Layoffs 2024-2025 ?? 3

[ilikecoffee]

Hi All, I am approaching my 6 th year in engineering in the automotive industry. I see a layoffs in the news and in the office. I am interested in hearing from members who have been around for a few business cycles. What can we expect ? What is typical ? Is there a way to keep my head down and avoid the slip?

 

[GregLocock]

Several companies have walked back on their heavily publicised intention to be all electric by 203x, including, in world shattering news Lotus. That'll up-end the market. Maybe Toyota were right all long. What a surprise.

 

[dik]

but because so few people want them

You might be out of step... in many countries around the world EVs are making great inroads. Norway has 93% of its vehicles as EVs. It's just the US and the countries it 'controls' that are not keeping up.

 

[LittleInch]

Not because of politics, but because so few people want them. Numerous policies have been in place for 5-10 years to encourage people to switch, and people just don't want to.

Kalifornia has (had?) a bill on the books to require X% car sales each year to be electric (maybe it was hybrid, but you get the point), with that % going up each year with all cars to be electric by 2035 if I recall correctly. Toyota recently came out and said that this law has to be removed, as no one is buying their hybrids, so to meet the required percentage it destroys their ICE sales as well.

Policy is slowly relaxing to match the rejection by the American consumer.

I am curious as to why apparently "so few people want them"?

Price?
Charging?
Range?

 

[dik]

Those have all improved. China has some models that are less than $10K US. There is less maintenance. Range is improving to 400 or 500 km and much more; Charging time is improving to just several minutes. They are fast... some BEVs can do 0 to 60mph in 2 seconds. They will supplant ICE engines everywhere, except the US, very quickly... just based on price. Norway is 93% BEVs. They are likely the vehicle of the future.