Quin Garcia

A COUP for Rivian?? This will be an interesting relationship with Volkswagen Group. Partnering with the global giant opens up SO many opportunities for the BEV startup. The company has substantially increased volumes (Lucid Motors not so much) and two new exciting models in the pipeline. The product is unique and has gained a distinct persona and solid following in the market. Rivian.....ditch the "no-dealer" thing, and tap into Volkswagen's dealer network, which includes quality Porsche AG, AUDI AG, and Volkswagen dealers, selecting the "best of the best." For VW....do similar with your revived Scout Motors Inc. brand. Don't over-dealer and start with major markets only. Agency-type agreements by application-only for both franchises and vet dealers CAREFULLY. Also note....Ford Motor Company sold it's stake in Rivian in 2023, while Amazon remains an investor. Great news for Rivian and their future. We love what they are doing and look forward to great progress :) PLEASE NOTE: We are currently soliciting for OEM, DEALER GROUP, SUPPLIER, SaaS contracts/other projects. Feel free to reach out to me directly. 416.993.9356 colin@omniautosolutions.com #automotive #automotiveindustry #sales #innovation #ecommerce #branding #ai #ev #electricvehicles #technology #business #leadership #disruptor

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👏 Insightful article by Brad Templeton, who never fails to offer sharp perspectives on #AutonomousMobility. The launch of Waymo’s robotaxi service in #Miami, in partnership with Moove, highlights the immense complexity of operating fleets of #SelfDrivingCars. Managing this new ecosystem requires not only cutting-edge technology but also a deep understanding of operations, logistics, and regulatory frameworks. At Maxi Mobility, we’ve honed our expertise by navigating the highly regulated Italian market, providing an all-in-one platform for taxi drivers. Our approach integrates AI-powered tools to optimize fleet operations, from route efficiency to energy management, ensuring profitability and seamless customer experiences. As the industry transitions toward autonomous fleets, Maxi Mobility is positioned to support companies by offering: Scalable fleet management solutions tailored to the demands of self-driving cars. AI-driven optimization for vehicle utilization, energy consumption, and maintenance. Regulatory expertise to ease entry into complex markets. By building on our foundation, we’re ready to shift gears when technology allows for fully autonomous operations, helping industry leaders bridge the gap between today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Exciting times ahead for the future of mobility! 🚀 #selfdrivingcars #electricvehicles #ai #maxiagent

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StoreDot's #XFC (Extreme Fast Charging) technology in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, can be transformative to the #EV industry, particularly for leading OEMs like General Motors and Ford Motor Company. Here's a breakdown of the key advantages XFC brings to the table: - **Eliminating Range Anxiety**: XFC's ability to charge EVs from 10% to 80% in just 10 minutes addresses a significant hurdle in EV adoption – slow charging times. This rapid charging capability alleviates concerns about range limitations, making EVs more attractive for long-distance travel and enhancing their appeal to consumers. - **Enhanced Customer Experience**: Faster charging times translate to a superior customer experience by reducing wait times at charging stations and allowing drivers to spend more time on the road. This improved convenience can give OEMs a competitive edge in a market where customer satisfaction plays a pivotal role. - **Increased EV Adoption**: XFC's practicality and convenience can expedite the shift towards electric mobility, aligning with the sustainability objectives of OEMs. By positioning themselves as pioneers in the EV revolution, companies can drive higher adoption rates and solidify their leadership in the industry. - **Competitive Advantage**: Offering XFC technology sets an OEM apart from competitors relying on slower charging solutions. This competitive advantage can lead to greater market share and enhanced brand loyalty among consumers seeking efficient and advanced EV charging options. - **Improved Resale Value**: EVs equipped with XFC technology are poised to retain better resale value due to their superior charging capabilities. This feature can attract potential buyers and further incentivize the adoption of EV models, contributing to OEMs' overall market success. - **Branding and Marketing Opportunities**: XFC serves as a strategic branding and marketing tool for leading OEMs, enabling them to position their EVs as innovative and cutting-edge. This can appeal to tech-savvy consumers and early adopters, enhancing the overall perception of their EV offerings in the market. - **

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The opportunity to help fleets reduce emissions by accelerating their EV transition is just step 1 in our vision for more renewably focused fleet energy strategies. No telematics? No problem. In the podcast below Marc Sibbald and I discuss how Roev went from fleet focused ute EV conversions to a fueling analytics “insights to action platform” that help fleets focused on balancing net savings with net-zero goals. Let me know what you think!

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Wow. VW Group will invest up to $5 billion in Rivian to form a new, equally controlled joint venture sharing #EV architecture + software. JV's HOT TAKE: (a) Rivian gets the cash it needs before the R2 goes into production 2 yrs hence; (b) VW desperately needs software help on SDVs; (c) VW gets a US-based JV to build new products; so (d) Is THIS what underpins the new (and so far largely unknown) Scout Motors Inc. brand? More to come on this, for sure. #electriccars #electricvehicles #autoindustry #automotive #VWgroup #Rivian https://lnkd.in/eJsauZfs

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What do you think? Have you seen rental fleets adding EVs back to their fleets? Will residual values, charging infrastructure, spare parts, and consumer understanding of EVs improve near term to enable rental fleets to electrify in the next year or two, or will it take longer? Andrew K. Kieran White

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Quote: "Unfortunately, nobody knows whether either of these technologies — the partial automation available to consumers or the driverless vehicle fleets deployed on a more limited basis — are safe. Federal regulators have struggled to stay ahead of the risks that come with innovations. Commonsense guardrails are missing, and a lack of crash-reporting requirements have left researchers like [the author] without the robust data we need to evaluate the safety of these systems." (The author acknowledges the SGO, but rightly points out that Tesla data entries are redacted to the point of being essentially meaningless, and other data reporting requirements could be strengthened.) This piece argues for NHTSA to take action. I note that NHTSA has recently looked into Cruise, Waymo, and Zoox. That's a start -- but we need to see follow through. And I'll remind everyone once again that a NHTSA ANPRM from December 2020 on this very topic remains gathering dust with no response from NHTSA on the hundreds of public comments made. https://lnkd.in/eZdt4jcc

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Waymo raised an additional $5.6 Billion to fund its activities. With over 150,000 paid driverless trips and 1 million fully autonomous miles per week, Waymo is clearly the leader of passenger autonomous driving. Waymo has shared cost reduction plans with new vehicles having fewer sensors and is opening new markets and business partnership deals to shoulder some of the operational costs. X (formerly twitter) user EV Industrial Complex shared a back of the envelope estimate for Waymo profitability. While the cost estimates look low and missing some elements, they do offer an indication of gross margins and potential for margin improvement. So why the hefty round?  Because Waymo’s current market is just a small fraction of the potential addressable #AV market. The Waymo announcement hints at new use cases: “We’ll also continue advancing the Waymo Driver… to support a variety of business applications over time.”  Could we be looking at the return of the Waymo One trucking or other use cases?  Or perhaps a software licensing model for other evolving (and less operationally complex) use cases? Thoughts? #autonomousvehicles #futureoftransportation

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UI regularly get asked ‘why do you have a hate-on for EVs’? I actually spent time during a lecture explaining my position. The fact is, I don’t have a ‘hate-on’… although I think they are sluggish in their handling and quality could be better, most EVs are crazy fast and a hoot to drive. We are nowhere near cost parity in Canada however that’s for another discussion. I do have a ‘hate-on’ with the EV rollout. It’s becoming apparent that the ‘Fields of Dreams’ approach to the sector will result in significant losses to the industry. Not to mention, Govt of Canada’s investment will take much longer to monetize, if at all. In the end, the bitter pill from this experience may likely further delay electrification. Why- no transition strategy! Where the risk averse folks at Honda and Toyota got it right again: ICE—> Hybrid—> future EV, gas guzzling pick up truck sales are keeping companies such as Ford and GM afloat… while VW is losing its most important consumer market; China, because of their wrong mix of product offerings. Note- China deployed a leep frog strategy and has basically skipped over the ICE industrialization phase, using a greenfield approach (and a lot of govt capital) to enter the mkt, flooding the market with capacity. Unfortunately I am seeing a repeat of 2009/10 all over again… capital sitting idle/stranded with brands forced to exit from the market… Lastly, I am tired of the silliness I see in industry when it comes to SCM. Most decisions are reactionary and with little thought, risk management or transition strategy . This is just the latest example. Anyhow, the linked video does a great job explaining the current state of affairs. Feel free to continue the dialogue. #supplychain

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Its EVs may be lemons on the bottom line, but Rivian is motoring thanks to a $5.8 billion joint venture with Volkswagen. The goal: make electric cars more accessible. That's a significant investment considering VW had originally planned to invest $5 billion in Rivian to develop a new electrical architecture and vehicle software for future models. The investment will support the launch of Rivian’s R2 model and perhaps beyond. The big winner is Rivian. For a company that's losing $1 billion a quarter, the VW investment, or really, lifeline is huge buying it time to build its brand, expands its manufacturing capabilities and ultimately ups its offerings. For VW, the iconic automaker is in the midst of its struggles as it loses market share in North America, which has resulted in plant closures in Germany. Separately, Scout Motors, the VW-owned adventure brand that recently launched a new electric truck and SUV stands to benefit from the partnership with new technology and software from the alliance. All in all, the partnership benefits both companies. VW gains access to Rivian's software-centric approach to vehicle manufacturing, which will strengthen its position in the race towards software-defined vehicles. Rivian, in turn, secures vital financial support to navigate the challenging economic landscape https://lnkd.in/ghBJB6f2 #volkswagen #rivian #electricvehicle #jointventure #automotiveindustry

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🚗 GM's Cruise Shutdown: Innovation Roadblock or Strategic Pivot? On the latest episode of TWiST, we dove into GM’s recent move to fold cruise into their driver assistance program. Key Points: • Cutting self-driving tech spend by $1B • Waymo continues to lead autonomous vehicle race Big Questions: Is this the end or just Act 1 of a bigger story? Will GM partner/divest Cruise tech?

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Residual values of electric vehicles (EVs) are declining, which poses a significant challenge for EV adoption. This decline in residual values makes leasing EVs more expensive for automakers and consumers. The resale values of electric cars are generally much lower than those of their internal combustion engine counterparts, primarily due to rapid technological advancements, market dynamics, and higher initial purchase prices that do not translate well into the used car market. AutoTrader: A study from iSeeCars.com found that EVs have the worst resale value among all propulsion types, with an average loss of nearly 50% of their value in five years, compared to around 39% for all vehicles in the survey. https://lnkd.in/ghZ-9iZX Drive.com.au: A UK study found that electric cars, on average, lose 51% of their purchase value in three years, compared to 37% for petrol-powered vehicles. https://lnkd.in/gkMafdTm CNBC: A study from iSeeCars.com showed that the average price of a 1- to 5-year-old used EV in the U.S. fell 31.8% over the past 12 months, compared to just 3.6% for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. https://lnkd.in/gn79AYmH Forbes: Tesla models experienced significant depreciation between 2023 and 2024, with resale values dropping by an average of 31.5-34.4%, depending on the model. https://lnkd.in/g_K6XPqV Ayvens: Electric cars tend to depreciate more than ICE vehicles due to rapid technological advancements. https://lnkd.in/g4nrmT2x Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): While EVs can be cheaper to operate over their lifetime due to lower fuel and maintenance costs, they still suffer from higher depreciation rates compared to ICE vehicles. This is partly due to the rapid pace of technological advancements in the EV sector https://lnkd.in/gbeUzDci CarParts.com: EVs generally lose their resale value faster than gas-powered cars. Early battery and plug-in hybrid EVs with shorter driving ranges depreciated more quickly than gas or hybrid cars https://lnkd.in/gKxGPhWm The rapid technological advancements, aggressive pricing strategies by market leaders like Tesla, and higher initial purchase prices that do not translate well into the used car market are primary factors contributing to this trend. #evresalevalues #evdepreciation #electriccardepreciation #evvsicecars #evadoption #residualvalues #leasingcosts #teslaseffect #evadoptionrate

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For the next <24 hours only, I've reduced the price of the lifetime subscription I just launched for EV Universe Pro. Perks the members get: EVU Pro Report — an extra weekly EV industry newsletter, covering a lot more new models (even those in China), spy shots, global news from the Battery industry, Charging deployments, plans and partnerships, funding rounds and acquisitions, and much more. Community — discussions with over 100 like-minded EV geeks on a standalone platform. We’re about to launch a member-only chatroom too, so we can break and discuss the biggest EV news live; Tools — full access to our resources like the EV Stock Tracker, Industry Map, EV calendar, EV sales tracker; etc Early access — I often send new resources and deep dives to Pro members ahead of time; EVolving ecosystem — we're adding new features along the way. You’re making a difference — this helps me focus on EV Universe full-time, so you're directly helping me make an impact on EV adoption globally. 🌳 We'll plant 30 real trees into our forest, trackable online. with your name on it. We’re closing in on 1,000 trees planted! The price is reduced to $299 for everything we do in the EV Universe Pro, forever, with no other fees. It will be raised to a regular $365 tomorrow. Join over 100 of us that are serious about EV adoption: https://lnkd.in/d4maaufa

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The BMW i3 REX was the first attempt to market an extended-range EV—a BEV with a generator—but it didn’t quite succeed. Can larger EREVs improve both GHG emissions and consumer acceptance while reducing dependence on DC fast charging? The answer may lie beyond technology alone. New policy tools that reflect real-world fleet performance can encourage OEMs to support frequent charging and earn credits when they do. Current tools, like utility factors and supply-side regulations, are not a sufficient starting point, but many OEMs are exploring promising new technologies, engines, and fuels that may show potential for deep GHG reductions with regular charging may not be a good starting point, but many OEMS are testing new technologies, engines and fuels that shows high potential. https://lnkd.in/gzrMpFBA

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Why should the EV Mandate be modified under the new administration? In the current EV Mandate framework, it's possible for Tesla, General Motors, and Ford Motor Company (and others) to engage in a credit-swapping agreement that could result in more ICE cars being produced. Here's how it could work: The Mechanics of Credit Swapping: Regulatory Credits: Under California's regulations (and those adopted by other states), automakers earn credits for selling zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). They can also incur deficits if they fail to meet ZEV sales targets. Trading Credits: Automakers with excess credits (like Tesla) can sell those credits to manufacturers with deficits (potentially GM or Ford). This allows companies struggling to meet EV targets to comply with regulations without significantly increasing their own EV production. How this could actually lead to more ICE cars: Reduced pressure on GM and Ford: If GM and Ford can buy credits from Tesla, they face less pressure to ramp up their own EV production to meet regulatory requirements. Continued ICE production: This could allow them to continue producing more gasoline-powered vehicles for longer, potentially slowing the overall transition to EVs. Tesla's motivation: Tesla, as a purely electric vehicle manufacturer, benefits financially from selling credits. This provides an additional revenue stream and potentially subsidizes their EV production. Important Considerations: Market demand: Even with credit swapping, consumer demand for EVs plays a significant role. If consumers increasingly prefer EVs, automakers will need to produce them regardless of credit availability. Technology and infrastructure: The availability of affordable EVs and charging infrastructure also influences the pace of EV adoption. Long-term strategy: Automakers need to balance short-term compliance with long-term investment in EV technology and production to remain competitive in a changing market.

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Tesla lays off their entire #supercharger team, which is horrible for #EVcharging & anyone hoping to use their #NACS plug. 🤦‍♂️ Senior director Rebecca Tinucci and her entire #EVcharger team were laid off! She deserves a medal 🥇, not severance, after converting North America to the Tesla plug. She all but handed them energy dominance for EVs for the next decade. As an owner, I can say that many of their chargers sit idle and unused outside big cities, but that doesn’t mean you cut the whole team. What does this mean for their energy strategy? https://lnkd.in/g2DFyzcm

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#RoboTaxi Update ✅ GM's Retreat: General Motors has abandoned its robotaxi dreams, leaving Detroit's Big Three out of the autonomous vehicle race. ✅Stellantis' Shift: After initial collaborations with Waymo, Stellantis has pivoted to developing its own autonomous driving technology, seemingly distancing itself from the robotaxi market. ✅Ford's U-Turn: Ford's multi-billion-dollar investment in Argo AI ended in failure, as the company prioritized electric vehicle production. ✅Hyundai's Rethink: Hyundai and Aptiv have restructured their joint venture, Motional, scaling back robotaxi ambitions and focusing on autonomous technology solutions. ✅The Tesla Factor: Tesla's aggressive entry into the robotaxi market, coupled with potential policy tailwinds, may have influenced GM's decision. ✅Waymo's Dominance: Waymo, with its operational robotaxi service and significant scale, is now the leading player in the US robotaxi market.

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On a recent Waymo ride in San Francisco, we came up to a corner case. Busy Van Ness, right lane blocked with Emergency Vehicles. How would the Waymo navigate around the obstacles? The answer may surprise you, For the second time in as any rides, the solution didn't match my expectations. Take a look. What do you think will happen.  ---- Situation: Sitting at a light, left lane, about 6 car lengths from the emergency, right blinker on. Destination is a few blocks ahead then right. Options are: 1) Merge right, the left AFTER the intersection to get around the emergency vehicles? 2) Merge right, then left BEFORE the intersection to get around the emergency vehicles? 3) Stay in the left lane,  TURN OFF Right Hand blinker  and go around the emergency vehicles 4) Other Pause and make your pick during the Jeopardy music. Read no further until you take the challenge The future is here, it's just not even distributed  (It was only after the fact, when I looked a bit closer at the screen, I could see it working though the problem, and deciding what to do. Full ride across San Francisco, Dog Patch to City Hall Waymo One: Autonomous, Future, Comfortable, Available | Turn the Lens podcast with Jeff Frick  - YouTube - https://lnkd.in/guD8gKEw  - Spotify - https://lnkd.in/gy4XPWTT  - Substack - https://lnkd.in/gsQn2dEQ  - Show notes and Transcript - https://lnkd.in/gxWTeqs4 - or wherever you podcast #Waymo #AutonomousVehicles #SelfDrivingCars #EV #Autonomous #GoogleX #TechInnovation #FutureOfTransportation #SmartMobility Annabel Tekedra Derek #WaymoExperience #Jaguar #GenAI #SanFrancisco #CornerCase #UrbanMobility #TechPodcast #Podcast #TurnTheLens 

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