Car and Driver’s John Voelcker On Tesla’s New Roadster, Ford’s EV Factory Gamble and GM’s Battery Bet

John Voelcker, Contributing Editor at Car and Driver, is back on the show today to talk about where the U.S. EV market is headed (and what automakers need to do to compete). We start off with the recent Tesla headlines and John explains why he sees the Roadster as a “sideshow” spectacle rather than a vehicle likely to drive meaningful sales growth. We also discuss Tesla’s aging high-volume lineup, the challenges of delivering an affordable $25,000 EV, and whether the company is still focused on retailing cars at scale.

Then we compare the next generation of EV strategies from GM and Ford. John gives a masterclass as he explains GM’s battery research, including its lithium manganese-rich chemistry, and Ford’s plans for lower-cost LFP batteries and a reimagined assembly process for its upcoming Fathom electric pickup. We also talked about the investment and risk behind each approach, the vehicles that may follow, and the expected timelines.

Finally, we look at the broader EV sales cycle, why down years don’t necessarily mean the market is finished growing, and whether Ford and GM can become global competitors again. PS – don’t miss our fun holiday segment at the end!