Aug. 16, 2025 | Weekend Drive: Ford’s latest ‘Model T moment;’ SDVs gain momentum
About this episode
The discussion centers on Ford's ambitious plan to launch a $30,000 mid-sized electric pickup by 2027 using a revolutionary assembly method that could cut production time by 40%. The hosts debate the challenges of EV adoption, focusing on price and charging infrastructure concerns, and suggest marketing EVs as second cars. They also explore the evolving landscape of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), highlighting automakers' shift towards open-source collaboration after costly in-house software efforts. The episode contrasts the U.S. and China’s approaches to vehicle software innovation, emphasizing China's faster pace and tech-savvy consumers.
Automotive News staff reporters Larry P. Vellequette and Molly Boigon join the show to talk about whether Ford can reinvent vehicle assembly in its bid to compete with China. They also discuss the trajectory of software-defined vehicles and growing collaboration around the technology.
Tesla Roadster
"..., been around, watched this rise. The first Tesla Roadster that they showed at the Detroit Auto Show, and it..."
Jeep Cherokee
"...er this 2015 White Hat hacking incident of a Jeep Cherokee was actually a connected vehicle that was not sof..."
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