Mark Simmons
@marksimmonssays.bsky.social
Auto industry. Cars, mobility, etc.
I don’t watch a lot of baseball, but this game kept my attention. Congratulations Seattle. #RepDetroit
October 11, 2025 at 5:14 AM
I don’t watch a lot of baseball, but this game kept my attention. Congratulations Seattle. #RepDetroit
Reposted by Mark Simmons
NEW: Inside the factory building Waymo’s robotaxi future
An exclusive look inside the facility turning Jaguar EVs into robotaxis with Waymo’s custom computing system, cameras, lidar and radar. Soon, tens of thousands of robotaxis will roll off the line annually. www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh...
An exclusive look inside the facility turning Jaguar EVs into robotaxis with Waymo’s custom computing system, cameras, lidar and radar. Soon, tens of thousands of robotaxis will roll off the line annually. www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh...
Inside The Waymo Factory Building A Robotaxi Future
An exclusive look inside the facility turning Jaguar EVs into robotaxis with the AI-driven fleet’s custom computing system, cameras, lidar and radar.
www.forbes.com
May 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
NEW: Inside the factory building Waymo’s robotaxi future
An exclusive look inside the facility turning Jaguar EVs into robotaxis with Waymo’s custom computing system, cameras, lidar and radar. Soon, tens of thousands of robotaxis will roll off the line annually. www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh...
An exclusive look inside the facility turning Jaguar EVs into robotaxis with Waymo’s custom computing system, cameras, lidar and radar. Soon, tens of thousands of robotaxis will roll off the line annually. www.forbes.com/sites/alanoh...
Profound impacts of Trump’s tariffs are causing significant harm, even in places he may not have anticipated.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/u...
Trump’s Tariffs Are Already Straining This Oklahoma Used Car Business
Antonio Austin is trying to hold his car business together as President Trump’s tariffs drive up costs — and drive his customers deeper into crisis.
www.nytimes.com
May 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Profound impacts of Trump’s tariffs are causing significant harm, even in places he may not have anticipated.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/u...
Tesla Q1 net income of $409M < $595M in sales of emissions credits. So they’re back to losing money on vehicle sales excluding these credits.
And as sales drop, the credits they will be earning to sell will also be reduced.
And as sales drop, the credits they will be earning to sell will also be reduced.
April 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Tesla Q1 net income of $409M < $595M in sales of emissions credits. So they’re back to losing money on vehicle sales excluding these credits.
And as sales drop, the credits they will be earning to sell will also be reduced.
And as sales drop, the credits they will be earning to sell will also be reduced.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
Also from the story: NHTSA has lost the ability to even try to regulate AV tech.
"A small government team regulating the sort of autonomous cars that Elon Musk says represent the future of Tesla, his car company, is getting cut nearly in half."
A win for Musk. A grave danger for the rest of us.
"A small government team regulating the sort of autonomous cars that Elon Musk says represent the future of Tesla, his car company, is getting cut nearly in half."
A win for Musk. A grave danger for the rest of us.
DOGE employee cuts fall heavily on agency that regulates Musk’s Tesla
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will lose between 70 and 80 people, split roughly evenly between firings of probationary employees and buyouts, according to people briefed on the st...
www.washingtonpost.com
February 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Also from the story: NHTSA has lost the ability to even try to regulate AV tech.
"A small government team regulating the sort of autonomous cars that Elon Musk says represent the future of Tesla, his car company, is getting cut nearly in half."
A win for Musk. A grave danger for the rest of us.
"A small government team regulating the sort of autonomous cars that Elon Musk says represent the future of Tesla, his car company, is getting cut nearly in half."
A win for Musk. A grave danger for the rest of us.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
DOGE has eliminated 10% of NHTSA staff.
“If the question is, will this affect the federal government’s ability to understand the safety case behind Tesla’s vehicles, then yes, it will. [The # of fed workers] who are able to understand this adequately is very small. Now it’s almost nonexistent.”
“If the question is, will this affect the federal government’s ability to understand the safety case behind Tesla’s vehicles, then yes, it will. [The # of fed workers] who are able to understand this adequately is very small. Now it’s almost nonexistent.”
DOGE employee cuts fall heavily on agency that regulates Musk’s Tesla
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will lose between 70 and 80 people, split roughly evenly between firings of probationary employees and buyouts, according to people briefed on the st...
www.washingtonpost.com
February 21, 2025 at 2:30 PM
DOGE has eliminated 10% of NHTSA staff.
“If the question is, will this affect the federal government’s ability to understand the safety case behind Tesla’s vehicles, then yes, it will. [The # of fed workers] who are able to understand this adequately is very small. Now it’s almost nonexistent.”
“If the question is, will this affect the federal government’s ability to understand the safety case behind Tesla’s vehicles, then yes, it will. [The # of fed workers] who are able to understand this adequately is very small. Now it’s almost nonexistent.”
While we await an official merger agreement of Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, I propose referring to the alliance as “H ‘n M”
December 23, 2024 at 5:28 PM
While we await an official merger agreement of Honda, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, I propose referring to the alliance as “H ‘n M”
Finally found the one current Jaguar owner who likes the new brand campaign.
November 22, 2024 at 5:06 PM
Finally found the one current Jaguar owner who likes the new brand campaign.
Interesting stuff I saw and learned today @laautoshow.bsky.social:
1/ The head of VW product marketing said that the Microbus relaunch study that led to the ID.BUZZ was done 23 years ago, in 2001. A crazy gestation period.
They also showed the just-previewed Tiguan, and recently redone Taos.
1/ The head of VW product marketing said that the Microbus relaunch study that led to the ID.BUZZ was done 23 years ago, in 2001. A crazy gestation period.
They also showed the just-previewed Tiguan, and recently redone Taos.
November 22, 2024 at 12:08 AM
Interesting stuff I saw and learned today @laautoshow.bsky.social:
1/ The head of VW product marketing said that the Microbus relaunch study that led to the ID.BUZZ was done 23 years ago, in 2001. A crazy gestation period.
They also showed the just-previewed Tiguan, and recently redone Taos.
1/ The head of VW product marketing said that the Microbus relaunch study that led to the ID.BUZZ was done 23 years ago, in 2001. A crazy gestation period.
They also showed the just-previewed Tiguan, and recently redone Taos.
Reposted by Mark Simmons
Reposted by Mark Simmons
For those who won’t be able to see the total eclipse today, here’s a totaled Eclipse
April 8, 2024 at 1:45 PM
For those who won’t be able to see the total eclipse today, here’s a totaled Eclipse
Ford demonstrates that Mach E is not a Mustang: “competitive cash” for Camaro/Charger/Challenger only applies to traditional Mustang.
www.thedrive.com/news/ford-is...
www.thedrive.com/news/ford-is...
Ford Is Paying Camaro, Charger, and Challenger Owners $1K To Buy a New Mustang
Ford is looking to benefit from the faltering muscle car market, offering a major discount to a very specific set of customers.
www.thedrive.com
April 8, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Ford demonstrates that Mach E is not a Mustang: “competitive cash” for Camaro/Charger/Challenger only applies to traditional Mustang.
www.thedrive.com/news/ford-is...
www.thedrive.com/news/ford-is...
VinFast VF8. Does “VF” stand for Vietnamese Fisker?
April 3, 2024 at 3:50 AM
VinFast VF8. Does “VF” stand for Vietnamese Fisker?
Post a random weird car pic that’s already on your phone.
February 20, 2024 at 2:07 PM
Post a random weird car pic that’s already on your phone.
Recite 80% of a movie and you get 500K. What movie are you picking?
“No.” (That’s 100%)
“No.” (That’s 100%)
February 13, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Recite 80% of a movie and you get 500K. What movie are you picking?
“No.” (That’s 100%)
“No.” (That’s 100%)
Reposted by Mark Simmons
If the 49ers win there is going to be so much drinking and self-driving tonight.
February 12, 2024 at 12:45 AM
If the 49ers win there is going to be so much drinking and self-driving tonight.
What year is RFK Jr. running in?
February 12, 2024 at 1:10 AM
What year is RFK Jr. running in?
Given Musk’s track record for hitting deadlines, we’re talking 2028 at the earliest.
February 9, 2024 at 5:34 PM
Given Musk’s track record for hitting deadlines, we’re talking 2028 at the earliest.
Penultium?
So GM will sell plug-in hybrid #EV models in North America.
No details; it will time the launches "to help us comply with the more stringent [proposed] fuel economy + tailpipe-emissions standards." Gee, could you say "compliance car" any more clearly? (article may be paywalled, sorry)
No details; it will time the launches "to help us comply with the more stringent [proposed] fuel economy + tailpipe-emissions standards." Gee, could you say "compliance car" any more clearly? (article may be paywalled, sorry)
GM PHEVs to return to North America
CEO Mary Barra did not disclose which vehicle segments will receive the plug-in technology or when.
www.autonews.com
January 30, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Penultium?
How a poorly executed state program is harming adoption of plug-in vehicles.
www.latimes.com/environment/...
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Broken chargers, lax oversight: How California's troubled EV charging stations threaten emission goa...
Why are so many California EV charging stations broken? Lax state oversight of state subsidies is one big reason.
www.latimes.com
January 24, 2024 at 9:25 PM
How a poorly executed state program is harming adoption of plug-in vehicles.
www.latimes.com/environment/...
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Saddened to hear the news that race car driver Gil de Ferran died today. He won the Indy 500 in a Toyota-engined car, and I had the pleasure of working with him at a meeting for Toyota dealers. Ran into him a few months later at a racetrack, and he couldn’t have been more gracious. #RIP
December 30, 2023 at 3:49 AM
Saddened to hear the news that race car driver Gil de Ferran died today. He won the Indy 500 in a Toyota-engined car, and I had the pleasure of working with him at a meeting for Toyota dealers. Ran into him a few months later at a racetrack, and he couldn’t have been more gracious. #RIP
Reposted by Mark Simmons
Mitch Hedburg:
"I drive rental cars. Sometimes I'll drive for ten miles with the emergency brake on. That doesn't say a lot for me, but it doesn't say a lot for the *emergency brake.*
It's not really an emergency brake, it's an emergency make-the-car-smell-funny lever."
"I drive rental cars. Sometimes I'll drive for ten miles with the emergency brake on. That doesn't say a lot for me, but it doesn't say a lot for the *emergency brake.*
It's not really an emergency brake, it's an emergency make-the-car-smell-funny lever."
November 19, 2023 at 9:08 PM
Mitch Hedburg:
"I drive rental cars. Sometimes I'll drive for ten miles with the emergency brake on. That doesn't say a lot for me, but it doesn't say a lot for the *emergency brake.*
It's not really an emergency brake, it's an emergency make-the-car-smell-funny lever."
"I drive rental cars. Sometimes I'll drive for ten miles with the emergency brake on. That doesn't say a lot for me, but it doesn't say a lot for the *emergency brake.*
It's not really an emergency brake, it's an emergency make-the-car-smell-funny lever."
What are the odds?
On the day that Cruise had its California self-driving permit suspended, I came across one of their cars in Santa Monica. First time ever spotting one of these in the LA area.
On the day that Cruise had its California self-driving permit suspended, I came across one of their cars in Santa Monica. First time ever spotting one of these in the LA area.
October 25, 2023 at 1:41 AM
What are the odds?
On the day that Cruise had its California self-driving permit suspended, I came across one of their cars in Santa Monica. First time ever spotting one of these in the LA area.
On the day that Cruise had its California self-driving permit suspended, I came across one of their cars in Santa Monica. First time ever spotting one of these in the LA area.