Bloomberg today published an expose on self-driving vehicles that confirmed my worst fears and doubts about executives who champion the technology and Wall Street money managers duped by the hype.
Technology
Mary Barra Singing Kumbaya Won’t Save GM
When Elon Musk says jump, Tesla and SpaceX employees ask, “How high?”
When GM CEO Mary Barra says jump, she promptly apologizes to GM employees for making such an onerous request.
Here’s why it takes a giant leap of faith to believe Barra’s claim that by mid-century she will sell more electric vehicles than Tesla.
Revenge of the Nerds & The Terror of Lapsus$
Reading up on who was behind Uber’s and other major corporate IT breaches I’ve come to appreciate the prescience of the 1984 film classic ‘Revenge of the Nerds.’
Why Uber’s IT Breach is a Very, Very, Big Deal
If the U.S. public was familiar with a tech term known as “social engineering,” CEOs would finally be held accountable for the lapse security oversight of their IT systems and the harm consumers experience because of their negligence.
Joe Biden’s Wing and a Prayer EV Conversion
Barack Obama reportedly once said, “Don’t underestimate Joe Biden’s ability to f— things up.” The Biden Administration’s wing and prayer electric vehicles policies demonstrate Obama knew what he was talking about.
Tesla: The Only EV Game in Town
The more I learn about electric vehicles, the more I appreciate the genius of Elon Musk and the highly motivated and innovative Tesla employees who work for him.
Mary Barra’s GM Taxpayer Scam
GM’s appetite feeding at the public trough has no limits. The company, already the second most heavily subsidized corporation in America, is getting a low-cost $2.5 billion loan from the Department of Energy to build battery cell plants with a joint venture partner. In my mind the loan is wasteful and risky as I’m doubtful GM can survive if electric vehicles are the future.
Amazon’s Toxic One Medical Acquisition
Amazon’s acquisition of One Medical primary care clinics this week marked another dark moment in the ongoing decline of U.S. healthcare. Consumers who are fed up with the dismal state of U.S. airlines would be wise to heed this warning.
Ford’s Future May Rest on Its Lawyers
It’s a wonder how Ford keeps track of all its recalls and lawsuits, which are sprouting like dandelions. Three lawsuits with damning allegations about Ford vehicles were reported last week, and the company was forced to recall more than 100,000 vehicles because of engine fire incidents. Ford has pioneered what literally could become a killer category: Vehicle Flambe.
Little wonder that Steven Croley, Ford’s impressively credentialed chief legal counsel, reports directly to CEO Jim Farley and an influential board member.
Stellantis Warns Auto Industry Might Collapse
The top executives of Stellantis, whose U.S. brands include Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler, on Wednesday warned the auto industry is in danger of collapse if the prices of electric vehicles don’t significantly decline. Supply chain and materials’ shortages makes that scenario unlikely.
Underscoring the cluelessness of the U.S. leadership driving the accelerated conversion to electric vehicles, Reuters reported this morning that a proposed California tax on lithium mining could lead to additional shortages and stifle the U.S. lithium mining industry before it begins. China already controls the global EV materials supply chain.
The ineptness of America’s energy leadership comes as no surprise to Michigan residents who lived in the state between 2003 and 2011.