G. David Felt

Latest review of the all new 2021 Tahoe Diesel shows it is more fuel efficient with more power than a 2021 Blazer which is a fraction of it's size. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/11/19/2021-chevrolet-tahoe-diesel-fuel-economy/ Latest update on GM's EV plans show that instead of having Cadillac a luxury EV only brand by 2030, GM has moved it up to be pure EV by 2025 with Chevrolet, Buick and GMC a heavy mix of EV, Hybrid and ICE. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/11/18/gm-mary-barra-electric-vehicle-strategy-cadillac-lyriq-hummer/

Wow, Idiot driver, smoked pot, drove his Tesla 3 at 100 mph and destroys the auto by breaking a power pole and trees, but runs away from the scene and is caught 3 blocks away and arrested. Surviving shows Tesla did a good job engineering the car to survive. Battery pack did get scattered all over and into surrounding homes as the battery pack got ripped apart in the crash. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/11/19/tesla-crash-100-mph-scatters-burning-batteries/

Yes, our Auto leadership is not where is used to be and based on what the Chinese have on sale now and producing they are ahead of both the US and Germany in shipping EVs as they supply their own market and are already shipping autos into Europe.

Divorce

That is where China can replace the poor leadership currently in the US by moving tech in Auto ahead showing the world leadership that is missing here. Sadly the US has lost their leadership in the automotive industry with rare leading by Tesla. The next decade is going to really show who is the leaders in the auto industry as we evolve beyond the ICE era.

OUCH, Come on Chevrolet, get your act together for a so/so full size pickup. Reviews of the current full size Chevrolet pickup all highlight the power train options. Yet the interior of sparse, blah cheap plastic on a $60K truck makes this last in comparison to the Luxury and much cheaper RAM or as this one review says is a Greying F-150 pickup both of which for less money has a more luxury interior. This problem has been around for both GMC and Chevrolet trucks. GM really needs to get their act together in regards to interior quality of their Trucks. To quote the review: This Silverado Custom Trail Boss' dynamics are surprisingly friendly and its powertrain is amongst the best you'll find in any half-ton pickup. A highly versatile bed and snappy infotainment system are welcome advantages as well, but that dearth of features and unspectacular interior make it a bit tough to recommend. I still think the Ram 1500 provides a more comfortable, premium experience and even the gray-haired F-150 still has a leg up over this Silverado. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2020-chevrolet-silverado-1500-review/

Mercedes-Benz has announced their all new Maybach S-Class car with a Bi-Turbo V8 producing 496 HP / 516 lb-ft or torque. While the current Maybach has the V8 and a V12 motor. The new one will only launch with a V8 and it will also have the Mercedes VQ48 Volts hybrid system that gives an additional 21 HP and 184 lb-ft of torque at take off to move this heavy auto. Power is delivered through an AWD system paired with a 9sp transmission. If you want to see more of this luxury barge there is a total of 74 pictures at the link below. https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2021-mercedes-maybach-s-class-sedan-official-debut/

As Rivian moves closer to full scale production of their R1T and R1S for the North American market, CEO R.J. has stated that they will begin taking orders for their full size truck and SUV in Europe (2022) and Asia (2023). Yet the real growth will come from building smaller size EV's that more than meet the roads and cities of Europe and Asia. Medium and small size EVs are on Rivian's road map along with production in those two areas. https://www.autonews.com/china/rivian-ceo-eyes-smaller-electric-vehicles-china-europe Video of the CEO comments on Europe and Asia for EV sales. https://www.autonews.com/video/first-shift-rivian-plans-smaller-evs-europe-china

The benefit of having an auto with much less complexity is the much less maintenance cost.

So true that Tesla is going to feel the heat as other manufactures come online with product to sell.

I think one of the issues is also long term contracts. Businesses are looking at bonus payments to executives / mgmt. and as such squeeze every penny for profit versus looking at the long term of pay out the cancellation fee to the supplier and change to a better technology faster. I honestly think the auto industry could improve auto's faster if they did not look at 5 to 10 year contracts. The more often changes happening in the last few years is making me think even the OEMs have finally woke up to the fact they have to change at a faster pace like the tech industry. While the tech industry is focused on new tech every 90 to 180 days of which I do not think the auto industry needs to change that fast, they should be looking at no more than 2 years before updating to newer tech from lights to interior materials, etc. Change has to happen faster than having an auto go 10 years of the same tech. Honestly I am surprised some products like Toyota Tundra have gone on so long or the Nissan pickup truck. Stagnant auto tech will be the death of an auto company as we move forward. They have to change faster.

We are 2020 now, 2030 is 10 years from now, not 8.5 years. I honestly do not see why we could not have the consumer auto market selling electric only by 2030. This is possible over the next 10 years. We have seen change like this happen in many other industries where 10 years later what they sell versus a decade earlier is vastly different.

Securing American global EV manufacturing leadership, dramatically improving public health and significantly reducing carbon pollution is some of the key goals that ZETA or Zero Emission Transportation Association was formed for. This industry association is focused on creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. In quoting their www.zeta2030.org web site they state the 3 core points. Job Creation - Enacting ambitious, but realistic policies to accelerate transportation electrification will create hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs. Congress must seize this opportunity or risk ceding this economic growth to others. Cleaner Environment - The transportation sector emits more carbon pollution than any other sector of the U.S. economy. Electric vehicles produce no tailpipe emissions and are 67% less carbon intensive than gasoline-powered auto's over their lifetime. Real Savings - By going electric, vehicle owners can save over $700 a year in Fuel and an additional $330 in annual maintenance costs. Federal, state and local incentives can drive greater consumer benefits. Their press release has the ZETA five key policy pillars: 1. Outcome-driven consumer EV incentives. Point-of-sale consumer incentives drive adoption, provide cost reductions and achieve real results in pushing transportation electrification. In addition, incentivizing early retirements while encouraging EV adoption will speed the transition and meet the urgency of the moment. 2. Emissions / performance standards enabling full electrification by 2030. Emission targets are a key piece of protecting public health and sending the correct market signals to support and accelerate the transition to zero emission transportation. 3. Infrastructure investments. Strong federal charging infrastructure investments will drive the electric transportation transition and ensure that the United States is leading the way in a clean recovery where everyone is better off. 4. Domestic manufacturing. We should not only accelerate U.S. transportation electrification, but also work to ensure that we secure domestic economic growth and leadership in EV manufacturing. Federal policies must encourage job creation and economic activity across the entire EV supply chain and lifecycle, from critical materials to vehicles. 5. Federal leadership and cooperation with sub-national entities. Federal support should invest in research and development, provide an aligned vision for electrification, and ensure local leaders are empowered with the expertise and resources to support full vehicle electrification. Further details about their key issues can be found here: https://www.zeta2030.org/key-issues/ ZETA includes the following founding members: ABB Albemarle Corporation Arrival ChargePoint ConEdison Copper Development Association, Inc. Duke Energy Edison International Enel X EVBox EVgo Ioneer Li-Cycle Lordstown Motors Lucid Motors Piedmont Lithium PG&E Corporation Proterra Redwood Materials Rivian Siemens Southern Company SRP Tesla Vistra Volta Uber WAVE ZETA mission statement: ZETA brings together those whose values and strategic interests support 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030. This diverse non-partisan group coordinates public education efforts and federal policy development to promote EV adoption with the goal of creating American electric vehicle manufacturing jobs, better serving consumers, improving air quality and public health, and significantly reducing carbon pollution. ZETA can be contacted at the following: Joe Britton Executive Director, ZETA [email protected] David Ganske Communications and PR for ZETA [email protected] View full article

Nissan has announced that they will sell EVs only in China by 2025 and will then look at the rest of the world for EV sales after that. https://chargedevs.com/newswire/nissan-to-sell-only-electrified-cars-in-china-by-2025/ Workhorse EV company has secured another 500 order for their commercial delivery van. https://chargedevs.com/newswire/workhorse-receives-order-for-500-electric-delivery-trucks/ Lordstown Motors has announced they have secured 50,000 orders for their AWD in-wheel hub motor crew cab pickup truck that will be in production and delivery summer of 2021. https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1130319_lordstown-motors-claims-50-000-orders-for-electric-pickup-arriving-fall-2021

Roasted Chicken (Costco )

Mercedes-Benz brought out their EQC, their first EV from the ground up and slowly put it on sale in Europe while holding off in North America markets. As it would seem, it was a good thing. Mercedes-Benz Press Release The EQC originally was released in Europe with a 7.4kW charging controller onboard so that home charging from 10% to full took 11hrs at 240V. The 2022 Model that will hit North American shores next year will have an upgraded charging controller of 11kW which means that same 10% to full is now done in 7hrs 30 min. This is a huge boost and more in-line with GM and Ford charging controllers along with Porsche for AC charging of the 80kWh battery pack. Mercedes-Benz delivered 45,000 EV and Plug-in Hybrid auto's during the 3rd quarter of this year in Europe and China. According to the latest ACEA report, Petrol was 47.5% of new auto sales in Europe, Diesel was 27.8% and EV/HEVs made up 22.4% and alternative fuels made up the rest at 2.3%. https://www.acea.be/press-releases/article/fuel-types-of-new-cars-petrol-47.5-hybrids-12.4-electric-9.9-market-share-t BMW Mini division showed off a new MiniVan concept for Mini as an EV Urbanaut mini minivan. https://electrek.co/2020/11/17/bmw-mini-electric-van-concept-autonomous-future/

@A Horse With No Name @Robert Hall @balthazar The Seattle scene of brick / brick Tudor inspired brick homes is still hot in some regards based on the prices, though the pandemic has cooled the prices a bit. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2324-Boyer-Ave-E-Seattle-WA-98112/49006596_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3606-SW-Admiral-Way-Seattle-WA-98126/49124548_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1905-26th-Ave-E-Seattle-WA-98112/49098271_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5723-25th-Ave-NE-Seattle-WA-98105/49117516_zpid/ This is to me an overpriced fixer upper that has 6 bed rooms. But while I love a brick home, I would demo it and build new. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/6200-Rainier-Ave-S-Seattle-WA-98118/48694116_zpid/ Here is the 4 bedroom, 3 bath rambler I had in Flower Mound Texas. Had bought it new and built, Amazing how much has changed since 1994.

Mexican water

I see it as a very economical commuter auto / inner city living type auto. GM needs to get an equal in price and size EV for the dense cities as I think it will do well. The Bolt is too expensive for people who are looking for this kind of auto. The future is going to be very interesting.

Interesting auto, decent first auto for a young person. Thank you for reviewing it.

American Influenced

Seems Mexico will get a New Captiva from China GM. Seems this will be a 2022 model as it goes into production and sales summer 2021. GM is selling it in china right now. https://jalopnik.com/mexico-is-getting-a-chevy-crossover-thats-so-much-bette-1845654509 I so can relate to this post by The Rock who is too big to fit in a Porsche EV. https://www.instagram.com/p/CHlusgsFrZ4/ Tough problem to have when you cannot fit in any sports car that movie producers want to use for you.

According to the latest interview with Jeep leadership, Jeep wants to be the Greenest SUV company in the world. As such the plans to go hybrid and EV are being put into place. Yet with that said, Jeep is also moving forward with giving Jeep Lovers of all things ICE another monster to desire and enjoy. Jeep Wrangler 392 which is a 6.4L V8 Monster motor. To quote the story: Jeep EPA combined figures are better than you probably thought. For the 2021 Cherokee, depending on engine type and size, 21 to 26. The 2021 Compass, 25. The 2021 Gladiator, 16-24. The 2021 Grand Cherokee, 15-21, with the 5.7-liter V-8 being 17, the 6.4-liter V-8 coming in at 15. The 2021 Renegade, 24-27. And for the 2021 Wrangler, 19-25, the top number being the 3.0-liter EcoDiesel. https://www.thedrive.com/news/37645/jeep-wants-to-become-the-greenest-suv-brand-in-the-world

Ford showed off their latest update of the EV family with the Mach E, Transit E van and F-150 E that is showing aggressive tires, front skid plate and other tid bits that has the media asking if the F-150 E truck will have an FX-4 package for off road? More details at the link below. https://www.autoblog.com/2020/11/12/ford-electric-f150-teased/