The auto industry is pushes hybrids despite slowing gas-electric global auto sales but there are more direct problems no one is paying attention to
The lower price of gasoline especially in the USA gives potential buyers less incentive to opt for a hybrid over a model powered by an internal combustion engine. Another factor: The growing number of electric models for sale gives Eco-friendly buyers the option to plug in and stop pumping gas. In that area, Tesla, not Toyota or VW has become the clear leader but another major issue undermines the whole global automotive industry at the expense of the customers. Read on if you want the answer.
The Ford Motor Co. is cutting jobs in America and Europe as it reshapes its business to focus on more profitable commercial trucks and SUV' s while shifting production to electric cars over the longer term. The Michigan based company didn't reveal how many jobs would be cut (expected to be in the thousands) and said reductions would be achieved as far as possible through voluntary departures negotiated with unions and employee representatives.
General Motors said late last year that it would lay off over 14,700 factory and white-collar workers in North America and put five plants up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs and focus more on autonomous and electric technology.
Volkswagen has said it will see an unspecified number of job reductions as it changes three plants in Germany to production of electric vehicles, but assures there will be no involuntary departures before 2028.
The short answer to the problem is.... #1) that the costs and prices of vehicles today are way too high and the value to the customers is way too low....#2) most vehicles today are single purpose vehicles designed for the wrong end of the market and their constantly rising prices are shrinking their markets and future, a catch 22.... #3) a serious lack of empathy and leadership across all levels of the global auto industries.
It is no wonder why we need Artificial Intelligence... when Human Intelligence doesn't work to serve the needs of most people globally speaking!
The first thing to do is get rid of the short sighted herd mentality of following the wrong automotive leaders and their emotional programming and make a global vehicle that has the potential and ability to sell tens of millions of vehicles like Henry Ford did in the early 1900's for the middle class and poor.
For many Global Automotive Manufacturers today to really and truly be profitable, sustainable and survive.......... they have to produce a Global vehicle that can satisfy the Needs of the Many (Global Mass Markets Customers instead of the few Specialty High End Customers that they always target and try to satisfy).
For many automotive companies in China, India, France, Japan, UK, EU, America, etc...they just keep getting it wrong....I guess that must be a (bad) habit by now. Any mistake done more than once is not a accident but a decision.
Every time any Automotive Manufacturer produces a vehicle that sells poorly or unit sales fall off and decline to unsustainable or unprofitable levels that business mistake is passed on to the next customer in the next vehicle they develop, produce and sell.
This is why the car companies keep pushing high and higher priced vehicles on us.... Because they can make more money by selling fewer and fewer vehicles and to cover all their out of control present and past legacy costs. They are so conditioned and use to dealing with low volume unit sales that they plan on it and adjust the highest possible price points to the vehicles to try and make up the difference.
Why do we keep on building and selling the absolute wrong Mobility Solutions for the global masses? Basically because of Greed and the Special Interest of the bad habits and blind leadership of the OEM's over their customers needs and interests. They don't really care about their employees, customers or markets but instead put profits above all else. Always remember.....You cannot nurture and grow that which you don't really love.
Simple Perceptual Auto Intelligence is What Is Needed Today Instead of the Lack of It. Everyone today seems to over complicate and over engineer the (Electric) Vehicle at the expense of the global customers and the industry without thought for the affordable needs and global public mobility interests of the many. What people think they want is more power, more speed, more style, more luxury, more gadgets, more technology, more connectivity, more self parking, more autopilot options, more flying cars and more self driving autonomous cars.
If you have an unlimited budget and throw enough money and resources at the design and build process, then you can come up with another super car for the rich. We seem to consistently forget about the biggest and best automotive market to be in. WHY?
Don't be fooled by looks alone and when evaluating any vehicle anywhere in the world, it's the total package/performance that counts as Jay Leno would say.
Just what the world needs today is another Pure Power, Pure Luxury, Pure Style, Pure Sport, Pure Performance Car........
Everyone seems to want to copy and compete with Elon Musk's Tesla models which have never made a profit.......... you can choose to develop and target this high end luxury market like the Tesla Model S/D/3/Roadster for well over $35,000 to $200,000 but this is not profitable or sustainable................. but the Henry Ford business model of the early 1900's was and still is very profitable and sustainable for anyone who can duplicate it today like Environmental Transportation Solutions and Eco V Electric.
“Whether it is just sales numbers, whether it is image and awareness and appeal, I think Tesla owns that [the EV market] now,” said Karl Brauer, analyst with Kelley Blue Book.
