Episode 10: We Live On The Wrong Side Of The Lithium Curtain [With Guest Kevin Williams]
Hello everyone, and welcome to breaking big two-digit barrier! On this episode, I catch up with my old coworker and fellow (current!) automotive journalist Kevin Williams of InsideEVs! On this episode we reminisce about having a healthy industry... and then break into a discussion about how goddamn cooked America is in the Global Cold War Of EVs. China's kicking our ass, y'all. We then discuss the new average monthly payment, per Edmunds, of $773 for a new car. Which is fucking insane, right????
Sorry about the funky audio on this one, we made a mistake with our recording setup on this guest episode and had to use a backup track to have an episode, so Jordan and I sound like we're calling in from a WWII field telephone. For the proper listening experience on this episode, I recommend blasting this on a '93 CRX HX two-speaker sound system as you sit in traffic on the 610. Because of the audio issues, I will be reading out name-reading tier subscribers next episode, I apologize for the delay!!
Check out Kevin's TikTok for videos from his upcoming China trip, too! You can also follow him on Bluesky!
Also: If you want to get a Tran Girlismo shirt or a bumper sticker, you can here - preorders are open through April 20th!
Referenced Stories:
Pride Month Features @TheDrive
Kevin's i-Miev @TheDrive
Kevin's Coverage Of The Slate Truck @InsideEVs
Bradley Brownell's Nissan Leaf @Jalopnik
Kevin's Review of the BMW i7 @Road&Track
I Went To China And Drove A Dozen Electric Cars. Western Automakers Are Cooked @InsideEVs
Jim Farley: China Can "Put Us All Out Of Business" @Motor1.com
Stellantis Talking With Leapmotor To Build Chinese EVs In Canada @CarAndDriver
Skechers Shape-ups
Kevin's Coverage Of Chinese EVs In Canada @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the Xiaomi YU7 @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the Volvo EX30 @InsideEVs
Kevin's Reappraisal of the Vinfast VF8 (hint it's still bad) @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the Nio Firefly (battery-swapping car, video) @InsideEVs
Kevin's Review of the VW ID.Buzz @InsideEVs
THE ID.BUZZ HAS NO REAR CUPHOLDERS @InsideEVs
Republicans Forward Legislation In Congress To Ban Chinese Cars Forever @Reuters
Bernie Moreno's Blockchain Car Title Company @Cleveland.com
$773 Monthly Payments @Edmunds
Comments (13)
💡 moment hearing Kevin was That Dude who wrote the “Western Automakers Are Cooked” piece. I distinctly remember reading it and thinking, “Finally, someone willing to say it!” I used to (~2012) do research focused on car ownership in China, and the industrial policy (joint ventures & such) leading up to the current EV wave is long, complex, and pretty interesting. They didn't just fall out of a coconut tree, and even though the engineers are pretty young they're picking up a baton that's been handed off many times. One thing y'all didn't touch on so much is that CN OEMs are not soley focused on US, Europe, etc. market share. They're also betting that ownership will spike in S/SE Asia, Africa, Latin America, etc. People in those countries will be much more interested in the range of models coming out of China.
“20 miles is farther than people think” Shout out to my plug in Crosstrek that officially has a 19 mile full electric range (although I find I usually get 20-24 miles on a full charge)
Me crying again for GM to come back and make an electric El Camino (the eCamino) and heal our broken Chevy hearts
totally outta context but one time I took part in a bike messenger race on Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve F1 track where I had to chug 4 beers while doing 4 laps and they called it Grand Beerismo
Over the past 12 years in Reykjavík, I've watched the taxis in particular, taxi drivers in 2014 loved the Chrysler 300, then they switched to Model 3s, but lately I've noticed more and more XPENG taxis. For context, there's no "fleet" anything here. Taxi drivers own their cars, every taxi sign is just held on with a huge magnet. They buy affordable luxury, and I think XPENG is that now. Edit: Also, I think this is the nicest sounding backup audio podcast episode I've ever listened to.
Thank you Stella!
HOLY FUCKING SHIT, the 7% rate on a 7 year loan!!???? that's a school loan type debt-trap...
Coasting on the prestige of Buick is funny considering that modern Buicks are just rebadged Opals!
I for one am right here for, um Trans Gear? Queer Gear? Bottom Gear? Whatever. YES!!!
Top Queer?
Seeing a picture of the Shapeups tells me I'm in for a wild ride.
WHATARETHOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!!! seriously what the fuck are those shoes
Yaaay my show is on!!! 🩷🥰🩷