This @bloomberg.com story about Toyota is probably the best I've read—ever—about why the world's biggest automaker is so late to EVs. It's not just about the will to do it or wanting hybrid/hydrogen tech to win. It's about having no clue how to build next-generation cars. - ThreadSky

patrickgeorge.bsky.social • 43 days ago

This @bloomberg.com story about Toyota is probably the best I've read—ever—about why the world's biggest automaker is so late to EVs.

It's not just about the will to do it or wanting hybrid/hydrogen tech to win. It's about having no clue how to build next-generation cars.

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Comments

patrickgeorge.bsky.social•43 days ago

Story here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-01-14/toyota-hybrid-and-gas-car-success-distracts-from-ev-future

patrickgeorge.bsky.social•43 days ago

The race for the future is about construction methods, batteries, software and autonomy. Probably in that order.

Tesla hit reset on how all that works but it's not even the problem anymore.

It's that China took all that stuff and ran with it.

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/toyotas-may-global-output-slides-with-marked-decline-china-2024-06-27/

patrickgeorge.bsky.social•43 days ago

Batteries are expensive and they will be for some time. So if you want to cut costs, you have to simplify and rethink everything else.

This is part of why (as well as consumer preference in some places) so many modern EVs are all-screen, no-button. It's a total re-think of how cars get built.

patrickgeorge.bsky.social•43 days ago

It's also why a lot of us think the "traditional" automakers will do technical partnerships with China—yes, even in the Trump era. VW's doing this with Xpeng and that's just "in China, for China," at least for now. But it's turning into a matter of survival. https://www.volkswagen-group.com/en/articles/ready-for-next-ev-push-volkswagen-enters-into-agreement-with-xpeng-for-fast-joint-development-of-two-smart-e-cars-18246

itsonlydale.bsky.social•42 days ago

Stellantis bought into leapmotor, Toyota rebadges BYDs in China the old car makers have to catch up on 10 years of research quickly to survive. This year EVs will be about 30% of global car sales, that’s a big market if yore not selling EVs

shanelynch.bsky.social•42 days ago

All screen and no buttons is also the worst part of EVs, although I understand it from a production and marketing perspective. Younger generations probably have less aversion to blindly tapping a screen while driving as well.

patrickgeorge.bsky.social•42 days ago

I like my buttons too! Guess I'm old.