David Welch

Grid Connections

In this episode, we sit down with David Welch, he's Detroit Bureau Chief at Bloomberg LP and Author of "Charging Ahead." His book about General Motors' CEO, Mary Barra, and the transformation of the 120 year-old company. We discuss the current state of the domestic automotive industry and the challenges presented by electrification, EV charging, GM's challenges with electrification and more!

Tune in to learn about the latest advancements in EV technology and find out what you can expect from the EV market in the next few years. From EV charging infrastructure to renewable energy sources, this episode covers it all!

Summary

The conversation covers various topics related to electric vehicles and the challenges faced by automakers, particularly General Motors (GM). The discussion highlights gaps in electric vehicle coverage and the need for better consumer education. It also explores the challenges of transitioning to electric vehicles and the skepticism within the industry. The conversation delves into GM's restructuring efforts and the difficulties in executing their electric vehicle plans. The book 'Charging Ahead' by David Welch, which focuses on GM's transformation into an electric vehicle maker, is also discussed. The conversation with David Welch covers the challenges faced by General Motors (GM) in the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and the development of autonomous vehicles (AVs). Welch discusses the struggles with EV growth and the unexpected leveling off of EV sales along with why to still be optimistic. Plus what automakers can do to help move EVs. He also highlights the difficulties GM has faced in producing battery packs and writing software for autonomous vehicles. The conversation delves into the future of Mary Barra's leadership and the potential for changes in GM's leadership. Welch also addresses the challenges with the United Auto Workers (UAW) and dealerships in promoting and selling EVs.

Takeaways

1. Need for better consumer education and coverage of electric vehicles to dispel misconceptions and highlight the benefits and ease of ownership.
2. Traditional automakers (especially GM) are finding out that their experience ICE vehicles has not led to as smooth of ramp up in EVs as they had predicted.
3. The growth of electric vehicle sales has slowed down, but it is not in retreat.
4. EV startups face financial challenges and competition from established automakers and Chinese competition.
5. The struggles with EV growth and the production of battery packs and software have impacted GM's plans.
6. GM's future with autonomy is being tested and Wall Street seems would be very happy if it just went away.
7. Mary Barra's leadership and the future of GM are still uncertain, but her decisions have made it unlikely that the board will get rid of her anytime soon.
8. The UAW and dealerships pose immediate and long term challenges for selling EVs

Watch the full episode on Youtube

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