【By Observer Net, Pan Yuchen / Editor: Gao Xin】On December 17, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, made a comment on social media, stating that fuel vehicles without autonomous driving capabilities are like "riding a horse while using a flip phone."
Musk said that fuel vehicles without "autonomous driving" are like "riding a horse while using a flip phone" X
Musk's remarks were in response to a comment from a netizen regarding the electrification transition of American automakers. Previously, a netizen stated that he believed Ford had made a big effort in electrification, but apart from Tesla, the U.S. automotive industry would only make money by selling large fuel-powered SUVs and pickup trucks, so only Tesla and BYD have succeeded in the electric vehicle field.
Jesse Peltan, co-founder and CTO of Bitcoin mining company HODL Ranch, believes that Ford still thinks the reason for producing electric vehicles is to reduce emissions, which shows how little traditional industries understand this paradigm shift.
Jesse Peltan X
"Autonomous driving technology is unstoppable. Once cars become autonomous, the operating costs of fuel vehicles will become completely unaffordable, and emission reduction is just an incidental effect. Electric vehicles are fundamentally a better platform for achieving autonomous driving," Peltan said.
Musk agreed with this statement: "Years ago I said that non-autonomous fuel vehicles are like riding a horse while using a flip phone; but you can't force good ideas on traditional industries, they will only stubbornly head towards extinction."
This discussion comes as Ford announced this week that it will write off $19.5 billion (about RMB 137.67 billion) in assets and cancel multiple electric vehicle models. Approximately $8.5 billion (about RMB 60 billion) relates to canceled planned electric vehicle projects, and about $6 billion (about RMB 42.36 billion) relates to the dissolution of its battery joint venture with South Korea's SK On.
In terms of product planning, Ford will replace the all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup with a range-extended electric vehicle, and will also cancel the next-generation all-electric pickup project codenamed T3, and the planned electric commercial van was also canceled.
To boost revenue, Ford plans to transform its Kentucky electric vehicle battery factory into a storage battery business; during the factory's transformation, around 1,600 employees at the battery plant will be laid off.
Ford expects that by 2030, the combined share of hybrid, range-extended electric vehicles, and pure electric vehicles in its global product lineup will reach 50%, up from the current 17%. However, American consumers really need smaller, cheaper electric vehicles, not expensive large electric pickups.
Ford CEO Jim Farley stated that high battery costs are the key factor making large electric vehicles unprofitable in the U.S. market, compounded by the waning enthusiasm for electric vehicles in the U.S. market, ultimately leading to the failure of this strategy.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/7585041256171651627/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.