- ASOTU Daily Pushback
- Posts
- 📱November 22: C-V2X, Tax Credit Chaos, and Tesla Fumbles
📱November 22: C-V2X, Tax Credit Chaos, and Tesla Fumbles
The Gist
The FCC’s approval of C-V2X technology promises safer roads by enabling vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians to communicate through cellular networks.
Meanwhile, Hyundai and GM’s rumored truck partnership has everyone wondering if this unlikely duo can succeed where so many automaker alliances have failed.
On the EV front, Kia is slamming plans to kill tax credits, warning that such a move would disrupt jobs, investments, and the industry’s trajectory.
President-elect Trump’s rollback of emissions standards has automakers pleading for stability, arguing that constant policy changes only create chaos.
Honda is grappling with an EV identity crisis, relying on GM tech while pouring billions into its own platform.
Northvolt’s bankruptcy highlights the harsh realities of the battery business.
As for Tesla, a bungled Supercharger rollout for Nissan and the debut of its parking feature in Europe prove even EV royalty isn’t immune to missteps. The auto world never rests.
Fuel for Thought
🚦 FCC Greenlights Safer Roads With C-V2X Tech
giphy
The FCC has finalized new spectrum rules enabling cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology. This innovation promises to improve road safety by allowing vehicles, infrastructure, and even pedestrians to communicate via cellular networks.
What it Does: C-V2X uses the 5.9GHz spectrum to enable vehicles to send alerts about hazards, speeding cars, weather conditions, or traffic congestion.
Industry Reaction: Companies like Ford are eager to implement this tech, which could, for instance, alert a driver to a cyclist nearby.
FCC Leadership Speaks: Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel emphasizes the potential to revolutionize wireless and transportation economies while enhancing roadway safety.
History of the Band: The FCC gained control over the 5.9GHz band in 2022 after automotive industry lobbying failed to secure exclusive use for ITS.
Technical Details: Codified parameters include emission limits and message priorities to ensure reliable communication.
🔄 GM-Hyundai: A Trucking Odd Couple?
giphy
A fresh report suggests Hyundai may slap its badge on GM trucks or co-develop models. Is this collaboration genius, desperate, or just plain awkward? Let’s dig in.
Wait, Hyundai and GM…partners? Aren’t they competitors?
Yes, and it feels like watching two frenemies decide to share a group project. Hyundai needs truck cred, and GM needs to cut costs—hence, this tentative tango.
What could go wrong?
Oh, just decades of history reminding us these partnerships rarely end well. Remember Daimler-Chrysler? No? Exactly.
What’s the upside?
If this works, Hyundai could badge Chevy’s Colorado or Silverado as its own and gain immediate truck market legitimacy. GM, meanwhile, gets a foothold in new markets like Latin America.
⚡ EV Tax Credit: Dumb to Kill, Says Kia Exec
giphy
Big Investments, Bigger Disruptions
At the LA Auto Show, Kia’s COO Steve Center didn’t mince words: eliminating the EV tax credit would disrupt jobs, investments, and industry plans. Kia and Hyundai are pouring resources into U.S. manufacturing to meet tax credit rules—and a sudden policy change could undermine those efforts.
The Bigger Picture
Losing the tax credit might not destroy EV sales, but it would slow adoption and hurt consumer wallets. Center urged gradual policy changes instead of abrupt ones, calling the potential rollback “messed up.”
Global Competition at Stake
Industry insiders argue that these credits are critical for staying competitive against China. Even the Alliance for Automotive Innovation is pushing for stability, emphasizing that this isn’t just about green policies—it’s about protecting American jobs and investments.
🛠️ Honda’s Identity Crisis: From NSX to EVs
giphy
From King to Laggard
Honda once dominated the auto world with innovative engines and daring sports cars like the NSX. Now? It’s lagging in the EV race, relying on partners like GM to produce its first U.S.-bound EVs.
Big Spending, Slow Progress
Despite investing $65 billion in EVs globally, Honda’s own platform is still in development. The Prologue and Acura ZDX EVs rely on GM’s tech, showcasing Honda’s struggle to adapt.
Can Honda Reignite the Magic?
Honda’s hybrid success offers a glimmer of hope, but the rapid shift to battery EVs raises questions. Will Honda’s storied innovation translate to electrification, or will it be left behind?
🔋 Northvolt Files for Chapter 11: Battery Blues
giphy
Once hailed as Europe’s EV battery savior, Northvolt is now drowning in debt. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of its Chapter 11 filing.
Debt Load: $5.8 billion in liabilities against a mere $30 million in cash.
Restructuring Lifeline: Chapter 11 unlocks $245 million in financing, but layoffs and cost-cutting have gutted operations.
Missed Promises: Northvolt aimed to power a million EVs annually but barely managed 300,000 last year. BMW even backed out of a $2 billion deal.
What’s Next?: Interim Chairman Tom Johnstone says restructuring is key to survival, but with diminishing investor confidence, recovery looks uphill.
đźš™ Jeep Cherokee Hybrid: A Rebadged Comeback?
giphy
Jeep’s finally giving us a new Cherokee—but will it be original or just a Peugeot in disguise?
Wait, didn’t Jeep ditch the Cherokee last year?
Yep, and now it’s scrambling to fill the gap. Think of it as Jeep realizing it forgot to bring snacks to the SUV party.
Is it a Jeep or a Peugeot?
Good question! Rumor has it the new Cherokee might share DNA with Peugeot’s 3008. So, it’s like slapping a Jeep grille on a French cousin and hoping no one notices.
Will it live up to the Cherokee name?
Fingers crossed. Jeep promises hybrid power and hints at an EV version down the line. But until it’s unveiled, all we have is speculation and a lot of side-eyes.
🚗 Trump’s Emission Plans: Big Auto’s Grumble?
giphy
Rolling Back Regulations
President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is gearing up to roll back the stricter fuel efficiency and emissions standards set during the Biden era. While this promises short-term relief for automakers, it raises questions about long-term environmental and technological impacts.
What’s at Stake?
The current standards encourage EV adoption and innovation, particularly in the race against China’s dominance in battery technology. Automakers like GM and Toyota warn that deregulation could slow progress, while Tesla’s Elon Musk is uniquely positioned to benefit from rivals losing EV subsidies.
The Big Picture
Despite short-term cost savings, rolling back these standards could jeopardize the industry’s move toward sustainability and competitiveness in the global EV market. Automakers now face a complex balancing act between immediate profits and long-term goals.
🔌 Tesla Turmoil: Supercharger Missteps and New Tech
giphy
Tesla finds itself in the spotlight for two very different reasons: a misstep in rolling out Supercharger access to Nissan drivers and the global expansion of its “Actually Smart Summon” technology.
Supercharger Drama: Tesla announced that Nissan EVs could use its Supercharger network but quickly backtracked, moving Nissan to the “coming soon” list. Miscommunication and layoffs in Tesla’s charging team are blamed for the hiccup.
Firing Fallout: Elon Musk’s decision to fire the entire charging team earlier this year slowed Supercharger deployment and communication with automakers. Several former team members were rehired to fix the delays.
Milestone Amidst Chaos: Despite setbacks, Tesla’s Supercharger network hit 60,000 chargers worldwide—a win overshadowed by operational challenges.
Actually Smart Summon (ASS): Tesla’s advanced parking feature has launched in Europe and the Middle East. While the tech impresses for tight parking spots, its real-world utility remains limited, with most users trying it once to “show off” before abandoning it.
Sign up for more!
Reply