AAH #772 - Hey Detroit, It's Time to Go on the Offense
About this episode
A deep dive into the current state of the American automotive industry, focusing on the need for Detroit to shift from a defensive posture to an offensive strategy. Guests Lee and Glenn discuss the historical context of Detroit's automakers, the impact of global competition, particularly from China, and the necessity for innovation and collaboration among startups and established companies. They emphasize the importance of education, skilled trades, and a supportive regulatory environment to foster growth and attract talent. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities facing the industry as it navigates a rapidly changing landscape.
General Motors
"[98.0s] December 18, 2009 General Motors announced that it was shuttering a company. What company was this?"
General Motors is a big car company from the U.S. that makes many different kinds of cars, like Chevrolets and Cadillacs.
General Motors (GM) is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes vehicles and vehicle parts worldwide. It owns several automotive brands including Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and the now-defunct Saturn.
Volkswagen
"[113.0s] Volkswagen? No."
Volkswagen is a famous German car brand that makes cars like the Golf and Passat.
Volkswagen is a German automotive manufacturer known for models such as the Golf, Passat, and Beetle. It is one of the world's largest car makers.
Saturn
"[116.0s] Saturn? No."
Saturn was a car brand owned by GM that made cars like the S-Series. It stopped making cars in 2010.
Saturn was a brand of General Motors that operated from 1985 to 2010, offering cars like the S-Series and the Vue. It was known for its customer-friendly policies.
Porsche 911
"You have nine-three and the nine-three, the manual."
Porsche 911 is a famous German sports car that has been made for many years. It’s known for its cool shape and strong performance.
The Porsche 911 is a legendary German sports car known for its rear‑engine layout and distinctive silhouette. It has been produced in many generations since 1964.
clutch
"I burned the clutch a few times, driving up and down San Francisco Streets."
A clutch lets you shift gears in a car. When you press the pedal, it stops the engine from turning the wheels so you can change gears.
The clutch is a mechanical device that connects and disconnects the engine from the transmission, allowing the driver to change gears smoothly.
Jaguar Land Rover
"The board had invested or bought, I should say Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin."
Jaguar Land Rover makes fancy cars and big SUVs that can go off the road. They are from Britain.
Jaguar Land Rover is a British automotive group that owns two distinct brands: Jaguar, which focuses on luxury sports cars and sedans, and Land Rover, known for its off‑road capable SUVs. The group has a long history of engineering and design excellence.
Volvo
"The board had invested or bought, I should say Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin."
Volvo makes cars that are very safe and dependable. They come from Sweden and have a simple, clean look.
Volvo is a Swedish automotive manufacturer known for its focus on safety, reliability, and minimalist Scandinavian design. The brand has produced a range of cars from compact hatchbacks to luxury sedans and SUVs.
Aston Martin
"The board had invested or bought, I should say Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, Aston Martin."
Aston Martin makes very fancy, fast cars that look like they belong in a movie. They are from Britain.
Aston Martin is a British luxury car manufacturer famous for its high‑performance sports cars and elegant sedans. The brand is often associated with James Bond films and has a heritage of handcrafted engineering.
Ford
"I looked at numbers and I looked at Ford in the year 2000 and Ford in 2025."
Ford is a big car company from the U.S. that makes many different kinds of cars and trucks, like the F‑Series pickups and the Mustang sports car.
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan. It has produced a wide range of vehicles from compact cars to large trucks and SUVs.
Stellantis
"It's the same thing for Stellantis, formerly known as all those other names."
Stellantis is a large car company that owns many brands, such as Jeep and Ram trucks.
Stellantis is a multinational automotive manufacturing company formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. It owns brands like Jeep, Ram, Peugeot, and Citroën.
OEMs
"I don't think people really. 25 OEMs in Southeast Michigan."
OEM means the original company that makes a car or its parts. For example, Toyota is an OEM for its own cars.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, referring to companies that produce parts or vehicles used in final products.
Hyundai
"Jim Ford's the Lantis Hyundai Nissan Toyota three Chinese companies."
Hyundai makes many different kinds of cars, from small city cars to big family SUVs. They’re known for good value and modern design.
Hyundai is a South Korean automaker that produces a wide range of vehicles from compact cars to SUVs.
Nissan
"Jim Ford's the Lantis Hyundai Nissan Toyota three Chinese companies."
Nissan makes a lot of cars, including the popular Leaf electric car. They’re one of the big names in Japan.
Nissan is a Japanese automaker that offers cars, trucks, and electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf.
Lucid
"And you have three new ones relatively have lucid here now."
Lucid makes fancy electric cars that are very fast and have a lot of tech. They’re a newer company compared to older car makers.
Lucid is an American luxury electric vehicle manufacturer known for high-performance EVs like the Lucid Air.
Valeo
"And they're not going to take what a Bosch and a Vallejo used to take from the OEMs."
Valeo makes parts that help cars see, stay warm, and drive safely.
Valeo is a French automotive supplier that provides systems such as lighting, HVAC, and driver assistance technologies.
Bosch
"And they're not going to take what a Bosch and a Vallejo used to take from the OEMs."
Bosch makes many parts that go into cars, like brakes and sensors.
Bosch is a German multinational engineering and technology company that supplies automotive components such as brakes, electronics, and powertrain systems.
Luminar
"I think it was a tech crunch article or a vertical about Luminar and how they invested $200 million into capital equipment for the Volvo contract."
Luminar makes special sensors that let self-driving cars see in 3D, helping them navigate safely.
Luminar is a technology company specializing in lidar sensors for autonomous vehicles, providing high-resolution 3D mapping capabilities.
LIDAR
"And Volvo said, we're going to go 100 with 100,000, yeah, 100 some thousand LIDAR, to 300,000 LIDAR, to a million LIDAR."
LIDAR is a sensor that shoots laser light to see how far objects are, helping cars understand their surroundings in 3D.
LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is a sensor technology that uses laser pulses to measure distances, creating detailed 3D maps for vehicle perception in autonomous driving.
Tesla
"But what you're not bringing into this discussion is the fact that lots of people bought lots of Tesla's"
Tesla makes cars that run only on electricity, so they don’t need gasoline. They’re famous for being fast and having big batteries that let them drive long distances.
Tesla is an American electric vehicle manufacturer known for its high-performance, fully electric cars such as the Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y. The company pioneered mass-market electric vehicles and advanced autonomous driving technology.
10-speed automatic transmission
"For example, they both collaborated on the 10-speed automatic charions mission, that's in almost every F-150 in Silverado"
A 10‑speed automatic is a part of a car that changes gears automatically. It has ten different speeds, which helps the car run smoother and use less gas.
A 10‑speed automatic transmission is a gearbox that automatically shifts through ten gear ratios, improving fuel efficiency and performance compared to older, lower‑speed automatics.
rare earth magnets
"When you look at, you know, rare earth magnets, general motors invented them."
Rare earth magnets are tiny but very strong magnets. They help make electric car parts like motors work better and smaller.
Rare earth magnets are powerful permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements. They are used in many automotive components, such as electric motor stators and sensors, because of their high magnetic strength in a small size.
Starlink integration
"Tesla announced that they're going to incorporate Starlink into their vehicles."
Starlink is a network of satellites that give internet to places where regular Wi‑Fi isn’t available. Putting it in cars would let drivers stay online anywhere.
Starlink is SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation, providing high-speed internet globally. Integrating Starlink into vehicles would offer continuous connectivity for navigation, streaming, and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.
connected vehicle
"[1399.8s] Satellite with GM in the late 1980s and then on-star could have been the connected vehicle"
A connected vehicle can talk to other cars or traffic lights using the internet, helping drivers stay safe and find better routes.
A connected vehicle is one that can communicate with other vehicles, infrastructure, or networks to share data for safety, navigation, and efficiency.
Toyota
"And Toyota, going back some years ago, wanted to put a plant in Michigan."
Toyota makes cars that many people use every day. They are famous for being dependable and not breaking down often.
Toyota is a Japanese automotive manufacturer known for producing reliable, fuel-efficient vehicles such as the Corolla and Camry.
software defined EV battery
"[1972.9s] that have developed a software defined EV battery. [1977.0s] They came knocking on the door here going,"
It’s a battery that uses computer programs to decide how fast it charges, how much power it gives the car, and when to cool down. This helps make electric cars safer and last longer.
A battery system whose performance and behavior are controlled by software, allowing dynamic management of charge cycles, temperature, and power delivery for electric vehicles.
Rivian
"[2846.8s] Well, okay, I would, you brought up Rivian. [2849.6s] And so, okay, if we look at Rivian, [2851.8s] I mean, they did a lot of their engineering development, [2855.3s] literally down the street."
Rivian is a company that builds electric trucks and SUVs. They’re known for making vehicles that can go off-road and use clean energy.
Rivian is an American automotive manufacturer known for its electric pickup trucks and SUVs, such as the R1T and R1S. The company focuses on off‑road capability and sustainable technology.
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