image that EVs are futuristic and not like the old ICE counterparts and maybe the tax incentives make a new plant a no-brainer.
But seriously what is so drastically different that makes changing a ICE plant over to a EV plant so difficult?  Hamtramck is doing it and yes spending 2.2 Billion, but I would really like to see you guys do a more serious journalistic dive into this subject.
I know you guys typically just report the automotive news and are not so much into investigative type of journalism. But maybe you can get someone on the AAH show to talk specifics on the plant differences and is it truly that different or more about taking advantage of tax incentives and maintaining an image?  
I really think your viewers would really enjoy a deeper dive into this subject covering the specifics that is going to support this so called smaller EV plant. For now with Mega plants and current retrofits I’m just not seeing it.
Maybe provide an example of a new EV plant and its size in comparison to the average ICE plant.
 
Robert Stewart
Manufacturing Engineer
Magna International

5-8-2023

A Vespa and a Prius consume the same amount of gas.

In the highway, a Smart isn't much more efficient than a minivan.  Not worth it.

5-8-2023

Is it not a possible class action suit against rental car companies who make you return gas vehicles full but can return EV’s empty!!

Does it cost enough more to rent an
EV to make up the difference?

5-8-2023

Here is one of a "million" posts on the Maverick Truck Club. I'm picking on Ford here, which I actually like, but it makes the point that some OEMS are badly botching the movement from dealer inventory to customer orders.

The point here isn't that they can't deliver because of the chaos in the system. Or that a few dealerships are behaving badly. The point is that the combination of OEM, dealer, customer, and processes designed to service a dealership inventory model are failing badly. And there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. The current situation is creating widespread resentment against both dealerships and OEMs. And the predominant reaction of OEMs seems to be a collective shrug. OEMs are set up to communicate with dealerships, but they need to communicate with customers. And they're not doing it effectively.

I would title the segment something like "The New Purchasing Model... Are OEMs botching the transition from inventory to customer orders?" 

Thanks for all the great content guys!

Scott from Asheville

5-8-2023

2023 Prius Prime

If this car had been available in the 2017 Prius Prime, I would not have traded it in for a 2019 Tesla Model 3. The major improvements: (1) usable EV range; (2) true EV mode; (3) much improved TSSP, and; (4) same price as $41,000 Model 3.
 
No, I won't trade in my 2019 Model 3 for the new Prime because Tesla has made substantial improvements over the years. With 102,000 miles, I still marvel that the Tesla per mile price is 1/3d that of my old Prius Prime and even the new one.
 
However, it next Toyota EV switches to the Tesla plug and connector, I might go back to a Toyota.
 
Bob
Huntsville, AL

5-8-2023

John,
I don’t understand Waymo’s business model and end game. Does Alphabet report the sink investment to date? They don’t seem to be getting enough traction to warrant the scale of investment and-or the horizon for payback seem like it is post 2030.
Have you ever feature Waymo on Afterhours?
 
Interested in your perspective.
 
Regards,
Peter

4-5-2023

Hi John,
 
I recently completed a 4,600 mi, 11 day drive: Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Saford AZ, Vicksburg MS, and Huntsville AL home. Autopilot and Full Self Driving (FSD) did all the work while I supervised. FSD even handled the 12 lanes of Las Vegas rush hour traffic at night better than I could have.
 
I have no problem with ICE only owners and drivers paying 3 times the cost per mile for a slower, noisier ride. Having them pay for their air pollution in emission credits is only fair for those of us who have lungs.
 
Saving money does a great job of converting gas vehicle owners to EV.
 
Bob Wilson

4-5-2023

Dear Mr. McElroy,
 
Yesterday’s hour discussion was interesting and looking into the future is sometimes hard. The effect of a crisis can have an influence, wars, etc. But taking some related effects into account can help making a better prediction. If 65% capacity is needed for an OEM manufacturing plant, that figure can help making good predictions for OEM, Tier 1, Tier 2, etc..
 
As Sandy Munro said, “the EV will be the dominating car by 2030”. I fully agree with that.
In China and Europe EV will grow fast because the economics/ business case is much better than owning/ using an ICE vehicle.
 
Already in 2004 when I was working for Bosch Automotive as Battery Product Manager Worldwide Aftermarket, colleagues in China informed me about the China Government strategy to become EV market leader by 2030. We studied the market and competition and only Toyota was strong in that direction with their hybrid vehicles. After 2 years informing the Bosch management every month in the monthly meeting that electric vehicles would be the future they started the project “Hybrid Haus”. All people involved in electric parts for vehicles started talking about what was needed for an electric drive train included parts that were connected to the ICE but required for EV too.
Unfortunately Bosch than decided to start together with some  German car manufacturers to promote diesel ICE as environmentally friendly solution in reaction to the growth of hybrid vehicles in the USA. This went well for about 10 years!
In 2007 I decided to try to start a company for a 4 wheel electric drive train concept that was capable of torque vectoring traction control included ABS and ESP via the electric motors. All people from the automotive industry, universities and governments I spoke, thought I had no clue about the future of the automotive market and told me that the ICE had so much more potential, EV has no chance.
Young guys in Croatia with Rimac in the lead some years later did what companies like Bosch should have done. Develop and build the perfect drive train solution. Now Rimac has a perfect 4 wheel electric drive train solution many car manufacturers make use of and is 51% owner of Bugatti. Bosch is still big in the declining market of ICE components!
 
In the attachment a document I worked out and last updated in 2018 with my prediction about the automotive market. In special the consequence for vehicle production when Tier 2 and 3 companies get in trouble is maybe interesting, as well as how expensive ICE maintenance and repairs will become and where the nearest gas station will be for ICE car owners.
 
Hope you like the vision and look forward to hear from you.
 
Met vriendelijke groet, Mit freundlichen Grüßen, With kind regards,
 
Wil Joosten

4-5-2023

John
 
Sandy and Corey were great!  Really entertaining and informative hopefully the Detroit based OEM we’re watching.  I’m sure your viewings for the show will be off the chart.  Congratulations.
 
Regards
Chuck

4-4-2023

Back in the day when I was a kid, there were ads in print and on TV of doctors endorsing cigarettes. Now of course we all know cigarettes cause cancer and smoking is known to be bad.
 
Global warming (and now a softer phrase "Climate change") has permeated society and affected manufacturing several levels deep to a ridiculous degree. 
 
I wonder if it will be 50 years before we all accept that CO2 does not cause climate change (it's the sun) and we go on to the next distraction.
 
Just my thoughts.
 
Alan
Grants Pass, Oregon

4-4-2023

Hello John, AAH 641 was a great show, and very thought provoking. How the industry navigates the transition from ICE to BEV will be fascinating to watch. A couple of additional points on the transition are as follows.

Are there storm clouds brewing between the UAW and the "Big Three" in regards to the transition?

An ICE vehicle can be in service for a very long time and go hundreds of thousands of miles with multiple owners. The jury still seems to be out on what the useful lifespan will be with a BEV. Will BEV's just be throw away's after 10 years and 100,000 miles?  These points have implications for the used car market, the new car market and the turnover rate for the fleet.

Keep up the good work.

Tom

New Orleans

4-4-2023

I usually don't pay much attention to this stuff but this looks interesting. A friend who watches a lot of foreign news media sent this [an article about EV fires] to me and I thought you might be interested.  


Don LaCombe

4-4-2023

Sean/John

Hopefully your able to open this link it was from tic toc but of a legit news cast. Maybe you can find more on this. 

It’s turning tires into a useable fuel. 

4-4-2023
 
Electric small delivery van

4-4-2023

Greeting again John and Team Autoline.
 
I've lived here in the Tampa area since 2001 and never knew of this place till this past week.
 
The Tampa Bay automobile museum (see attached website and a few pictures) is truly remarkable for the vintage cars they house from France, Austria, Germany, England and a few from America for good measure.
 
The founding family came here from France, so there are many Citroën models present, and also from other manufacturers I've never heard of.
 
You'll see a picture of a hydrogen powered car from many decades ago, that should stoke Peter D's quest for his HERF to come to fruition...although with the mandated onslaught of EVs choking us, that probably won't happen. 
 
There are plenty of hybrids, electric, four wheel drive cars, wooden interiors/exteriors, 3 on the column...all from the early 1900s!
 
And what's really amazing is every single car is road worthy and has a valid Florida plate and can be driven on the local roads here!
 
So next time you or any of your readers come to the Tampa area, all car-guys and girls should pay a visit to this museum in Pinellas Park,  which is between St Pete and Clearwater. 
 
I'll be going back again in May when I take my son and can get more pictures if you like.  Once you check out the website below, the jaw drops!
 
Happy motoring to all,
Scott Hood 

3-13-2023

I read with curious amusement about the modular build that Tesla is proposing just remembering the 1980's and 1990's fascination with modular build. Modularity has been a quest for sometime. 

There have been some experiments to move it from a concept to reality. GM Gavatai assembly plant proved to be one of the better executed plans. The size of the plant decreased with the building of modular assemblies on the plant site and transported to the assembly line with JIT. The Toyota body shops have shown that there is a balance between the increase use of automation and flexibility. With them flexibility is achieved by strategically utilizing operators to handle the complexities and utilize automation to handle the rest. We will see if Tesla's approach doesn't limit it self with complexity and overburden with capitalization of assets. Kudos if they can.

You also mentioned the performance of Stellantis vs. Ford and GM. Does Stellantis utilize the International Financial  Reporting Standards or the one used by Ford/ GM Genrally Accepted Accountin Principles. There are some differences that can impact the final numbers. A summary of the differences is outlined at this site 

Regards,

David

3-13-2023

Greetings John and Sean, 
 
Th[is] article by Tasha Keeney does a good job of explaining how Tesla will cut vehicle costs by 50%.  
 
We already know this stuff from Investor Day, but it is nice to see her perspective on it. 
 
Perhaps Tasha would make a good guest on your show.  She is an articulate woman with a clear understanding of Tesla’s innovation history and innovation plans.     
 
Here is a link and an excerpt from her recent article:
 
“This is a roadmap for continuous cost declines, and scaling production.
 
Tesla is likely to reduce vehicle costs by ~50% during the next five years. 
• First, it will produce 100% of the controllers on its next generation vehicle. 
• Second, it will switch to a 48-volt battery architecture that should reduce power losses by 16-fold. 
• Third, it will use local ethernet-connected controllers to reduce the complexity of the wiring harness. 
These electrical architecture changes should cut costs and give Tesla more control over its supply chain at the component level. 
 
They also will enable Tesla to transition its manufacturing to a parallel assembly process, slashing its manufacturing footprint and wasted time by 40% and 30%, respectively.
 
By reducing its factory footprint, Tesla will be able to accelerate Gigafactory production.”

In my opinion, the people who were disappointed on Investor Day were expecting cake and ice cream.  Tesla served a prime rib dinner instead.  
 
I hope this is helpful.  
 
I am always looking forward to your next broadcast. 
 
All the Best, 
 
Brian
Las Vegas, NV

3-13-2023

John and Sean,
 
This great news! The world has an endless supply of salt and its cheap. Also, the batteries don't burn like lithium-ion do.

George

3-10-2023

John, isn't Tesla just shifting costs from a single assembly line to five feeder lines?
 
David
Bloomfield Hills

3-10-2023

Greetings John:

I have spent an entire career in the manufacturing sector, and what I see happening now in the electrical vehicle industry is so exciting!

I am a longtime viewer, and I loved your recent segment on Tesla‘s new assembly line and the history of Ford’s assembly line. I share your videos with my family and friends, to explain what is going on with Tesla‘s recent innovations.

Please do future segments explaining Tesla’s new 48 V low voltage architecture and their new permanent magnet motors.

If you and Sandy Monroe ever write a book about the recent changes in the global automotive industry, I will buy it!

Tesla’s investor day is so full of topics that you can be sure that I will continue watching Sean’s daily shows and your weekly shows, as we learn about and support these changes.

Keep up the great work,

Brian

3-10-2023

Hello Autoline!

Love your videos guys!

I was recently watching the one on the revolutionized assembly line.
 
At the start of the video John goes on to say "Tesla is going to assemble cars in a way no one else has ever done before!"
 
and my colleague jumps in and proceeds to claim that Toyota had been doing the modular thing for years now and referenced this link

Obviously I'm a complete car novice, but maybe my colleague is confused and talking about a different type of 'modular' production?
 
Best as always!

Dan

3-3-2023

I thought you were take the analogy further as for instance what are four horsemen facing the industry?
What do war, pestilence, famine, and death. appear to the declining ICE vehicle industry.
Perhaps demand, regulation, high interest rates, and BEV for example.
 
I like Gary with his sober yet sly comment on auto enjoying their fat year for this year will be a lean one; Similar to the dream of joseph, but for legacy auto the store houses are bare.
For GM a giant cruise ship which is sinking, slowly. More pumps are put on, but the ship is rotten. and needs refitting to stay afloat, but you can't do that in the middle of the ocean. They sold fewer vehicles for more money, and it looks good on paper, but it won't last.
If I hear once more about the small percentage BEVs are relative to all cars, I will scream.
I think the Model Y was no 4 in the World. last year +88% in sales with all most all others down in sales.
The handwriting is on the wall, but people refuse to read it. Or maybe they need glasses.
 
Good Show!
WORLD 2022
1.    Toyota Corolla: 1.12 million (-2.2%)
2.    Toyota RAV4: 869,955 (-13.8%)
3.    Ford F-Series: 786,757 (-8.8%)
4.    Tesla Model Y: 758,605 (+88%)
5.    Toyota Camry: 675,272 (-3.0%)
6.    Honda CR-V: 600,679 (-18.1%)
7.    Chevrolet Silverado: 591,758 (+1.8%)
8.    Hyundai Tucson: 565,100 (+1.2%)
 
"With 252,000 units sold in the United States in 2022, the Tesla Model Y was the sixth-best-selling vehicle in the American automotive market. Data firm Motor Intelligence stated the Tesla Model Y saw a 32.4 percent sales increase last year compared to 2021". teslarati

3-3-2023

John,
 
We have seen all the problems manufacturers such as Ford and GM have had with their dealerships marking up high demand EVs.
 
How bad is it going to be for Toyota when they have a high demand EV? They have to deal with regional distributors who have long interfered with Toyota’s plans. It is the distributors who appear to control the packages and trim levels for Toyotas sold in their regions.

3-2-2023

John---love your show btw.
Your show has inspired me to think about SDVs (Software Defined Vehicles

I've been struggling to wrap my head around what exactly a software-defined vehicle is, but it finally hit me last night. After chatting with ChatGPT, I came to the realization that it's essentially a car with a centralized operating system and a powerful microchip controlling all its functions, as opposed to the decentralized systems and physical mechanisms of a traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle.



What makes the software-defined vehicle unique is that it uses software to manage and control various aspects of the car, from the engine and transmission to the brakes and other critical systems. The central operating system is designed to coordinate all of the vehicle's subsystems, sensors, and controllers, making it easier to integrate new features and functionalities. The OS communicates with the vehicle's sensors, collects data, and sends commands to the microchip, which then controls the various systems and functions.



One of the major advantages of a software-defined vehicle is its ability to offer improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions, enhanced safety features, and better overall performance. Plus, since the car's systems are controlled by software, they can be updated and improved over time, providing more advanced features and functionality.



All in all, the software-defined vehicle is the future of transportation, offering a more efficient, safer, and sustainable way to travel. It's exciting to think about what this technology could mean for the way we get around in the years to come.

What do you think?
 
rgds,
martin

3-2-2023

John and Sean,
 
It looks like California is allowing the gross vehicle weight of Zero emission Seim Trucks to be 82,0000 pounds instead of the normal 80,000 pounds to compensate for the extra weight of alternative fuels.

Tesla
Pepsi said the Tesla Semi is currently used for deliveries of Frito-Lay products within a 400-mile radius and for routes that require up to 425 miles of travel. Pepsi products on daily routes of 100 miles to stores and 300 to 400 mile run to other warehouses. 
The Tesla Semi can charge up to 400 miles of range in about an hour, thanks to the company's innovative Mega Charger, which charges at about 750kW.                                                                                     
Nikola 
The battery packs each weigh about 1,100 pounds in parallel configuration. Their combined 753 kilowatt hours of power results in 300 to 350 miles of driving range with up to an 82,000-pound gross weight. The camouflaged Alpha truck in the demonstration run weighed in at 65,000 pounds. The nine battery packs and the cab together weighted about 29,500 pounds, according to Damon Owens, director of product marketing. 

3-2-2023

Greetings from Maryland!

Reading about Nikola’s announcement that they will be using Plus Inc system for ADAS in their Tre trucks prompted me to look at the autonomy in that space (as opposed to the consumer side).  The Plus approach seems very different from Tesla. 

I’d love to see an After Hours program exploring ADAS in the commercial realm.

I appreciate what you guys are doing!  I do miss the in-studio give and take, as well as the (much better) sound quality.     I guess that the studio days are gone, but I do think your producer could give better guidance to your guests regarding sound quality and connectivity.

Chris

2-24-2023

Hello John I have a question regarding the Thursdays show 2/23/23. If the EU is gonna preserve their V12 and high end clientele multi million investments after 2035. Can’t the US or better yet shouldn’t the USA homologate the V8 for the big 3? But under more stricter sales mandate a EV/ICE 80/20 split. The argument can be made the USA it was was built on its V8’s as well. 

2-24-2023

Saw this and thought you might be interested. Looks like they are finally ramping up some.  
 
Thx for all your shows. Watch them almost every day. I am local and I think it would be fun to be part of a studio audience someday if you ever decide to do that.  


Scott

2-23-2023

Your daily newsletter/reminder headline hit a bit different today :" The IRA Threatens a Half Dozen Automakers". To me, the IRA is the Irish Republican Army, the terrorist group/freedom fighters that oppose British rule of Northern Ireland. I know you meant the Inflation Reduction Act. And the Biden administration should have picked a different name so that the TLA wasn't IRA. But even then ... maybe you could have gone with different wording?
 
Take care

2-23-2023

Gary asking if he's wrong about the ICE is like the preacher asking the choir, (autoline panel) what is wrong with his sermon. But while legacy auto has been quiet about their continuing efforts in the ICE space, they have been loud, excessively so,.concerning their BEV plans and endeavors.
One thing has been quiet and will remain so is the value of their stock.

2-23-2023

Great topic for you Thursday show with Sandy as guest.
How is the RV industry going to survive.
Hydrogen powered tow vehicles ?
Regards
Frank
London, Ontario 
 
Here is a summary of our first real world trip with the Tesla. 
 
In August I finally got a chance to take an actual real world trip with the Tesla and the 27’ Tommy Bahama we are customizing to mate with it. The roof is finished along with the tire and wheel change but we still have the awning arms, LP cover and undercarriage left to optimize. When Covid hit we pulled it out of the shop, customers units have been more urgent than mine. 
We took it on a trip 148 miles from home to a boondocking spot 70 miles from a supercharger. 
We left Saturday morning and headed east out of London into a 12 mph headwind driving 55 MPH I had an 80% charge since I was only going 78 miles to the supercharger. 25 miles out though the screen showed we would only have 10 mile reserve. No problem we stopped in Woodstock at the supercharger and in 12 minutes added 40 miles of reserve. 
In Waterloo we had stopped again. This was an expensive stop because there was a shoe store across the street and Heather has been on months of shopping withdrawal. 2 pairs of shoes later the car was charged and we headed north to our destination. 
There was no way I would make it to our destination and then back to Waterloo on a charge but part way there was a ChargePoint station where I planned to top up but alas it was out of order. So no problem 18 miles past our destination was another supercharger I would just run up there over the weekend and charge it. However we met the farmer across the road and he let me just plug it in there for a couple of days. So when we left to head back to Waterloo we had an 75% charge. 
Driving back to Waterloo we went through an hour of thunderstorms with lots of wind and heavy downpours. With the Tesla there is absolutely no feel like a gas engine as to how hard the car is working I was watching what I could see of the road not the screen. Between the wind and driving through the rain and running defogger we used more power than I expected but still made it to Waterloo with 15 miles of leeway. 
At Waterloo I thought I won’t make it 80 miles home in these conditions so I’ll just pop in 80% and plan to top up in Woodstock again. However the wind was calm and the 80% charge took us all the way home with 30 miles of range left over. 
This Tommy is considerably heavier than the 22’ Bambi we towed to shows in February but the weight difference is impossible to perceive towing. There is just so much power you simply can’t tell. 
Easily the most stable solid on the road vehicle I have towed just a delight to drive even in sideways rain, nothing just totally planted. 
I can’t get over how much I love this car. Hopefully we’ll get some more mods done to the trailer before a longer trip in September.
 
Andy Thomson

2-17-2023

John McElroy:  Was watching one of After Hours and the hydrogen storage problems.  This technology to me means that large trucks, trains, container boats cold use this as well as Hydrogen fuel cell cars.  Perhaps could be used in peak storage applications for the grid.  Vic

2-17-2023

As Sean has repeated his request for comments on the CATL plant location being rejected by Governor Youngkin.
 
The VA location is near Navy facilities, NC and VA research institutions, and N.E. pipeline supply, not where their product would be used.  
Also, there is no major rail or highway access at the site.
It is the same M.O. as the purchase of land tracts next to Air Force bases.
 
VA and NC does not need chicom money or farmland pollution.
 
Not everyone is a whore.

2-20-2023

...Is GM (or gm) a chicom company...
 
I think so

2-20-2023

It is strange how the things of old keep creeping up and causing problems.
Henry Ford early V8 had a Mono-rod bearing that served 2 rods. It was a floating bushing type which enlarged the bore of the rod due to like of oil. They found by splitting the bearing and using a tab to prevent the bearing from spinning in the rod that the life of the engine was much greater. BMW found that by not using the tabs on the bearing that cost could be reduced. But the problem is that the crush of the bearing and the friction isn't enough to hold the rod and main bearings tight. When the main bearing spins it cuts off the oil to the rod and wham-o.
Rumor has it! Just ask Ford on their early 6.7 engine how much they saved or what the replace cost of a replacement engine is.
Tom 

2-20-2023

John,
 
On the question is GM using Ultium batteries in the Lyric in China? Check out this article. Also, check this one out 
“talks between GM and LG for the fourth battery factory broke down when LG learned that GM was pursuing cylindrical batteries”. 
It sounds like there are issues with LG Chem pouch batteries and GM wants alternatives.
 
George

2-20-2023

We engineer types have questions regarding the EV cabin heating system you described today. My friend bought a Kia Niro with a "cold weather option," a heat pump for heating (and AC), which he says gives him cabin heat by the end of his driveway. That seems like a simple and elegant solution, but I wonder how it compares with that fancy control system you described today. Does it still use resistance heat, which can't compete with a heat pump for efficiency. Cabin heat is not divided by the number of passengers. 70% saving is based on how many people being heated?
 
Dennis

2-2-2023

Hi  John
 
I’m hoping you can give me some insight on the Mazda lineup?
 
I’ve read that the CX50’s underpinning are from Toyota and that it rides rougher than a vehicle with Mazda underpinning.
The CX5 rides better than the CX50.
 
Do you know if the CX70 and CX90 are Toyota, or Mazda underpinning??
 
I’m looking at the CX70 possibly, but if it’s sitting on a Toyota chassis, I’ll pass.
 
Our 2010 Mazda 3 has been a great car.
 
Thanks for any info,  that you may know or can find out on these vehicle.
 
JD

2-2-2023

John:
What happened to the Nobe 3 wheel car that Sandy Munro had been helping with and had invested in?  If one had showed up in my neighborhood lightly used, might have become my first EV. 

Vic

2-2-2023

John, General Motors went from 9.2 million/2012 to 5.9 million/2022 in 10 years... What is GM'S endgame ??

1-30-2023

John, 
 
Thanks for asking Don Sherman my question about the E-Ray battery charging.  
 
I guess I'm in the minority about Corvette as a "brand."  Don seems to be ok with it, and people continue to compare it with Porsche's selling CUVs.  The big difference to me, is that Cayenne and Macan are Porsche CUVs, not 911 CUVs.  Porsche is the brand.  Using Corvette as brand for CUVs would be like if 911, rather than Porsche, were the brand for Cayenne and Macan.  I've probably bought my last Corvette, so their annoyance to me probably won't matter in lost sales to me. 
 
Anyway, great AAH.  Thanks.
 
Kit Gerhart

1-30-2023

You are right John. It will be many years before GM, and others, are in volume production of EV's.
It reminds me of the mid 1970's gas crisis. Carmakers re-purposed their V8 production lines to make 90 degree V6's. They were terrible. It took many years for the big three to make a decent V6 or 4-cylinder engine. The Japanese had a 10 year head start.
 
I believe the same thing is happening again, only this time it's Tesla that has the 10 year head start.
 
Alan
Grants Pass, Oregon

1-30-2023

John, Just put up $2,500 deposit on a new Tesla, not on the internet, but @ Edward Jones; I bought a few weeks ago: 25 shares in Tesla Stock *Interestinly: Edward Jones the next day promogated and upgraded Tesla Stock to a buy... It is now already at $4,500 which I knew was coming, when production numbers were released... Lol When the Stock value hits the retail amount of a new Tesla; I will purchase one... !!        Is it better to own the car company right now, then the car?... ;) ;) Debate.         JBOND 

1-30-2023

Just fan mail. Still the best place to go to for the skinny. Autoline.
Congratulations, where almost everyone is going crazy, you keep a tight rein on your mercurial temperament, you've learned to control, that Irish temper, and come through after hearing from all sides, to indicate where we really stand. 
Things are not looking too good for GM, as you say, for instance.
Have a good year, as every year at this point is good, even if bad, if you know what I mean. 
 
Is it the end of dealerships, will Tesla take over, will legacy auto crumble? Too easy, give us some difficult questions to answer.

1-30-2023

Hello John and Sean,

I just read an article on how many Lincoln dealers did or did not sign up to invest in selling and servicing EV models.  The article referenced Cadillac and Buick's plans and outcomes with their dealer body as well.  You may think I am crazy but I think they are making a  big mistake.  I know some execs at GM and at Ford, and privately they will admit that this was a golden opportunity to thin their dealer numbers, especially getting rid of their smallest sales points.  I wonder how much strategic thought went into these initiatives. 


In my mind, one of the few advantages Cadillac and Lincoln have had versus their European, Korean and Japanese luxury brand competition is that they had a much larger retail footprint, giving them representation in many areas that the imports felt were irrelevant.  And, while the sales numbers did not add up to a big edge, it also gave them the ability to conveniently service customers that live there as well as owners that may be visiting the area.  Since I grew up there, I am very familiar with the franchise histories in the UP and it makes for an interesting illustration of the companies' strategy.  Losing a few smaller dealers may have been desirable.  Losing all of them and leaving large areas with no representation seems short-sighted.  
  

Two years ago there were four Cadillac dealers spread around the UP, providing service to tourists and residents alike.  Today there are NO Cadillac dealers in the Upper Peninsula.  And, while its not a large population area, its not deserted.  And tourism in the area is off the charts.  The dealer in Marquette also had Buick and GMC and that gave the dealer the ability to offer vehicles of all price points.  It also gave him the ability to make a decent living with the combination of the three franchises.  Now, I think that dealer will sell to the local Chevy dealer and its likely that GM will have a Chevy-GMC dealer in Marquette and nothing else.  A pretty sad state of affairs.


Marquette, MI - population 20,629 


Marquette County - population 66,103

Upper Peninsula - population 301,609

Marquette is the largest city in the UP, and  Marquette County is by far the largest population center in the UP.  The closest Cadillac dealer to Marquette is now in Rhinelander, WI, 113 miles away.  Next closest is in Green Bay, WI, 142 miles away.  And third closest is in Traverse City, MI, 152 miles away, with this caveat - the Cadillac website dealer locator provides this distance, but that is in a straight line.  So, unless Cadillacs can now cruise over the waters of Lake Michigan, owners would have to drive over the Mackinac Bridge and then over to Traverse City, a distance of 282 miles according to Google Maps.  
  

Until last year, there had been a dealership in Marquette with the Cadillac franchise for at least 60 years (that is as far back as I can remember).   There was one on the southern border of the peninsula in Escanaba.  There was also one in Iron Mountain, which is along the direct route to Green Bay. 

This means that the two closest Cadillac franchises that remain are 394 miles apart, approximately 6 hours and 48 minutes driving time.  In fact, if you have a nice cabin in the northern lower peninsula and drive your Cadillac up for a week at the lake and need service on your vehicle, your only dealership option north of Bay City is Serra Cadillac in Traverse City.   The same situation exists in Wisconsin, where many residents have a cabin in the northern portion of the state. 


During my family's time in Marquette, we owned six Cadillacs.  What this means to me is that residents of the area will now buy a different brand.  Probably a really nice Chevy or GMC.  They don't want to own something that they have to drive so far to get serviced.  I know some GM dealers will do warranty work on GM brands they don't carry, but that is rare.  And, if its a recall or a repair that involves special tools, you will have to make the drive to the Cadillac dealer.  I am fairly certain that the Lincoln dealer in Marquette will follow the same path as the Cadillac dealer did.  He did half the business that the Cadillac dealer did. 


I have heard the two main arguments for reducing the dealer body and I don't buy either of them.  It will save the OEM money.  Dealers don't cost the OEM anything.  In fact, they eliminate the carrying cost of inventory, so the more the better as long as they are spread out in reasonable market areas.

The other one is that smaller dealers can't or won't provide the customer experience that the brand wants for their customers.  The reality is that people that live in areas like this have lower expectations for customer treatment and don't want to be bothered with the niceties.  They just want their luxury vehicle serviced correctly.   They are just fine sitting on the couch next to the Chevy customer while they wait for their vehicle.  Its probably their neighbor anyway.  Small volume dealers have historically had much better CSI scores than the larger metro dealers where shady sales practices are much more common.  I saw this first hand for years calling on dealers across the country as a sales rep for GM.  


Well, its time for me to get off my soapbox.  Time will tell if I am right, I suppose.  


As always, I'm interested in your take on issues like these.  You always have very good insights.

All the best,
GM Veteran

1-17-2023

Hi Guys, 
I just love your show...I know it costs money, but will you ever start the live show in your studio again? 
Just miss the live action...
Cheers, Des
Australia

1-17-2023

Hi, John

Comments on Autoline about Tesla FSD Causing a lot deaths was disturbing to me as Tesla actually Net saves a lot of lives. It is hard to commit Suicide in your Garage with a Tesla. Look at YouTube video of "Whole Mars Catalog" recent driving 31 miles with no interventions or Local Tesla driver Dirty Tesla who uses FSD BETA on his daily drives from Fenton to Ann Arbor for three + years. He I believe is accident free and I have driven 70K miles mostly on AutoPilot accident free. Tesla tells all of us to pay attention at all times. Slowing down Tesla's ADAS system development according to Sandy Munro will cause more deaths. Invite him to your show to discuss this Topic. It will attract a lot of viewers. A person does not really understand EV's and Charging unless they own one and drove it daily. 
 
 I have a Driving Tesla Safety Score of 99%. Do you have a vehicle that has a similar feature? I think all cars should have it as it is likely to reduce reckless driving. I still sense anti EV sentiments from you and Gary. Have you had discussions on the California Devils Slide accident? All cars should be this safe with a strong glass roof vs. an easy to bend tim roof. 

Take Care, Frank

1-17-2023

Hi John and Sean,

I have started to be a snowbird and am considering buying my first electric car that would stay in Michigan for five months or so during the winter and maybe another one down the road that would stay in Florida in the summer months.  I know about care for ICE vehicles when they are stored, but how about EV's?  Do the batteries get damaged when they are not used?  Can you trickle charge an EV or leave them plugged into a source in your garage safely?  How would prolonged heat or cold affect the vehicles?  What about the mechanical components?

I hope you can work this into an After Hours or Daily program some day.

John, by the way, I recently talked with someone who remembered my appearance on your show Autoline Detroit with Csabe Csere about the rights in event data recorders.  That must have been 20 years ago!

Thanks.  Michael

1-17-2023

Good day,
Very interesting to hear about Mercedes plans to open charging stations. I thought the big oil companies would be the ones to make this move. Once ICE's are gone so will the gas station. 
 
Cheers
Mr. Dana

1-17-2023

Hello John, Sean, and Gary,
 
Could you tell me whether unionization makes GM, Ford, and Stellantis more competitive or less so than non-unionized car manufacturers?
 
Thank you.
Uncle Bob

1-17-2023

Modern AC Cobra coming in 2023

1-17-2023

HELLO MR. McELROY, HOW ARE YOU??  JUST WANTED TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, GARY, SEAN, AND ALL OF YOURS, AND THE REST OF THE AUTOLINE FAMILIES!!  THANK YOU FOR THE MANY INTERESTING SHOWS YOU GAVE US THIS YEAR, AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MANY MORE LIKE THEM FROM YOU IN '23!!   CHAS, PLAINVILLE, CT.     PS. : JOHN, TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOURSELF IN '23!!  YOU SCARED US THIS YEAR!!  IF YOUR GOING TO CES, PLEASE WEAR A MASK!!

1-17-2023

John,

I’ve been watching your reporting on the Chevy Bolt and I share your interest in it being an affordable vehicle. It looks like the $7500 tax credit will stick from January through mid March until the Treasury makes up the rules. I’ve decided to put a deposit down on one since my daughter will be driving soon and a third car will be handy for around town.  Hopefully I’ll get one in the next couple of months before the tax credit gets chopped in half. I’ll keep you posted on my experience.

Ted
Stow, Ohio

1-13-2023

John and Sean,
 
This article does the best job I have found to describe how the eFuel is actually made. I think it would have been much easier and more efficient to capture CO2 directly from a current manufacturing facility that is generate CO2 then trying to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. I would use a combination of solar, wind, and battery storage to power the eFuel plant.  

George

1-13-2023

Long time listener to your podcast and videos. I came across this Ted TAlk about electric vehicles. I think Toyota has it right. This is why my next purchase will be a hybrid. 

Claude Savard

1-13-2023

Regarding Jim Morrison, SVP & Head of Jeep North America being a Guest on a recent Episode of Autoline After Hours; the main reason I like both Jeeps and Land Rovers is because of their earlier usage as Agricultural, Commercial, and Industrial vehicles with the availability of Power Take-Off Units, their earlier ability to be used as substitutes for Agricultural and Construction Equipment (such as a Tractor), both Jeep and Land Rover having a history of mixing and matching parts from other vehicles (such as the Buick/Rover V8 that the British had purchased from the Buick Division from GM, and the related Buick V6 that Jeep while under the ownership of Kaiser had purchased, and once AMC had purchased Jeep and had their own Inline-6 Engines to use in Jeeps, they sold this V6 back to General Motors); and the history of both Jeep and Land Rover, including the AMC Eagle being a Jeep product, the XJ Cherokee and the MJ Comanche both being developed mostly by Renault when they held a stake in AMC, influences from the Concord/Hornet/Eagle being included in the development in the XJ and MJ, it being Renault that converted the AMC 242 cubic inch Inline-6 into the widely-known and Fuel-Injected 4.0 liter Inline-6, the parts the CJ line had shared with other Willys and Kaiser products, the parts the J-Series Pickup and original SJ Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer had shared with other Kaiser, AMC, and even General Motors vehicles, the parts that the XJ and MJ had shared with other Renault and AMC vehicles, in addition to the GM 2.8 liter V6; the parts that the original Land Rover Series I/II/III/Defender had shared with the Rover P3 and P4 Passenger Cars, and the parts that the original Range Rover had shared with the Rover P5, P6, and SD1 Passenger Cars.

1-13-2023

Hello Autoline Folks

Love your shows. Watch autoline daily and after hours and most anything you put out there.

My issue is those zoom shows you have been doing since Covid. I really miss the in studio shows. They were much better than the zoom or whatever it is you use. I know it is much cheaper I would imagine but zoom calls really suck. I really hope you get back in studio soon. Just my opinion/wish.
 
Cliff

1-13-2023

I completely disagree with your news story that EPA market stats should take account of the type/size/power of each OEM fleet before raring them as high or low pollution.
Reason: the rest of the world manages without full size pickups so if Americans continue to buy these in combustion form then of course their emissions are the only relevant measure.

Either make less or change to EV powerchain, then we can congratulate Stellantus (etc) for reducing fleet emissions.  Under your proposal, buyers and sellers will be more inclined to get bigger vehicles than they need, thus increasing US pollution. As we share the atmosphere to breathe, very much prefer if your incentives (and stats measured) helped reduce emissions rather than encourage more!
 
Mark
Worcester, UK

(personally driven 105,000 car miles on electricity and changed jobs to bring large freight trucks in EV form to market ASAP)

1-13-2023

Hello AD
 
As a long time viewer of your daily & weekly shows, 
i see an upcoming issues with new cars (ICE & EV's). That
car electronics will be the new costs of new car owners. Not
so much the engines, trans, tires etc but the gadgets that
is causing costs & as you said Friday's episode Lives. 
 
Why do we need heated steering wheel, why do we need
more than one computer screen that distracts drivers. 
Why do we need both front seat electric motors or
so many buttons on the steering wheels that would make
our parents shake their heads. 
 
Maybe you can discuss this on your Thursday show.  
Anyways my 2 cents worth. 
 
Thank you much
 
Pierre
waynesville, NC

Any info you know about Zoox automotive? I've seen them in Las Vegas on three occasions. I guess they are testing here.
Have you ever covered on them?
Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving.
Grateful for all of you.
Been a fan for several years.
 
Sincerely,
Wesley

Good day Mr. J. McElroy. In December 2021, on Autoline, you discussed the revolutionary Omega One engine.

Of course, the simplicity of the design, the absence of oscillatory movements, the separation of cold and hot processes, the high degree of air compression and the large torque lever give it advantages over other engines. However, only when hydrogen is used, it can provide the declared characteristics. But this is dangerous technology. And when using benzine, its performance will be less high. Although better than others. Because with the expansion of the combustion chamber and the pressure drop in the chamber, the combustion process quickly stops. And a significant part of the fuel flies out into the pipe. This is shown by the practice of operating traditional engines. Complete combustion of fuel is possible only at a constant volume of the chamber. Also, the reliable operation of an engine in which the operating temperature of the interacting parts is very different and this is not compensated by anything is very problematic. I would like to suggest some improvements for the Omega One engine that, in my opinion, would provide a more stable operation of this engine and the ability to use simpler technologies in its manufacture. Please pass on my suggestions to Astron Aerospace. I appeal to you because you are open for communication. It would be necessary to patent it, but I do not have such a possibility (I am a disabled-pensioner). And I would like this idea to be applied and I would get something. Since Astron Aerospace is busy fine-tuning its engine, it is unlikely that they will take on another. Maybe with your help someone will be interested in this constructive idea??

With respect Iuri. 

John, have you had any shows about Tesla’s new painting processes? My question is whether body shops will be able to adequately duplicate the paint?

Will
New Haven, CT

Any info you know about Zoox automotive? I've seen them in Las Vegas on three occasions. I guess they are testing here.
Have you ever covered on them?
Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving.
Grateful for all of you.
Been a fan for several years.
 
Sincerely,
Wesley

Hi John,
I'm curious about the Autoline take on what appears to be the introduction of a North American Fiat 500E at the L.A. auto show on the 17th of this month.  I know that the 500E has been a top EV seller in Europe for several months but is this too little, too late for the NA market?  With virtually no advertising/marketing in the US, the Fiat brand seems to be present in name only and I just don't see how this could be anything other than a Hail Mary attempt at penetrating the entry level, low cost EV market in NA.  What do you guys think?
Thanks
Charlie

I'm sorry John but once again you are completely full of shit.  The Celestiq is an ugly, overpriced piece of shit.  Cadillac has never been or ever will be the standard of the world.  Not to mention who, with half a brain, would ever pay 300k for a caddy?  No one.  The thing you don't understand is GM has NEVER listened to what they customer wants in it's entire history.  They just ram their own garbage down people's throat, telling them what they want.  They also make up awards and give them to themselves.  Let's not forget the bailout.  Stop sucking GM's flaccid dick you hack.  

Greg

I'm curious about Autoline's opinion. As several OEMs chase (or avoid) the latest woke trends, are they risking associating their brands with a political ideology? Are they looking at Tesla and saying "maybe polarization is good for sales".
 
I'm reading the news about brands suspending their Twitter advertising, and it has me wondering about this risk.
 
Thanks Autoline!

Hi John,
 
Today's speaker at our Chrysler retiree's breakfast (retired from Powertrain) declared that each Tesla consumes such quantities of rare materials for its batteries that could instead be used in many hybrid vehicles.
 
He implied that if the goal is lowest impact on the environment, a fleet of hybrids in USA would give a better net impact than a fleet of BEV's.
 
Has Autoline heard this argument before?  Should I be asking folks at CAR this question or Sandy Munro's guys?
 
Thank you,
 
Dave

Great subject for your show... Netflix: Fugitive: The Curious Case of Carlos Ghosn.
 
- A

John -

I’m a long time listener and avid fan of your show. I want to make it clear that I’m a 55 years old white haired owner of two hearing aids driving an ICE vehicle kind of guy.

I very much enjoyed the recent podcast with John Smith and talking about his history with GM/Cadillac. I was amazed however when the discussion came to the future viability and future business viability of EV Vehicles how you once again missed an important point.

When John looked back at his career and his love for the Cadillac brand he often talked about the emotional cues of buyers.

However when you discussed the business liability of EV‘s you never once mentioned the environment. Young people are energized by this so dramatically that it’s amazing you continually miss this salient and so obvious fact.

People want to buy great vehicles but they also want to live in A world with less pollution and they feel that this is how they differentiate from old folks who “don’t get it “. When you talk about legislation it’s always about the dollars and cents of it and never about the necessity of it in terms of fighting climate change.

Even if you strongly believe that climate change is a hoax and that it’s all a liberal left-wing conspiracy, the business case is still incredibly clear but that the environment is a very important driver for this market.

Keep doing what you do, but get ahead on this issue even if it’s not what you grew up with in the industry

Best,

John

Why was the Model T So Successful?
 
Most people attribute its success to the price but there were other cars that were initially in the same price range. The Model T was by far the best designed and with the extensive use of high strength steel the most durable and reliable of the low priced cars.
 
There were other significant issues that contributed to its success: 
1. Ford had the most dealerships 
2. It was simple to repair and a significant number of people in those times could do it themselves. Unlike other companies Ford insisted that all dealers have a service department available to repair cars for the customer who chose not to repair it themselves.
3. Ford developed a dealership and parts system that no one else could compete with.
4. Ford’s strategy that any design changed part must also fit the existing Ford cars was brilliant! He did not need vast warehouses of obsolete parts so the customer could keep their car running. The dealers were obligated to keep a supply of all parts on hand and Ford had District Representatives that would keep track of dealer compliance. If a dealer ordered a part he got the latest version fresh off of production tooling.
 
There are dozens of companies today designing leading edge electric vehicles with no plan of how to keep them running. You will buy your car from some palace-like showroom and drive off into the sunset and nothing will go wrong, go wrong!! Tesla, and I truly respect Musk, was able to survive their lack of service because early adopters will typically tolerate this to prove to the world they are smarter!!
 
Subsequent new entrants will not have this customer tolerance! There is going to be as big a fall out of auto companies as there was in the early 1900s. The survivors will not necessarily be the latest whizbang but the companies that can keep their customers' cars running. This will require some new service concepts, and not necessarily created by the people currently with the most service experience! 
 
Just Remember: Once upon a time, Henry Ford was an inexperienced upstart!!     
 
Don L

I really enjoyed hearing John Smith — but my view is that he is out of touch with up and coming car buyers.   

My 30+ yo daughters and their friends really want electric cars. They can’t afford them, but they certainly want them.

AC

Hey
 
Is there anyway you guys could talk about EV vs ICE efficiency? For example, the wiper blades on a Tesla are mostly tucked under the hood to reduce drag. The bumper barely has any pockets/gaps where air could get held up at such as a fake grill or emblem/logo. They could build or indent the logo into the hood. 
 
They maximized aerodynamic performance, and the old fashioned automakers don't seem to grasp the idea of designing a vehicle that slips through the air with ease. Furthermore, ICE vehicles look like the were designed without efficiency in mind.. it's like they didn't care. It's common sense! Land or water, a round ball will travel with less resistance than a square cube. Duh! 
 
ICE vehicles could be much more efficient if designers held this as a top priority, but they choose not to.. why?! 
Two problems that affect efficiency, #1weight and #2 aero. If we can help push this enough, then ICE vehicles won't have a chance. Lets hit them where it hurts! Gas companies will be fine in the end anyway, our planet won't.
 
And Sandy Munro needs to be on for this talk as well!! It's a must.
 
Btw, I'm taking an online course on electric vehicles. It covers business, policy, and technology when switching to EVs. 
 
Thank you, I really hope you make this conversation happen! 
 
Jeremy
Hopkins Minnesota.
Automotive Mechanic

Hi John, still listening and enjoying the autoline after hours podcast, one of my favorite parts is after the main guest segment is over. When your panel discusses recent news, annoucements and trends, i think you could do a whole show just doing that (once a month or quarter for example), its nice to hear the panel interacting and hearing different opinions and insights …anywho keep up the great work ..thanks Mike

Whenever someone claims Tesla needs a low cost EV, the bitter memories of a 1980 Chevette come to mind. It so spoiled our impressions that my wife forbid me from even looking at another GM vehicle. Besides, Tesla does not need to steal sales from the wildly successful, profitable, low cost EV leaders, the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt.

Thanks to a combination of manufacturing, procurement, and design improvements, inflation is making the Model 3 into the entry EV. BTW, trade-in of my last Toyota Prius Prime, meant my 2019 Model cost $24,000. Is that low enough to be an entry EV?

Bob
Retired Engineer
Huntsville, AL

Hello John,
 
I just finished watching the discussion with Bob Hall.  He has experienced a lot during his automotive journey.  I like; Marketing is hard, they make you buy something you don’t want.  Sales are easy, they sell you something you do want… good storyteller!
 
Thanks for the Miata story,
 
Pete

I see all these new 'battery factories' are going to green fields away from city populations.
 
It looks like an economic and environmental disaster in the making, 'in the name of the environment'.  
 
Does government propaganda dictats extend to the auto press?
 
r work

Just want to send a quick comment on the new Flagship Caddy: love 99% of it. Only problem I have is that it'd look much better as a sedan. You can even see the 'hidden' sedan in some of the angles. Too bad they sacrificed the styling for aero.

Hello I recently purchased a Mach-E2022 it has had problems since day one I have the car for 11 days before it malfunctioned. I want to get for to buy the car back, please advise?

This is all you can do here  - do you do this in US?   
 
Kind Regards


Richard

Hey guys,
 
With car designers now able to focus on content / design details that could potentially make each model a home run, instead of having to share development dollars  with expensive / complicated ICE drivetrains, are we in the second Golden Age of car design?
 
Thanks,
 
S10 Baja

Just a thought!
Perhaps a metric we should begin to look at is a “Convenience Parity” or the difference between gasoline and electric auto issues like:
1 Time to charge versus time to fill
2 Cost to fill vs cost to charge  
3 Availability of charge points vs # of gas pumps
4 Repair site availability
5 Cost and time to repair
6 Cost and availability to tow 

Don

Hi John,
I'm surprised you have not covered the Nord Stream Pipelines feeding Germany being taken out.
How will this affect the German Auto manufactures including Tesla?
 
Alan
Grants Pass, Oregon

Hi Sean,
 
I have really enjoyed the show over the years. I am a big fan of old American muscle cars and EV‘s. (Odd mix, I know)
 
My question for Tim Kuniskis (Head of Dodge)
 
Q: Why are two of the most popular Muscle cars from Dodge, (Charger and Challenger) being made in Canada? 
 
(If Tesla can do it in high cost, California, why can’t the Big 2 1/2 do it in Michigan.)

Thank you!

Victor