Interview with Mary Barra

[bwag]

A friend dropped off the book The Great Race by Levi Tillemann over the weekend . It explains the Quest for the car of the future , its history and future plans for development. Its a real eye opener , whether we want it or not. WAG

[scuncio]

USA has been second to China in new vehicles sold for quite a few years - I want to say the ranks tipped in 2012.

Originally Posted by BCreekDave

China will mandate to the masses that electric vehicles will be the only way and they will build the infrastructure to make it happen. We are doing work for Tesla in China on the Model Y and the numbers they are throwing out there are impressive...20k per week. USA is soon to be a secondary market for automakers.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by scuncio

USA has been second to China in new vehicles sold for quite a few years - I want to say the ranks tipped in 2012.

That's very true.

The difference is that GM made these moves expecting China overtake the rest of the world in economic terms and to do so quickly.

GM gambled on the Status Quo in place 5 years ago.

Now China is now dropping faster than a rock. The cause is the recent rise of populism here in the US -ending with the resulting trade war last year which the US just won and handily.

Finally now the other shoe drops with the COVID-19 contagion disaster- the impacts to China may linger for years or even decades.

This is a fact. No one I know is buying an EV. No one I know is planning to buy one.

As it stands now the US will maintain its status as the largest net supplier of oil, and this should not be a news flash but the world economy is pegged to the value of a barrel of oil.

The way things are shaping up here politically I do not see a path forward for the kind of public or private infrastructure landslide needed to make EV's mainstream here in North America anytime soon.

Companies that survive have to be nimble and ready to change on a dime. GM still has a chance to compromise and keep some of its legacy platforms in production.

What I cannot reconcile and what the GM insider agrees on 100% BTW-- is how in the world the US Taxpayer bails out GM in 2011 and saves the company from being sold off only to have the company reward North America with a future product selection that seems goal set to implement a total product shift that ignores the needs and desires of the very customer base that just punched the ticket to keep GM alive.

China did not bail out GM. We did. I hope GM has something really good to announce because It may need The North American market to stay in business.

[markinnaples]

Originally Posted by 70 copo

That's very true.

The difference is that GM made these moves expecting China overtake the rest of the world in economic terms and to do so quickly.

GM gambled on the Status Quo in place 5 years ago.

Now China is now dropping faster than a rock. The cause is the recent rise of populism here in the US -ending with the resulting trade war last year which the US just won and handily.

Finally now the other shoe drops with the COVID-19 contagion disaster- the impacts to China may linger for years or even decades.

This is a fact. No one I know is buying an EV. No one I know is planning to buy one.

As it stands now the US will maintain its status as the largest net supplier of oil, and this should not be a news flash but the world economy is pegged to the value of a barrel of oil.

The way things are shaping up here politically I do not see a path forward for the kind of public or private infrastructure landslide needed to make EV's mainstream here in North America anytime soon.

Companies that survive have to be nimble and ready to change on a dime. GM still has a chance to compromise and keep some of its legacy platforms in production.

What I cannot reconcile and what the GM insider agrees on 100% BTW-- is how in the world the US Taxpayer bails out GM in 2011 and saves the company from being sold off only to have the company reward North America with a future product selection that seems goal set to implement a total product shift that ignores the needs and desires of the very customer base that just punched the ticket to keep GM alive.

China did not bail out GM. We did. I hope GM has something really good to announce because It may need The North American market to stay in business.

Great comment! You put into words what I was thinking, but expounded nicely.

As the world stands today, GM seems to be placing all of it's eggs into the wrong basket. As I stated earlier, I have no idea why you would shift an entire portfolio of vehicle offerings in a completely new direction when there is virtually minimal infrastructure to support them, the tech doesn't exist (or is proprietary) to get the range where people are comfortable (range anxiety), and people haven't expressed in enough numbers the desire to drive an electric vehicle. This is a huge bet that I don't think they're going to win.

[Lee Stewart]

GM Has 12 EVs Coming: Here's What They Are (Probably)

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news...cid=spartandhp

[Charley Lillard]

My drive each day to the office is about 15 miles. My long trips are usually in old cars on car tours. I love the performance aspect of electric cars and plan on having one. No more oil changes, just plug it in at night. A brainiac friend just did a 3 year lease on a new Chevy Bolt and absolutely loves it.

[70 copo]

Originally Posted by Charley Lillard

My drive each day to the office is about 15 miles. My long trips are usually in old cars on car tours. I love the performance aspect of electric cars and plan on having one. No more oil changes, just plug it in at night. A brainiac friend just did a 3 year lease on a new Chevy Bolt and absolutely loves it.

A lease is a smart move. LG Chem has some major teething issues.


The current list price of a Bolt EV HV battery pack is $15,734.29 and the GM part number is # 24285978. What happens when GM quits replacing these for free?


More Here: https://insideevs.com/news/342671/my...ack-heres-why/

[Tenney]

Originally Posted by Charley Lillard

My drive each day to the office is about 15 miles. My long trips are usually in old cars on car tours. I love the performance aspect of electric cars and plan on having one. No more oil changes, just plug it in at night. A brainiac friend just did a 3 year lease on a new Chevy Bolt and absolutely loves it.

This is why Mary's likely on the right track. They're pretty good. Give a little Performance Model 3 a go if you're shopping around - Pilot Sports, Brembos (to augment the re-gen!) and a little extra juice; why let the autopilot have all the fun?! Just needs the exhaust from this V-dub ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om28...ature=youtu.be

https://www.ccn.com/tesla-is-slowly-...nto-recession/

[AnthonyS]

^ Hear, hear Charley. Mrs. Anthony loves ours, and while I only drove it a few times, I was actually very impressed with the acceleration. Really. It scoots. I can’t imagine what one of those crazy Teslas must feel like.

[RPOLS3]

Originally Posted by AnthonyS

^ I can’t imagine what one of those crazy Teslas must feel like.

I had an opportunity to drive one last summer when a customer was trying one out before buying and asked if I wanted to take it for a ride. They have a "launch mode" that is quite impressive. Not sure I'd make the switch to electric personally based on my driving needs - but it really opened my eyes to the performance capabilities.