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Originally Posted by acottawa
You’re saying that the proof of the future success of EVs (as a mainstream vehicle) is that Volkswagen management is betting on it.
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I'm saying that electrification is a trend because more than one OEM is betting on it. Nowhere did I say that the proof of success is because Volkswagen's management is betting on them. What I disputed was the argument that EVs can't be profitable when VW's CEO has specifically they will be profitable for Volkswagen. How you conflated all of that to me saying EVs are successful because VW is betting on them, is beyond me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by acottawa
You could have made exactly the same post about clean diesel a decade ago.
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Probably. But that is hardly proof of much. Are we to assume that every single technology automakers bet on will be a failure because of the diesel scandal?
You aware of the term FUD?
Quote:
Originally Posted by acottawa
I don’t think it is marketing fluff or misdirection, nor am I saying it is the wrong strategy. I am just saying that you can’t assume corporate infallibility, especially from a corporation that has screwed up so spectacularly in recent years.
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Again. This is about more than just Volkswagen. They just happen to be in the vanguard of Western automakers on this. Doesn't mean they are alone. Heck, arguably the electrification of logistics is far further and more impactful than consumer vehicles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by acottawa
Maybe their bet on EV will pay off, maybe the approach of the Japanese and Korean manufacturers will seem a better bet.
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We talking about the same Koreans now pushing hard into EVs too?
The only laggards here are the Japanese, who for a whole bunch of domestic reasons, bet hard on hydrogen. At this point, it's just Toyota whining that nobody is buying Mirais.
Quote:
Originally Posted by acottawa
However, VW has little to lose with the German government subsidizing EVs by $13k each, so they’re taking on a political risk more than anything.
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You get that VW aren't spending €30B and retooling plants in the US, China, Spain and another somewhere in Eastern Europe, just to serve a few home market customers getting rebates?