EV Winter? (with Tyson Jominy)

On the latest episode of the Ride AI podcast, our host Ed Niedermeyer talks to Tyson Jominy, VP of Data & Analytics for J.D, Power, about the recent dynamics in the car market. They touch on COVID, the EV market, the prospect of another truck/SUV slowdown, and how these are all related.

• Discussion on the cyclicality of the auto industry and recent turbulence due to COVID-19: undersupply situation, excess savings leading to increased demand, and supply chain disruptions.

• Pricing dynamics in the EV market: oversupply of EVs in the $50-60k price range leading to price cuts.

• Fleet sales and their impact on EV market dynamics, including potential risks to resale value and pricing stability (Hertz struggled with high repair bills and consumer dissatisfaction with EV rentals, prompting them to unwind their EV-focused strategy.)

• Tesla's decision not to pursue a low-cost model raises questions about the industry's focus and the challenges of making EVs profitable.

• The auto industry seems to be retreating to familiar corners, like focusing on SUVs, hybrids, and high-margin segments, rather than investing heavily in lower-cost EVs.

• EVs face challenges in consumer perception and understanding of total cost of ownership, compared to hybrids, which have been around for a while but still face low adoption rates.

• The auto industry's struggle to make EVs profitable raises concerns about the future of EV adoption and the profitability of traditional segments like trucks and SUVs.

• There's uncertainty about the trajectory of EV adoption and whether there will be a "EV winter" where growth stalls.

• Regulatory factors still incentivize automakers to invest in EVs despite profitability challenges.