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Category: ElectricVehicleTrends

ElectricVehicleTrends

  • BMW Will Invest in $1.7 Billion US-Based EV Production

    BMW Will Invest in $1.7 Billion US-Based EV Production

    BMW announced a major commitment to US-based electric vehicle (EV) production, with plans for a $1.7 billion investment.

    The automotive industry is working to electrify its lineups amid increasing regulatory and consumer incentives. Despite not being a fan of EV-only strategies, BMW’s executives announced a $1.7 billion investment in US-based EV production.

    The investment will be split between $1 billion to produce EVs at its existing plant in Spartanburg, SC, and $700 million to build a new high-voltage battery plant in Woodruff, SC.

    “For decades, Plant Spartanburg has been a cornerstone of the global success of the BMW Group. It is the home of the BMW X models that are so popular all over the world. Going forward, it will also be a major driver for our electrification strategy, and we will produce at least six fully electric BMW X models here by 2030. That means: The ‘Home of the X’ is also becoming the ‘Home of the Battery Electric Vehicle’,” said Oliver Zipse, BMW Group Chairman of the Board of Management. “In addition, we can showcase BMW Group’s ‘local for local’ principle: Our newly developed sixth generation battery cells, which were specifically designed for the next generation electric vehicles, will be sourced here in South Carolina – where X goes electric.”

    South Carolina Governor McMaster praised the company’s investment:

    “BMW’s sustained and impactful presence in South Carolina demonstrates the power of partnership and shared commitment to our state’s automotive industry success. With today’s announcement of a $1 billion expansion to Plant Spartanburg for manufacturing electric vehicles as well as $700 million for a new plant in Woodruff to assemble battery units, the road to the future is here. And I applaud BMW on helping lead the way.”

    Zipse has previously expressed his doubts about the industry’s move toward an EV-only future:

    “When you look at the technology coming out, the EV push, we must be careful because at the same time, you increase dependency on very few countries,” Zipse said.

    “If someone cannot buy an EV for some reason but needs a car, would you rather propose he continues to drive his old car forever? If you are not selling combustion engines anymore, someone else will,” he added.

    Whatever misgivings Zipse has, it’s clearly not stopping BMW from moving full speed ahead.

  • Honda and LG Energy to Build $4.4 Billion EV Battery Plant in Ohio

    Honda and LG Energy to Build $4.4 Billion EV Battery Plant in Ohio

    Honda and LG Energy are partnering on an electric vehicle (EV) battery plant, with plans to build it in Ohio.

    Automakers are racing to speed up the transition to EVs, but that transition requires a massive increase in battery production. According to CNBC, Honda and LG Energy have formed a joint venture to build a $4.4 billion EV battery plant in Ohio.

    The two companies will begin construction in 2023, with plans for full-scale production in late 2025.

    Honda also plans to spend some $700 to retool some of its existing factories to produce EVs. The company plans to produce EVs in North America as early as 2026.

  • Elon Musk Promises New Tesla for Half the Price

    Elon Musk Promises New Tesla for Half the Price

    Elon Musk has made a bold prediction, announcing the company plans to release a new Tesla for half the price of existing models.

    According to InsideEVs, Musk made the announcement at the company’s Q3 2022 earnings call, saying the new vehicle would be a compact model and outsell all other Teslas combined.

    “The next-generation vehicle will be about half the cost of the 3/Y platform and it will be smaller,” Musk said. “It will, I think, certainly exceed the production of all other vehicles combined.”

    Musk did say there is no launch dates planned, but the new model is “the primary focus of the new vehicle development team.”

    If Tesla is able to deliver on Musk’s promise, it would be a major boost to the company and help it attract an all-new demographic.

  • GM Taking on Tesla With New Energy Division

    GM Taking on Tesla With New Energy Division

    GM is ramping up the pressure on Tesla, setting up a new energy division to more directly compete.

    GM has made no secret of its desire to dethrone Tesla as the top electric vehicle (EV) maker. Unfortunately for GM, one of Tesla’s advantages is its wide portfolio of electric energy tech. The older automaker appears poised to address that disparity with its new division.

    According to The Verge, the new GM Energy division will go far beyond merely selling EVs and will also sell batteries, solar panels, charging equipment, and software for both residential and commercial customers. The goal is to create an entire ecosystem that will support its EV lineup and provide a direct answer to Tesla.

    Travis Hester, GM’s chief EV officer, compared his company’s approach with smaller, lesser-known companies that are producing equipment to support the EV market.

    “They don’t have a vehicle,” Hester told The Verge. “And frankly, they don’t have the dealer network that we have.”

    Hester sees tremendous potential to go beyond just selling EVs, instead providing customers with the entire package.

    “At that moment, that electrification moment, they have to decide how they’re going to run that vehicle,” he said. “They have to decide are they going to buy a standard charger for their home? Is it going to be a bi-directional charger? Do they want to add stationary storage as a fixed box? Do they want to do solar? And they can go as far into that ecosystem or as little as possible depending on their individual needs.”

    Ultimately, Hester says GM Energy is the company’s path forward.

    “It’s not a business unit,” Hester said. “It is our business as we go forward.”

  • New York to Require Zero Emission Passenger Vehicles by 2035

    New York to Require Zero Emission Passenger Vehicles by 2035

    New York has joined California in requiring that all new passenger vehicles sold in the state be zero emissions by 2035.

    In late August, California became the first US state to ban gasoline-powered passenger vehicles, effective 2035. New York has now followed suit, putting the same deadline on the transition.

    “New York is a national climate leader and an economic powerhouse, and we’re using our strength to help spur innovation and implementation of zero-emission vehicles on a grand scale,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “With sustained state and federal investments, our actions are incentivizing New Yorkers, local governments, and businesses to make the transition to electric vehicles. We’re driving New York’s transition to clean transportation forward, and today’s announcement will benefit our climate and the health of our communities for generations to come.”

    As part of the mandate, Governor Hochul directed the State Department of Environmental Conservation to begin the regulatory process. The move was met with praise across a range of climate, conservation, and energy groups.

    “Governor Hochul is demonstrating her sustained commitment to the successful implementation of the Climate Act and ensuring all New Yorkers benefit from the State’s actions to address climate change,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos. “DEC will continue to work under her direction to rapidly issue this regulation and reach another milestone in the transition from fossil fuels so that more people, businesses, and governments will have the ZEV options to meet their needs and help improve the health of their communities.”

  • Kia May Manufacture EVs in the US Thanks to Tax Credit

    Kia May Manufacture EVs in the US Thanks to Tax Credit

    Kia may be planning to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) in the US as early as 2024, thanks to US tax credits.

    The US has a long history of providing tax credits to consumers that purchase EVs and hybrid vehicles. Kia evidently wants its vehicles to qualify and is willing to move EV production to the US to make that happen.

    According to The EV Officials, citing South Korean newspaper Maeil Business and TV channel SBS, the Korean automaker could move its EV production to the US as early as 2024.

    Kia is already a popular brand in the US, along with its luxury counterpart Hyundai. Moving EV manufacturing to the US could significantly boost the brand’s popularity even more.

  • GM Scores Contract With Hertz for 175,000 Electric Vehicles

    GM Scores Contract With Hertz for 175,000 Electric Vehicles

    GM has scored a major contract with rental company Hertz, agreeing to provide the latter with 175,000 electric vehicles (EVs) over the next five years.

    Like most automakers, General Motors is racing to transition to EVs. The company has stated a “goal of 1 million units of EV capacity by the end of 2025.” It’s latest contract with Hertz is a major step in that direction, with a commitment to delivering 175,000 Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, GMC and BrightDrop EVs.

    “It’s exciting that two iconic American companies that have shaped the evolution of transportation for more than a century are coming together to redefine the future of mobility in the 21st century,” said Stephen Scherr, Hertz CEO. “We are thrilled to partner with GM on this initiative, which will dramatically expand our EV offering to Hertz customers, including leisure and business travelers, rideshare drivers and corporates.”

    “Our work with Hertz is a huge step forward for emissions reduction and EV adoption that will help create thousands of new EV customers for GM,” said GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra. “With the vehicle choice, technology and driving range we’re delivering, I’m confident that each rental experience will further increase purchase consideration for our products and drive growth for our company.”

    Hertz’s wants to have the largest fleet of rental EVs in North America. Its deal with GM should help it achieve that goal.

  • Nissan Adding Bi-Directional Charging to the Nissan LEAF

    Nissan Adding Bi-Directional Charging to the Nissan LEAF

    Nissan is taking electric vehicle (EV) charging to a new level, approving a bi-directional charger that can be used to power buildings.

    EV makers are looking for ways to improve the overall experience and add additional value for customers. Ford has made it possible to charge other EVs, or even power a house with the hybrid F-150. Nissan is now taking a major step in that direction, approving bi-directional charging for the LEAF, making it the first fully-electric passenger vehicle capable of powering a building or sending energy to the grid.

    “Bi-directional charging technology means not only charging the Nissan LEAF, but also sending energy stored in the vehicle battery back to the building or the grid,” writes Jeff Wandell, Nissan CUV & EV Communications Manager. “The Nissan LEAF is currently the only fully electric passenger vehicle in the US market able to supply energy to the grid, allowing LEAF owners with the Fermata Energy FE-15 bi-directional charger to park their vehicle, plug it in, and save money with their local electric utility as well as reduce the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.”

    Nissan is positioning the LEAF and its bi-directional charging as a perfect option for fleet operations.

    “Ideal for companies with fleet vehicles, the Fermata Energy Demand Charge Management application, along with the FE-15 charger, continuously monitors a building’s electrical loads, and may draw on the Nissan LEAF’s energy to provide power to the building during more expensive high-demand periods,” Wandell adds. “In states with utility demand response programs, bi-directional-enabled Nissan LEAF vehicles (MY2013 and later) are able to safely send energy stored in the battery to the grid during peak energy demand times, such as in summer months.”

  • Tesla May Build a Lithium Refinery in Texas

    Tesla May Build a Lithium Refinery in Texas

    Tesla is investigating the possibility of building a lithium refinery in Texas as the electric vehicle (EV) maker tries to keep up with production.

    Tesla is the world’s leading EV manufacturer but, like most automakers, faces challenges securing the necessary supplies to keep up with demand. According to Reuters, the company is considering a lithium refinery in Texas.

    Lithium is a critical component in the batteries Tesla relies on, but with more and more automakers turning to EV production, lithium supplies are more important than ever. CEO Elon Musk has already indicated the company may have to enter the mining industry in an effort to keep up.

    The Texas refinery, which the company described in an application as converting “raw ore material into a usable state for battery production,” would be a major step toward Tesla achieving battery independence.

    Tesla is hoping to get property tax breaks from Texas and will make a decision based on the outcome.

  • California Proves Musk’s Point, Asks Residents Not to Charge EVs

    California Proves Musk’s Point, Asks Residents Not to Charge EVs

    California is asking people not to charge their electric vehicles (EVs) as a result of heat-induced power shortages.

    California was just in the news for announcing a ban on gasoline-powered vehicles that goes into effect in 2035, making it the first state to take such a drastic step. Despite the plan to aggressively transition to EVs, the state is now in the embarrassing position of asking residents not to charge those EVs.

    “During a Flex Alert, consumers are urged to reduce energy use from 4-9 p.m. when the system is most stressed because demand for electricity remains high and there is less solar energy available,” wrote the American Public Power Association. “The top three conservation actions are to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles, and turn off unnecessary lights.”

    The issue highlights the challenges companies and countries are facing as they try to transition to non-gasoline vehicles. The challenges have even prompted Tesla CEO Elon Musk, long a vocal critic of the fossil fuel industry, to endorse additional oil and natural gas mining — at least in the short term.

    “Realistically I think we need to use oil and gas in the short term, because otherwise civilisation will crumble,” Elon Musk said, according to Reuters.

    When asked Norway should continue drilling for fossil fuels, Musk said: “I think some additional exploration is warranted at this time.”

    “One of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced is the transition to sustainable energy and to a sustainable economy,” he added. “That will take some decades to complete.”

    California may be the starkest proof yet of Musk’s point.

  • Japan Wants a $24 Billion Investment in Battery Production

    Japan Wants a $24 Billion Investment in Battery Production

    Japan wants to ramp up battery production in-country, calling for a $24 billion investment to increase manufacturing.

    Battery production is becoming more important to companies and countries alike as the world pivots to renewable energy, battery-powered vehicles, and energy storage. Amid growing international tensions, many countries are looking to increase production within their own borders rather than rely on China.

    According to Reuters, Japan is the latest country that wants to increase its in-country production, calling on the public and private sectors to develop the manufacturing capabilities the country needs.

    “The government will be in the forefront and mobilise all its measures to achieve the strategy’s goals, but we can’t achieve this goal without the efforts of the private sector,” said industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

    Japan has set the goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050, and increased battery production is a critical step in that direction.

  • California Votes to Ban New Gasoline Vehicle Sales by 2035

    California Votes to Ban New Gasoline Vehicle Sales by 2035

    California has become the first state in the US to ban the sale of new gasoline vehicles, effective 2035.

    According to CNBC, the policy will not prevent owners from utilizing their existing gasoline vehicles, nor will it prevent people from buying and selling used models. Nonetheless, the law is the first to ban the sale of new gasoline vehicles, marking the most aggressive shift toward hydrogen and electric vehicles (EVs) within the US.

    As interim goals, California has stipulated that 35% of new vehicles be battery or hydrogen-powered by 2026 and 68% by 2030. At the same time, the rule would allow up to 20% plug-hybrid sales by 2035, despite such vehicles still having a gasoline engine.

    While some are praising California for taking such a bold step, not everyone is convinced the state is taking the right path or that the infrastructure is ready to support a mass shift to EVs.

    “It’s a worthy goal, but may be unrealistic given the charging infrastructure and likely increasing demand for power,” Brian Moody, executive editor for Kelley Blue Book and Autotrader—Cox Automotive brands, said in a statement to WPN.

    ” While it sounds good on paper, unless there is a stipulation that the power for those electric cars be generated by clean sources, it doesn’t really have teeth. A more graduated approach might be better. It’s concerning that the conversation seems to be an inflexible ‘all or nothing’ approach without fully knowing the impact of battery recycling on a mass scale, as well as the recycling of solar panels. What would it look like if we had a 50% mix of electric and gasoline? As electric cars get more and more affordable, the market will get California to a certain adoption rate organically.”

  • Tesla Raises Price of Full-Self-Driving Software to $15,000

    Tesla Raises Price of Full-Self-Driving Software to $15,000

    Tesla’s Full-Self-Driving (FSD) software has yet to fully live up to its name, but the company is still raising the price 25% to $15,000.

    Tesla is just one of many automakers racing to develop autonomous driving capabilities, but few others have a CEO that is so open about the company’s goals and timeframes. As TheStreet points out, Musk has famously said his company would roll out fully autonomous driving capabilities by the end of the year.

    In keeping with that goal, the company is deploying the latest FSD beta.

    Musk also says the price will increase 25%, from $12,000 to $15,000 for North American buyers.

  • Ford Plans to Cut 3,000 Jobs

    Ford Plans to Cut 3,000 Jobs

    Ford’s restructuring plans are coming into focus, with the automaker planning to cut 3,000 jobs.

    First reported by Automotive News and confirmed by TechCrunch, Ford is looking to restructure and reduce costs. The move comes as the company is increasingly transitioning to hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), making some skill sets less desirable than they once were.

    “We absolutely have too many people in certain places. No doubt about it. And we have skills that don’t work anymore, and we have jobs that need to change,” CEO Jim Farley said in July 2022, via TechCrunch. “We have lots of new work statements that we’ve never had before. We are literally virtually reshaping our company, like every part of our company. And you know the ICE business, we want to simplify it, we want to make sure the skills we have and the works statements we have are as lean as possible. We know our costs are not competitive at Ford. That’s what I mean by we are not satisfied.”

    Earlier reports had put the number of job cuts as high as 8,000. Those reports indicated the layoffs would largely be in the company’s Ford Blue unit, responsible for internal combustion engine (ICE). In contrast, the company’s Ford Model e unit is dedicated to its EV development.

  • ‘Significant Material Cost Increases’ Lead to Major Electric F-150 Price Hike

    ‘Significant Material Cost Increases’ Lead to Major Electric F-150 Price Hike

    Ford is increasing the price of the F-150 Lightning by up to $8,500 as a result of ‘significant material cost increases.’

    Automakers have been struggling to keep up with demand amid semiconductor shortages and supply chain issues, resulting in unfilled orders, productions delays, and constrained inventory. Those issues are impacting Ford’s production of the all-electric F-150 Lightning, driving up costs across the lineup.

    Ford is adjusting the MSRP on the F-150 Lightning for the first time since it was revealed in May 2021 and has honored MSRP for all customer orders to date. Due to significant material cost increases and other factors, Ford has adjusted MSRP starting with the opening of the next wave of F-150 Lightning orders.

    The company is reassuring users that existing orders will not be be impacted.

    “Current order holders awaiting delivery are not impacted by these price adjustments,” said Marin Gjaja, chief customer officer, Model e. “We’ve announced pricing ahead of re-opening order banks so our reservation holders can make an informed decision around ordering a Lightning.”

  • GM Targets 1 Million EVs by 2025

    GM Targets 1 Million EVs by 2025

    GM is continuing its efforts to convert to an electric vehicle (EV) lineup, securing supply lines to help it hit 1 million EVs by 2025.

    Like many automakers, GM has been heavily investing in EV development. At the beginning of the year, the company announced plans to invest $7 billion in four Michigan plants in an effort to speed up EV production. Similarly, CEO Mary Barra said the company could eventually top Tesla in the EV market.

    GM has taken a significant step toward that goal, signing long-term agreements with both LG Chem Ltd and Livent Corp for the materials necessary to create EV batteries.

    Livent will supply GM with battery-grade lithium hydroxide over a six-year period, starting in 2025.

    “We are building a strong, sustainable, scalable and secure supply chain to help meet our fast-growing EV production needs,” said Jeff Morrison, GM vice president, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “We will further localize the lithium supply chain in North America over the course of the agreement. In addition, it is aligned with our approach to responsible sourcing and supply chain management and demonstrates our commitment to strong supplier relationships.”

    “Importantly, GM now has contractual commitments secured with strategic partners for all battery raw material to support our goal of 1 million units of EV capacity by the end of 2025,” added Morrison

    LG Chem, on the other hand, will supply GM with more than 950,000 tons of Cathode Active Material (CAM), starting in the second half of 2022 and continuing through 2030.

    GM is working with both companies to help localize production in North America to the extent possible.

  • Tesla Secures Its Own Lane At US-Mexico Border Crossing

    Tesla Secures Its Own Lane At US-Mexico Border Crossing

    Tesla has negotiated with the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon to have its own exclusive lane at the US-Mexico border crossing.

    Nuevo Leon’s capital city is Monterrey, a hub of manufacturing for the automotive industry, including US automakers. According to Bloomberg, Tesla has six suppliers in the state, while the electric vehicle (EV) maker’s new headquarters are just across the border in Texas. As a result, having a dedicated lane for border crossing makes a lot of sense for Tesla, and the company was able to make it worthwhile for the Nuevo Leon government as well.

    “It was a simple incentive,” Ivan Rivas, the economy minister of Nuevo Leon, told Bloomberg. “What we want is a crossing that’s much more expedited and efficient. And maybe there will be a lane for other companies in the future like there is for Tesla.”

    “Nuevo Leon is turning into an electro-mobility hub,” Rivas added.

    Given the state’s increasing importance to the automobile industry, including EV manufacturing, it’s safe bet Rivas is right, and other companies will be rushing to secure their lane.

  • Ford May Lay Off 8,000 to Fund EV Development

    Ford May Lay Off 8,000 to Fund EV Development

    Ford may be preparing to lay off 8,000 employees as the automaker pivots to the electric vehicle (EV) market.

    Ford has been working to transition its lineup to hybrid and EVs, with the Mustang Mach-E even toppling Tesla’s Model 3 in Consumer Reports’ ranking. According to Bloomberg, the company is now planning on cutting 8,000 jobs in an effort to help fund its continued EV transition.

    The cuts will primarily be in the Ford Blue unit, the division responsible for internal combustion engine development. There will also be cuts to other salaried positions throughout the company.

    The news is not particularly surprising, with CEO Jim Farley warning the company had too many people.

    “We have too many people,” Farley said in February, at a Wolfe Research auto conference. “This management team firmly believes that our ICE and BEV portfolios are under-earning.”

    Bloomberg reached out to Ford for comment. Although it declined to comment on layoffs, its spokesperson did say the company is continuing to realign to focus on EVs.

    “As part of this, we have laid out clear targets to lower our cost structure to ensure we are lean and fully competitive with the best in the industry,” Chief Communications Officer Mark Truby said in a statement.

  • USPS Poised to Significantly Increase EV Procurement

    USPS Poised to Significantly Increase EV Procurement

    The United States Postal Service (USPS) is poised to more than double the number of electric vehicles (EVs) it plans to procure.

    The USPS plans to purchase new delivery vehicles as part of its modernization efforts.

    The U.S. Postal Service today announced it anticipates adjusting the purchase interval and composition of its delivery fleet. The adjustments reflect refinements to the Postal Service’s overall network modernization, route optimizations, improved facility electric infrastructure, and availability of vehicles and technology. The proposed expanded fleet mix will include purpose built Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs) and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) vehicles, and the network adjustments and attendant economies will facilitate substantially increased deployment of battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

    The agency is now planning for BEVs to comprise 50% of new procurements, totaling 25,000 vehicles.

    Now, under the new adjusted scope for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), the Postal Service proposes to limit its Decision to the 50,000 NGDV already purchased and to raise the minimum NGDV BEV percentage to at least 50 percent.

    The agency’s plans are not surprising given the emphasis the Biden administration has placed on tackling climate change. The procurement will also be a nice boost to the EV industry.

  • White House: Tesla Superchargers Will Be Available to Non-Teslas Later This Year

    White House: Tesla Superchargers Will Be Available to Non-Teslas Later This Year

    The White House has published a Fact Sheet that drops some good news for non-Tesla electric vehicle (EV) owners.

    Tesla has built out the most comprehensive network of EV fast chargers, what it calls its Supercharger network. According to a fact sheet the White House published addressing the state of EV charging, Tesla will be opening up its Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles later this year.

    Tesla is making investments at its Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York to support the deployment of new fast charging stations to add to its fast-charging network. More than 1,600 employees work at Giga New York producing the Tesla Solar Roof and Supercharger stations, which are capable of charging vehicles up to 250 kW. Tesla is expanding production capacity of power electronics components that convert alternating current to direct current, charging cabinets, posts and cables. Later this year, Tesla will begin production of new Supercharger equipment that will enable non-Tesla EV drivers in North America to use Tesla Superchargers.

    The revelation is good news for all EV owners and will help address one of the biggest impediments to widespread adoption: range anxiety. Range anxiety and lack of access to quick charging have contributed to some EV owners opting to go back to gas-powered vehicles. In fact, a study in 2021 discovered that 20% of California EV owners ended up transitioning back.

    Tesla opening up its network could be one of the biggest practical steps to easing range anxiety.

  • Toyota President Objects to Premature EV-Only Transition

    Toyota President Objects to Premature EV-Only Transition

    Automakers around the world are rushing to transition their lineups to electric vehicles (EVs), but Toyota’s President is not a fan of an EV-only approach.

    Toyota President Akio Toyoda believes EVs are overhyped and that a wholesale transition to EV-only lineups will cause more problems than it will solve, according to The Wall Street Journal.

    In particular, Toyoda called out the environmental impact of charging EVs. The executive believes Japan’s current energy grid would collapse under the weight of charging vehicles if the country’s entire fleet of cars was EV-only. He also took aim at the environmental impact of charging EVs since the energy source used to generate electricity still produces carbon.

    “When politicians are out there saying, ‘Let’s get rid of all cars using gasoline,’ do they understand this?” Mr. Toyoda said at a news conference while serving in his capacity as Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Chairman.

    Toyota also expressed concern that such a transition would result in the loss of millions of jobs, saying “the current business model of the car industry is going to collapse” if the government is premature in its efforts to ban gasoline vehicles.

    While Toyoda raises valid concerns, he is in the minority of auto execs, or at least in the minority of those that have publicly weighed in on the transition to EVs.