HONDA'S EV PLANS, TAX CREDIT PUSH-BACK, GMC'S STOLEN/PHOTOSHOPPED RIVIAN PHOTO

EV Channels Review

This episode of the EV Resource Podcast delves into several key developments in the electric vehicle market. A significant portion is dedicated to Honda's future EV strategy, where the company expresses a commitment to making "edgy" and fun-to-drive EVs, but explicitly states they will not pursue artificial manual transmissions, a stance the reviewer agrees with. The podcast also covers the upcoming Fiat Abarth 500 EV, noting its sportier design and performance improvements, though its 0-60 time of 7 seconds is considered modest compared to some competitors. A major point of discussion revolves around the US EV tax credit, with concerns raised by Japan and South Korea regarding its stringent sourcing and assembly requirements, potentially excluding their automakers. The reviewer expresses support for the North American manufacturing focus of the IRA. Subaru's decision to delay US EV production due to high labor costs, particularly citing wages at McDonald's as a benchmark, is critically examined, with the reviewer suggesting the company may be acquired. Finally, the episode highlights GM's controversial use of a photoshopped Rivian R1T image for its Sierra EV Denali rendering, leading to a deletion and a PR explanation from GM, which the reviewer advises taking with a grain of salt. The launch of Saudi Arabia's own EV brand, 'Ceer,' in partnership with Foxconn, is also noted as a sign of the accelerating EV transition.