John Jennings

Rivian Automotive (RIVN) and Volkswagen Group (VKW.L, VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE) plan to form an equally controlled and owned joint venture to create next-generation software-defined vehicle or SDV platforms for use in both companies' future electric vehicles. Volkswagen plans to invest $5 billion into Rivian, the companies said in a statement. There have been many challenges with EV startup including product quality issues, cash flow, ramping up production, etc. Partnerships are key as part of developing the next generation hybrid, alternative fuels like H2, EV batteries, etc. https://lnkd.in/gfQ4jbhr   Blog – Analysis and Commentary – Automotive (ICE EV and Hybrid) – April 2024 - https://lnkd.in/gcve9aYp

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Here at Brigham Young University - Idaho, in the automotive program we have the opportunity to perform experiments in relation to automotive components and tests. The purpose is to dive deeper into all aspects of automotive testing and have fun asking our own questions! My experiment involves brushed motors and how their amperages change for different conditions! The more amps being pulled = more stress/load on the motor. Specifically, we wanted to test the wiper motor, and the seat motors. With the wiper motor we wanted to see how different liquids on the windshield change the amperage pull. With the seat motors, we wanted to see the change in amperages when its empty vs loaded. See the results below! #BYUI

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General Motors CEO Mary Barra recently clarified the automaker's commitment to transitioning its fleet to electric vehicles (EVs) over a gradual timeline spanning decades. This announcement reaffirms GM's strategic shift towards an all-electric future, originally announced in 2018. Barra emphasized the importance of this transformation while expressing pride in GM's current gas-powered vehicles. Despite a recent decline in EV sales in the U.S., Barra remains optimistic about GM's EV strategy, highlighting the introduction of the Ultium platform and efforts to expand charging infrastructure to enhance consumer accessibility. Learn more here: https://shorturl.at/QWk4b #GeneralMotors #MaryBarra #ElectricVehicles #EVTransition #UltiumPlatform #ChargingInfrastructure 

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Addressing Lead Diversion by OEM Contracted SEM Companies Context: Taylor Automotive Group operates several dealerships, including Taylor Hyundai of Perrysburg, Taylor Hyundai of Toledo, Taylor Hyundai of Findlay, Taylor Kia of Lima, and Taylor Cadillac. The group has noticed issues with lead generation and conversion, where potential customers searching for their dealerships online are redirected to OEM-contracted SEM companies. Problem Taylor Automotive Group identified that basic keywords such as "KIA TOLEDO" or "KIA FINDLAY" were being hijacked by OEMs and their SEM companies, diverting leads away from the dealerships. The OEMs did not use negative keywords, benefiting financially from the diverted leads. While Hyundai OEM agreed to implement negative keywords, Kia OEM insisted they had no control over iMotors, despite evidence showing otherwise. Approach 1. Direct Negotiation with OEMs: Engaged with Hyundai OEM to successfully implement negative keywords, reducing lead diversion and associated costs. 2. Evidence Gathering: Compiled data demonstrating iMotors' control by Kia OEM, including lead flow patterns and financial reports. 3. Internal SEM Strategy Enhancement: • Keyword Optimization: Enhanced SEM campaigns with long-tail keywords and unique identifiers. • Negative Keyword Lists: Developed comprehensive negative keyword lists. • Geo-Targeting Adjustments: Fine-tuned geo-targeting settings. 4. Collaborative Dealer Network: Established a network with other dealerships to share best practices and strategies. Results Reduction in Lead Diversion: Decreased the number of leads diverted to OEM-contracted SEM companies. The implementation of negative keywords by Hyundai and optimized SEM strategies significantly improved lead acquisition for Taylor Hyundai dealerships. Cost Savings: Reduced lead acquisition costs, with savings reinvested into further optimizing digital marketing efforts. Increased Transparency and Control: Gained greater control over SEM campaigns and increased transparency in interactions with OEMs, leading to improved ROI on marketing spend. Strengthened Dealer Network: Fostered a collaborative network of dealerships, sharing knowledge and strategies to better navigate OEM-dealer relationships and digital marketing challenges. Conclusion Taylor Automotive Group’s proactive approach to addressing lead diversion through strategic negotiations, enhanced SEM tactics, and industry collaboration successfully mitigated the impact of OEM-contracted SEM companies. This optimization of their lead generation strategy underscores the importance of vigilance, negotiation, and innovation in overcoming industry challenges and achieving sustainable business growth. It is crucial for dealerships to take similar steps by asking their OEM digital teams to negate geo-oriented and basic keywords that customers use to search for their specific locations.

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The Toyota Motor Corporation's electric bZ4X has received a good amount of flack since it went on sale. Critics have slammed its range, fast charging abilities and software. But I just drove one, and guess what? I actually liked it quite a bit. And so do tons of EV newcomers these days, from families moving to it from their trusted RAV4s to cab and rideshare drivers in New York City. The thing is, it could be a lot better, so here's my prescription on how it could be a game-changer. Will Toyota listen? New at InsideEVs: https://lnkd.in/ejVCp-PC

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Toyota explains its hybrid and carbon vehicle only focus as a way of looking at market demand AND full environmental impact when compared to EV and Hybrid vehicle production and use: Toyota says the original energy source of electricity and the emissions caused by production should be factored into an EV's overall environmental impact. That would track emissions over the entire life of the vehicle. By that measure, EVs are in the same league as hybrid vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines. That is because EVs may require more coal-burning power plants to recharge their bigger batteries. It is also because manufacturing EVs and their batteries can emit more carbon, thus hybrid vehicles with engines generate more emissions while in operation but less in terms of production and energy supply.

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Seeing Machines has today announced an extension of a program win with "an existing North American Tier-1 customer and OEM." Based on existing evidence, this is almost certainly for Ford Motor Company, with Magna International as the tier-1. Shown below is the new Lincoln Motor Company #Aviator, sister of the Ford #Explorer, with DMS on the steering column. Superimposed onto the image is the latest Gen. 2 DMS camera from Magna. It is a perfect match. Both the Aviator and Explorer are due to reach start of production later this month, and we are likely to see models destined for sale in Europe appear on YouTube with this Gen. 2 DMS module sometime later this year, to meet Euro NCAP #OSM testing and #GSR requirements. The announcement likely also confirms that Ford is continuing to source DMS from Magna/Seeing Machines until at least 2032. Ford's #BlueCruise is now under investigation both by #NHTSA and #NTSB, so whether a separate Ford program for "eyes-off" driving is still ongoing is unknown at this time. That program is assumed to be with Bosch using DMS signals from Smart Eye for a new software-defined vehicle platform. These developments all again reinforce the challenges of using "design wins" as a proxy for market leadership. As this latest announcement makes clear, OEMs can (and do) change their procurement plans, making quarterly cars on road data the most reliable metric to measure a DMS supplier's competitive standing and the path to profitability. This has been a critical couple of months for Magna, having this week also been named an Automotive News #PACE Award winner for its Integrated #Driver & #Occupant #Monitoring #System, which was developed in collaboration with Seeing Machines. The first program win for the rear-view mirror based DMS/OMS reached start of production in March, believed to be for the Volkswagen MQB Evo and MEB #EV platforms. We are likely to see first evidence of the production volume growth in the quarterly cars on road data published by Seeing Machines for the January to March quarter, likely to be released soon. For institutional investors, family offices, and others seeking an expert third-party source to understand trends in the #DMS, #CMS and #OMS market, I can be booked for telephone-based consultancy via GLG, Guidepoint, and Third Bridge Group Limited. Just ask for me by name. Link to Seeing Machines win announcement: https://lnkd.in/euYnRnsB Link to Magna PACE Award win: https://lnkd.in/eMKdT2U7 Link to NHTSA Ford investigation: https://lnkd.in/eHSjVY3z

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During its Q1 earnings call, Ford Motor Company CEO Jim Farley said the company needs to make “tremendous progress” on Model e as it expects the division to lose between $5 billion and $5.5 billion this year. Read more about how Ford is adjusting in my latest for Automotive Dive:

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What Do Burning Man, Automotive Mechanics & Product Development Have in Common? Gather 'round, folks, because I’ve got a story that ties together the dusty magic of Burning Man, the gritty grind of automotive mechanics, and the creative thrill of product development. Last year’s Burning Man turned into a #mudpocalypse when an unprecedented storm hit, stranding nearly 100,000 burners in the Nevada desert. Despite media chaos, it was an epic adventure. DJs lifted their sound systems out of the mud, and power lines ran across camp roofs to keep the music alive. Amidst the fun, I met people who urgently needed to leave: a French woman needing chemotherapy, a couple needing to return to their kids, and a Chinese lady with an international flight the next day. So, I packed up, strapped my solar-powered speaker system to the roof, and spent two days ferrying desperate burners from the playa to the highway. Shuttles took folks who reached the highway back to Reno. My van, with its 200,000 miles, took a beating. It overheated, stalled, and limped back to the Bay Area at 3 MPG with black smoke pouring from the exhaust. I considered junking it, but I had sentimental plans for more adventures. So, I saw this as a chance to earn another engineering badge of honor and do an engine swap! The original van, with its 180 horsepower V6, was never meant to house a V8, but I was determined. I leveraged my experience working in the automotive industry with Jimmy Grey and the Levity Vans team to dig into the van. My mission was threefold - I wanted to learn the entirety of how combustion vehicles work, launch a useful product, and get my van back up and ripping. I found a cheap V8 truck engine. I hauled it to Santa Cruz and began the transformation, more than doubling the van’s original power output. The Astro Van has a die-hard following and is still widely driven. I reached out to Journey's Offroad, a company that provides aftermarket support and upgrades to turn minivans into offroad beasts. With my 3D scanner and #solidworks, I designed brackets for the engine, AC, and ignition coils. Our first manufacturing run is complete, and we’ll see how many gearheads want to revamp their rides. My estimate? About $50k in annual revenue. So, if you see any ridiculously loud and fast Astro Vans on the road, there’s a good chance I had something to do with it! This isn’t my first rodeo with product development. The first time I saw one of my creations in the wild was my BOM light. I was in NYC and spotted a skater on an electric longboard with one of my lights. It was a magical moment I hope to repeat! Maybe I’ll share that story another day. 😊 #SunburnSchematics #HardwareEngineering #ProductDevelopment #Innovation #EngineeringExcellence #Manufacturing #Prototyping #TechInnovation

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Notice: “Cost recovery mechanisms should not be judged in isolation. Inflation-driven cost increases & adjustments need to be addressed in a timely manner that is consistent, tested, & institutionalized & supported by OEM & supplier cost reduction efforts.” Automotive Profitability: How OEM and Supplier Margins Are Faring: “OEMs had an avg profit margin of 8.1% in the first quarter, more than 2 percentage points higher than automotive suppliers…while suppliers stabilized between 5-6%...The challenge for suppliers is that they’re suffering from higher material & energy costs, which they can only partially pass on to OEMs.” https://lnkd.in/gY__BVRs. 70% of new supplier agreements contain inflation driven economic adjustment clauses with the use of indices being the most common. https://lnkd.in/g_ByzrNU. It might be time for price risk sharing in buyer-supplier relationships.   Has Strategic Cost Mgmt (i.e., Price Analysis) become a lost art? Tools we use to teach this: https://lnkd.in/gwPfkdkK. Managing inflationary price risks in supplier-buyer contracts through indexing: Operational challenges and solutions... https://lnkd.in/eUfxt_P9 #inflation #procurement #rawmaterials #supplychain #pricing

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Rivian Automotive has secured an incentive package of $827 million from the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to expand its electric vehicle (EV) plant in Normal, Illinois, #USA. The funding will enable Rivian to increase the capacity of the plant and produce R2, a midsized SUV. It will also be used for public infrastructure enhancements and job training programs for the company’s workforce. R2 is expected to offer a combination of performance, capability, and utility in a five-seat package. The EV plant in Normal began production in 2021 and has already manufactured over 100,000 EVs, including R1S, R1T, and commercial electric delivery vehicles. Rivian Automotive has invested over $2 billion in Normal and claims to have generated a value add of more than $3.9 billion to the local economy in three years. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the positive impact of the investment on the electric vehicle ecosystem, the economy, and the state's ambitious climate goals. Rivian|RJ Scaringe Follow Humans Of EV #electricmobility #evcharging #innovation #humansofev #electric #rivian #electricvehicles #electricscooter #electriccars #electricbike #ebike #zeroemissions #emobility #charginginfrastructure #escooters #cars #electricmobility #teslamotors #car #scooter #gogreen #carsofinstagram #model #ecofriendly #goelectric #evnews #electriccharging #evcharginginfrastructure #chargingstation

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Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares criticizes the new US tariffs on Chinese-made EVs, warning they could lead to higher inflation and more trade barriers. He stresses the negative impacts of protectionism on the auto industry's competitive landscape. https://lnkd.in/gEtj4KGU #EVNews #EV #Stellantis #CarlosTavares #EVTariffs #USChinaTrade #Protectionism #AutoIndustry #ElectricVehicles #TradeWars #Inflation #GlobalTrade #BidenAdministration #EVImports #Chrysler #Jeep #Dodge #Leapmotor #AutomotiveNews #TradeBarriers #GlobalEconomy

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