Simanaitis Says
On cars, old, new and future; science & technology; vintage airplanes, computer flight simulation of them; Sherlockiana; our English language; travel; and other stuff
THE AUTO INDUSTRY (AND TRUMP AND MUSK)
MY AUTOMOTIVE NEWS PILE HAS BUILT UP AGAIN with tidbits a’plenty. Generally, like any large segment of the economy, the auto industry (comprising 7 percent of U.S. workers and 3-5 percent of our GDP) doesn’t like surprises. And, to many including the UAW, a surprise arrived on November 5. Here are tidbits gleaned from recent Automotive News related to this.
Trump Tampering. Lindsay VanHulle recounts, “Trump’s 25-Percent Tariff Threat on Canada, Mexico Imports Could Add Thousands to Vehicle Prices,” in Automotive News, November 27, 2024. VanHulle describes, “The Detroit 3 face the greatest potential burden from tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada because of their manufacturing footprint in those countries, though virtually the entire industry would be affected. Nameplates that assembly plants in Mexico send to U.S. dealerships include General Motors’ top seller, the Chevrolet Silverado, and Ford Motor Co’s cheapest vehicle, the Maverick, as well as the Toyota Tacoma, BMW 3 Series, Jeep Compass, Volkswagen Jetta and Nissan Sentra.”
I’m reminded of my paying ad valorem duty upon bringing my “Canadian” Ford Pinto onto St. Thomas back in the 1970s.
“It’s too soon to know which of the famously unpredictable promises from President-elect Donald Trump will stick, but automakers and suppliers are preparing for any trade scenario.” Caption from Automotive News, November 17, 2024. Image from Reuters/Reuters via Automotive News.
Or Is He Just Weaving Again? Economists say that tariffs in general tend to increase domestic pricing overall. Only time will tell whether A: Trump was just weaving. Or B: Economy-focused Trump voters get what they want. Or C: They get what they deserve.
Musk News. I’m not sure who elected the world’s richest man to political prominence, but he seems to be having a Trump bromance—so far.
But there’s no romance with Hollywood, Menlo Park, Ukiah, or Fort Bragg, California.
Hollywood Vs. Musk. With this first one, Automotive News/Bloomberg reports, “Musk Sued Over ‘Blade Runner’ Imagery During Robotaxi Unveiling.”
Image credited to Tesla appearing in Automotive News.
“Hollywood filmmaker Alcon Entertainment,” Bloomberg reports, “is suing Elon Musk, saying Tesla Inc. used imagery inspired by the 2017 movie ‘Blade Runner 2049’ at a recent event even after permission was denied.”
My italics; not Bloomberg’s.
Bloomberg continued, “During the presentation this month, Musk talked about how he ‘loves’ the ‘Blade Runner’ movie, but added he’s not sure it’s a world he would want to live in.”
Indeed, I’m not sure his world vision is all that acceptable to me.
Cops vs. Teslas. On related Musk-bashing (likely to become a national sport, I predict), Nick Bunkley writes “Teslas Don’t Work as Green Squad Cars, California Police Say,” Automotive News, October 21, 2024.
Image from the Menlo Park Police Department via Automotive News.
Buckley recounts that Menlo Park Tesla Model Ys are cited as “ ‘nearly unsuitable’ squad cars because the seats can’t accommodate their [officers’] duty belts and bulletproof vests, according to a recent report to the city council.”
Two Model 3s cost Ukiah nearly $150,000, but are suitable for administrative purposes only because their back seats “only have room for one prisoner,” meaning officers would have to call for backup when responding to incidents involving more than one suspect.
Not to police-bash, but these shortcomings bring to mind Musk’s avowed view of government inefficiency.
Buckley notes, “In nearby Fort Bragg, Police Chief Neil Cervenka wanted to go electric but decided that Teslas wouldn’t fit his department’s needs. Instead, he ordered five Ford F-150 Lightnings, which he said are easier to have repaired, can traverse a wider range of terrain and offer more equipment storage options.”
Maybe Cervenka’s discernment would be useful at DOGE? ds
© Dennis SimanaitisSays.com, 2024
Simanaitis Says 
I find it interesting that in a blink of an eye (20 years or so, measured in geological or paleontological terms) that Trump and Musk have gone from sought after darlings of the liberal elite to dreaded pariahs, although their businesses, positions or personalities haven’t changed. Activities from those previous periods are being reshaped and reinterpreted.
Agreed, the two haven’t changed markedly. However, plenty of us “Liberal Elites” recognized Trump as a bullying Queens gangster from the beginning (see Trump Tower origin). And recall Musk’s ‘pedophile’ matter hardly won him plaudits back then.
Businessman and philanthropist W. Clement Stone often quoted “You are a product of your environment” which is true off these guys, and thankfully, you and I benefited from and took good advantage of our surroundings.
Perhaps when we select our leaders, especially politicians, we should examine their backgrounds more closely vs. their scripted, ghost written words and PR polished images.
How true, Bob.