🚗🇺🇸📈 Electric Cars and American Brands

What is Volkswagen's new strategy for appealing to American consumers?

Volkswagen's new strategy for appealing to American consumers is to pretend it is American by reviving the once-beloved brand, Scout, as an off-road electric vehicle. The chief of Scout, Scott Keogh, is banking on pure Americana for VW to finally break through in the key market.

What is the collaboration between Ford and Tesla on electric vehicle charging stations?

Ford and Tesla have announced a deal allowing Ford's electric-vehicle owners to access Tesla's charging stations in North America. This could increase BEV penetration in North America and increase Tesla sales. Ford CEO Jim Farley said that Tesla's Superchargers could become the standard for EV charging in the United States, but added that with adapters and software, they don't have to make a choice right now what the standard is. Ford has about 10,000 fast chargers, and the agreement with Tesla will double that. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg praised the Ford-Tesla deal, but the Biden administration would not dictate an EV charging standard.

Why is there a need for more female electricians in the industry?

The United States will need one million more electricians to make updates like installing solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging stations to help the country meet its goal to reach 100% "carbon pollution-free electricity" by 2035. However, the trades in general, and electrical work specifically, are overwhelmingly male, with only 2% of electricians in the US being women, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This lack of diversity is a problem for a sector facing a massive labor shortage as the country looks to transition away from fossil fuels and toward electrifying cars and buildings. Increasing the number of female electricians could help address this labor shortage while also promoting diversity and equality in the industry.

How are Ford and Tesla's shares affected by the collaboration?

Ford and Tesla's shares jumped over 7% after Ford announced a deal allowing its electric-vehicle owners to access Tesla's charging stations in North America. Ford CEO Jim Farley said that Tesla's Superchargers could become the standard for EV charging in the United States, but added that they don't have to make a choice right now what the standard is.

What is the current state of electric cars in the US market?

• The US is facing a massive labor shortage of electricians as the country looks to transition away from fossil fuels and toward electrifying cars and buildings.
• According to Rewiring America, an electrification non-profit, the United States will need one million more electricians to make updates like installing solar panels, heat pumps and electric vehicle charging stations to help the country meet its goal to reach 100% "carbon pollution-free electricity" by 2035.
• Volkswagen is trying to break through in the US market by pretending to be American, with a new off-road electric vehicle.
• Ford and Tesla have made a deal to expand access to charging stations, which is considered one of the main hurdles to broader acceptance of electric vehicles.
• The Biden administration will not dictate an EV charging standard, but GM and other automakers will have to choose between Tesla's EV chargers and the Combined Charging System (CCS), which is a competing charging-plug standard for DC fast-charging.

What is the history of Jeeps in the US?

• Willys built World War II Jeeps, and after the war was over, the brand offered the Jeepster as a customer car.