AD #4261 - Honda Cancels Afeela EV Joint Venture with Sony; GM Repurposes Cruise Bolts for AV Testing; Cupra Debuts First 3D-Knit Car Seats
About this episode
Honda is shutting down its Honda-Sony Afeela EV joint venture after canceling next-gen EV plans, writing off about $16B and sidestepping a potential dealer lawsuit over direct-to-consumer sales. GM is repurposing former Cruise autonomous “bolt” vehicles for live testing of its next-gen Super Cruise, with plans for 200+ development vehicles on the road. Cupra’s new Revolt debuts 3D-knit one-piece seat covers. The show also covers China’s new ultra-high-strength hot-stamp steel, Renault’s AI-personalized radio app, and Robert Bollinger’s buyback of Mullen assets.
write off nearly sixteen billion dollars
"Honda announced it was canceling its next gen evs and writing off nearly sixteen billion dollars of the money and invested to make electric cars."
A write-off is when a company admits that money it spent won’t pay off the way it hoped. In this case, Honda is treating its EV investment as a loss.
A “write-off” here refers to accounting treatment where previously invested money is no longer expected to produce future returns, so it’s recognized as a loss. The segment uses this to quantify the financial impact of Honda canceling its next-gen EV efforts.
EV joint venture
"us wondering what would happen to a Fela, the joint venture between Honda and Sony. It was revealed at CES [28.2s] in twenty twenty three, and wanted to make low volume, high end evs, while this morning Honda announced its closing down that joint venture."
A joint venture is when two companies team up to build something together. Here, it’s about making electric cars, with both Honda and Sony involved.
An EV joint venture is a partnership where two companies share the cost, technology, and risk to develop electric vehicles. In this segment, Honda and Sony teamed up to build a specific kind of EV business plan rather than doing everything independently.
CES
"It was revealed at CES [28.2s] in twenty twenty three, and wanted to make low volume, high end evs, while this morning Honda announced its closing down that joint venture."
CES is a big tech show where companies reveal new gadgets and technologies. Car companies use it to announce new EV and tech ideas.
CES (Consumer Electronics Show) is a major annual tech trade show where automakers often unveil new mobility and vehicle technologies. The segment notes Afeela was revealed at CES 2023, highlighting how EV and software/tech announcements are frequently tied to consumer-electronics platforms.
GM
"Looks like GM [73.4s] has found a new purpose for some of the autonomous Chevy bolts from its old Avy unit cruise for several days in a row."
GM (General Motors) is the automaker behind the Cruise/AV testing discussion and the repurposing of sensor-equipped vehicles. The segment attributes fleet scale and testing plans to GM’s development efforts.
Chevy Bolt
"Looks like GM [73.4s] has found a new purpose for some of the autonomous Chevy bolts from its old Avy unit cruise for several days in a row."
The Chevy Bolt is an electric car. Here, it’s being used as the base car for self-driving test equipment.
The Chevrolet Bolt is an EV platform that Cruise and GM have used as a base vehicle for autonomous-driving sensor and compute hardware. In this segment, it’s important because the “Cruise Bolt” is being repurposed for new AV testing.
autonomous vehicle (AV) testing
"So, with the [94.3s] company announcing it started testing its next gen Supercrew system on the road, I reached out to GM to see if the bolt that I saw is part of its new tests, and a company spokesperson confirmed it's likely part of its development fleet."
AV testing is how self-driving software gets tested on real roads. Companies drive sensor-equipped cars around to collect data and improve the system.
AV testing is the process of validating self-driving systems in real-world traffic using sensor-equipped vehicles. The segment highlights that GM is running development vehicles in live traffic environments as part of its next-gen system work.
Cadillac Escalate
"...s. So while the company show to modified electric Cadillac Escalate in its press release, it looks like some of those..."
The Cadillac Escalade is a big luxury SUV with room for multiple passengers, usually including three rows of seats. The podcast is talking about an electric version that was mentioned in a company press release. That means it’s an Escalade that’s designed to run on electricity instead of a traditional gasoline engine.
The Cadillac Escalade is a large, full-size luxury SUV known for its spacious three-row seating and upscale features. In the podcast context, it’s being discussed alongside a modified electric Escalade mentioned in a press release, which highlights Cadillac’s move toward electrifying this flagship SUV. That makes it a notable topic because the Escalade is a high-profile model where powertrain changes are especially visible.
Stellantis
"STILLANTIS [129.6s] really wants its employees to own company made vehicles, and one perk it gives to workers at its North American headquarters to encourage them to do so is preferential parking, and that's a big bonus because, according to a former Chrysler executive, it can take as long as twenty to thirty minutes to walk from the lot to the building depending on where you park."
Stellantis is a big car company that owns lots of brands. Here, they’re talking about a policy at their headquarters to push employees to drive company cars.
Stellantis is the major automaker formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and PSA Group. The segment discusses Stellantis workplace enforcement policies to encourage employees to use company vehicles.
preferential parking
"STILLANTIS [129.6s] really wants its employees to own company made vehicles, and one perk it gives to workers at its North American headquarters to encourage them to do so is preferential parking, and that's a big bonus because, according to a former Chrysler executive, it can take as long as twenty to thirty minutes to walk from the lot to the building depending on where you park."
Preferential parking means employees get better parking spots than everyone else. The story uses it to explain how companies try to get workers to use company cars.
Preferential parking is a workplace policy that gives employees reserved or easier parking spots. The segment uses it as an example of how companies encourage employees to drive company vehicles, which can indirectly affect fleet usage and data collection for internal programs.
Ford
"But Stillantis isn't [173.0s] alone in this type of enforcement. The policy is also [176.5s] common at FORD and GM plants around the country."
Ford is another car company mentioned as doing something similar. The episode is comparing how different automakers enforce parking rules for employees.
Ford is referenced as another automaker with similar enforcement policies at its plants. The point is comparative: multiple major manufacturers use workplace rules to influence employee vehicle behavior.
gigapascals (GPa)
"It's rated at two point [242.8s] four gigapascals, which measures the hardness or strength of steel, and according to Shaogong, that's better than the two point zero gigapascals that most high strength steel is rated at."
GPa is a unit that tells you how strong a material is. Higher GPa generally means the steel can resist deformation better.
Gigapascals (GPa) are units used to express material strength or hardness. The segment compares Shaogong’s ultra high strength steel rated at about 2.4 GPa versus typical high strength steel around 2.0 GPa to illustrate the performance gap.
hot stamp steel
"One of China's strengths that we haven't covered much is in material sciences, and a Chinese steel company called Shaogong developed a new generation of hot stamp steel that it calls Ultra high strength steel."
Hot stamp steel is a way to make steel parts stronger by heating them, shaping them, and then cooling them quickly. Stronger steel can help cars be lighter without losing safety.
Hot stamp steel is a manufacturing process where steel is heated and then formed under pressure, followed by rapid quenching to create very strong, hardened steel parts. The segment highlights a new “Ultra high strength steel” variant aimed at improving strength while enabling lighter vehicle structures.
Shaogong
"and a Chinese steel company called Shaogong developed a new generation of hot stamp steel that it calls Ultra high strength steel."
Shaogong is a steel company in China. They claim to have developed a stronger type of steel used for car parts.
Shaogong is the Chinese steel company credited with developing a new generation of hot stamp ultra high strength steel. In this segment, it’s important because the episode uses the company’s stated performance rating to compare steel strength levels.
structures and components that are five to ten percent lighter
"The new steel offers fifteen percent higher strength and ten percent better impact absorption, and results in structures and components that are five to ten percent lighter."
They’re saying the same parts can be made lighter because the material is stronger. Lighter cars can use less energy and often drive better, but it has to stay safe.
This describes a common materials strategy in vehicle design: using stronger materials to achieve the same strength with less mass. Weight reduction can improve efficiency, range (for EVs), and sometimes handling, but it must be balanced against manufacturing cost and crash requirements.
ultra high strength steel
"when the War and I ran has sent aluminum prices up sharply, ultra high strength steel could be a good alternative for automakers who want to cut the cost and weight of their cars."
It’s a special kind of steel that’s stronger than regular steel. Using it can make the car lighter without making it less safe in crashes.
Ultra high strength steel (UHSS) is a category of steel engineered to be much stronger than conventional steels. Automakers use it to reduce vehicle weight while maintaining or improving crash performance, because thinner sections can achieve the needed strength.
Mullen
"David Mitcherie, the CEO of Mullen, was accused of fraud and mismanagement. The company ran out of money and in to multiple lawsuits for not paying suppliers or employees."
Mullen is the EV company in this story that ran into serious financial and legal problems. The key point is that it couldn’t keep operating normally and ended up in court-driven control.
Mullen is an EV company referenced here in the context of financial trouble and legal disputes. The segment discusses accusations of fraud/mismanagement, supplier and employee payment issues, and a judge forcing the company into receivership.
front bucket seats
"The fabric covers on the front bucket seats are made using a three D knitting process..."
Bucket seats are the more “hugging” style seats with side bolsters. Here, they’re using the new knitting method on the covers for those seats.
Bucket seats are contoured seats that hold the driver/passenger more firmly than flat bench-style seats. In this segment, the bucket seat covers are where the 3D knitting manufacturing innovation is applied.
no waste
"...into a single piece, so there's no waste."
They’re claiming the new seat fabric method wastes less material. Because it’s made in one integrated piece, there’s less leftover scrap.
“No waste” here refers to the manufacturing efficiency of producing an integrated knitted seat-cover structure in one piece. Fewer separate components and less cutting/sewing waste can reduce material usage and potentially lower cost and complexity.
Tesca
"but Cooper partnered with one supplier, a company called Tesca, to come up with the process that worked for it."
Tesca is the company that helped develop the new seat-cover manufacturing method. The idea is that one supplier worked with Cupra to make the whole process work.
Tesca is named as the supplier Cupra partnered with to develop the 3D knitting process for the seat covers. The segment contrasts this with traditional seat-cover supply chains involving many pieces and multiple vendors.
Delphi
"John says he remembers Delphi also had something like this twenty or more years ago, with the idea of customizing seats at the dealership..."
Delphi is an automotive supplier referenced here as having explored seat customization concepts decades earlier. In this context, Delphi represents the long-standing supplier ecosystem that develops interior manufacturing and configuration technologies.
dealership customizing seats
"John says he remembers Delphi also had something like this twenty or more years ago, with the idea of customizing seats at the dealership, so it's not a new idea, but it took a long time to get into production."
They’re saying people have wanted to customize car seats for a long time. The point is that it’s hard to turn that idea into a production-ready system.
The segment references an older idea of customizing seats at the dealership, implying a modular or configurable approach to interior options. It highlights that while the concept existed decades ago, it took a long time to reach real production implementation.
Renault
"Renault is launching what it calls the first AI Personalized in car Radio service."
Renault is the car company rolling out this new AI radio feature. It’s part of what their cars will offer through their connected system.
Renault is the automaker launching the AI Personalized in-car radio service described in the segment. The mention matters because it ties the AI feature to a specific manufacturer’s in-vehicle software and connected services.
AI Personalized in car Radio service
"Renault is launching what it calls the first AI Personalized in car Radio service. It's an app that allows drivers to create their own radio content..."
It’s an app that uses AI to make a personalized radio experience. You pick what you want to listen to, and it keeps generating new audio for you.
This is an in-car radio service that uses AI to generate and update a personalized audio “session” based on the driver’s chosen length and topics. The key idea is dynamic, user-driven content rather than a static playlist.
Intrepid
"and validation of vehicle platforms. Intrepid's Neovi cloud platform helps manufacturers quickly identify diagnostic trouble codes and defects by pinpointing which vehicles have specific software versions."
Intrepid is a company that makes software tools for car testing. Their tools help automakers figure out which cars have problems and why, using diagnostic codes.
Intrepid Control Systems provides software and cloud tooling used in automotive validation and fleet testing. In this segment, it’s described as helping manufacturers map software versions to diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) so they can quickly find defects.
Neovi cloud platform
"Intrepid's Neovi cloud platform helps manufacturers quickly identify diagnostic trouble codes and defects by pinpointing which vehicles have specific software versions."
Neovi is a cloud service used during car testing. It helps teams match “what software a car has” with “what error codes it shows,” so they can spot problem cars faster.
Neovi is Intrepid’s cloud platform for automotive validation. It’s used to connect vehicle software versions with diagnostic trouble codes so teams can isolate which vehicles are non-compliant during testing.
vehicle platforms
"and validation of vehicle platforms. Intrepid's Neovi cloud platform helps manufacturers quickly identify diagnostic trouble codes and defects by pinpointing which vehicles have specific software versions."
A vehicle platform is the “base design” a car company reuses for different cars. Testing it helps make sure the cars are built correctly and the systems work before production.
A vehicle platform is the shared engineering foundation—like the underlying architecture, electronics, and production approach—used across multiple models. Validation of vehicle platforms ensures the software and hardware work correctly across that platform before cars are cleared for production.
diagnostic trouble codes
"Intrepid's Neovi cloud platform helps manufacturers quickly identify diagnostic trouble codes and defects by pinpointing which vehicles have specific software versions."
Diagnostic trouble codes are like the car’s “error messages.” When something goes wrong, the car logs a code so engineers can find the problem during testing or repairs.
Diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) are standardized identifiers stored by a vehicle’s onboard diagnostics system when it detects a fault. They’re a key input for troubleshooting and for validating that vehicles meet software and emissions/functional requirements.
secure cloud based data
"This allows them to isolate non compliant vehicles in real time using analytics, part numbers, DTCs, and organized secure cloud based data."
Secure cloud data means the test information is stored online, but protected. This helps teams share results without exposing private or sensitive vehicle information.
Secure cloud based data refers to storing and processing vehicle test and diagnostic information in a protected cloud environment. For automakers, this supports collaboration across teams while controlling access to sensitive engineering and validation data.
vehicle compliance
"This allows them to isolate non compliant vehicles in real time using analytics, part numbers, DTCs, and organized secure cloud based data. All of these steps ensure vehicles are cleared for production and ready for the road."
Vehicle compliance means the car has to meet rules and requirements before it can be built and sold. Testing helps catch cars that don’t meet those requirements.
Vehicle compliance refers to meeting regulatory and internal requirements (often tied to emissions, safety, and functional standards) before production. The segment describes using analytics to isolate non-compliant vehicles so compliant ones can be cleared for manufacturing.
part numbers
"This allows them to isolate non compliant vehicles in real time using analytics, part numbers, DTCs, and organized secure cloud based data."
Part numbers are like labels for specific parts. When testers match part numbers to error codes, they can figure out which exact component version might be causing the issue.
Part numbers are identifiers used to track exactly which components are installed on a vehicle. In validation analytics, correlating part numbers with DTCs and software versions helps teams pinpoint whether a defect is tied to a specific hardware supplier or revision.
CSP
"Control Systems driven by your data at CSP We work with OEM engineers across the country on their journeys to lighter, safer, and more eco friendly vehicles."
CSP is mentioned as a company involved in automotive engineering work. They’re described as helping automakers use data to improve safety and reduce environmental impact.
CSP is referenced as the organization behind “VCSP dot com” and as a partner working with OEM engineers. In context, it’s positioned as enabling data-driven work toward lighter, safer, and more eco-friendly vehicles.
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