Topic: Motoring

New hybrid flying car models are emerging that use electric motors for takeoff and jet engines for sustained flight, offering a range of 100 miles. However, a recent attempt to fly a "pod" across the English Channel ended in a crash after the engines failed. The hosts remain skeptical of the current "pre-order" investment schemes in the flying car industry.

GM CEO Mary Barra reaffirmed the company's commitment to an all-electric future despite a slowdown in EV sales. The hosts discuss the high cost of EVs compared to hybrids like the new Toyota Prius, which starts at $27,950. They also share an anecdote about the Ford Lightning's undercarriage sensors shutting the truck down when driving through tall grass.

Residents of the Jack London Square Marina in Oakland, California, report an increase in "piracy," where thieves use small boats to steal outboard motors and equipment from vessels at night. The discussion highlights the high value of outboard motors, which can cost up to $15,000, and the lack of police resources to combat waterborne crime. The hosts critique the "soft" policies of the Alameda County District Attorney regarding rising burglaries.

Elon Musk characterizes the advertiser boycott of Twitter as an "attack on the First Amendment," orchestrated by activist groups. He notes that Twitter is particularly vulnerable because its revenue relies on large brand advertising rather than direct response ads. A historical parallel is drawn to William Randolph Hearst, who reportedly vowed to destroy companies that pulled advertising from his newspapers.

General Motors CFO Paul Jacobson announced a plan to generate $25 billion in annual revenue by 2030 through digital subscriptions and services for electric vehicles. This shift moves the profit center from the initial sale to ongoing software updates and "over-the-air" features. Concerns are raised about the environmental and human cost of mining minerals like cobalt in Africa for EV batteries.

An NPR segment claiming that an African-American man designed the Corvette is scrutinized for accuracy. While Ed Welburn was the high-ranking head of global design at General Motors and oversaw the Corvette's development, he did not design the original model, leading to a discussion on the "false narratives" often pushed by public radio.

President Biden visited a General Motors plant to promote the $7.5 billion allocated for electric vehicle charging stations in the new infrastructure law. Critics argue that focusing on EV infrastructure is a poor priority while many Americans are currently struggling with high conventional fuel prices.

A long-time producer and Ford employee shares his disappointment after the company removed the testing option for its vaccine mandate. Employees who had previously disclosed their vaccination status under the impression that testing would be an alternative now face termination. The hosts describe this as a betrayal of loyal workers by corporate HR departments.

Chevrolet expands its voluntary recall to include all Bolt electric vehicle models from 2019 through 2022 due to a fire risk from defective battery modules. The recall highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding large-scale lithium-ion battery implementation in the automotive industry.

California transit agencies are considering scrapping electric bus fleets due to high maintenance costs and fire risks. Simultaneously, General Motors issued a recall for Chevy Bolt models from 2017-2019, advising owners to limit charging to 90% and park vehicles outside to prevent spontaneous battery fires. These incidents highlight the ongoing safety and infrastructure challenges facing the electric vehicle industry.

NASCAR announced the use of COVID-detecting dogs at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, claiming the animals are as effective as PCR tests. The 360 K9 group and Bio Detection K9 are providing the specialized animals, which have previously been used by the USDA to detect plant viruses. Concerns are raised regarding the potential for dog trainers to use secret signals to trigger false alerts, similar to drug-detecting dog protocols.

A large analysis of US COVID-19 patients found that the majority did not survive after being placed on mechanical ventilators. Separately, a paper co-authored by Dr. Anthony Fauci regarding the 1918 pandemic suggests that most deaths were actually caused by bacterial pneumonia linked to mask-wearing. Additionally, a respiratory technician noted that the ventilators produced by General Motors lacked the fine-tuning controls necessary for delicate patient care.

General Motors faced criticism under the Defense Production Act for allegedly delaying ventilator production to negotiate higher prices through its subsidiary, Denso. In San Francisco, the Moscone Center is being outfitted with heavy-duty mattresses from Bob Barker, a leading supplier for the incarceration industry. The use of prison-grade bedding for homeless housing initiatives raises questions about the cost and nature of the emergency response.

The hosts argue that the media's focus on the raw number of ventilators ignores the critical shortage of trained respiratory technicians required to operate them. They question the projected need for 50,000 hospital beds in California by May. The segment critiques the push for automotive companies like General Motors and Ford to manufacture medical devices without addressing the personnel gap.

Wuhan is characterized as the "Detroit of China" due to its status as a major transport and manufacturing hub for international automakers like Honda and General Motors. With over 300 of the world's top 500 companies present in the city, the lockdown threatens significant disruption to global trade and China's GDP growth. The city accounts for nearly 62 percent of the Hubei province's foreign trade value, affecting brands like Walmart and KFC.

President Trump critiques the Federal Reserve for raising interest rates too quickly, claiming it hindered US GDP growth which he expects to be above 2%. He cites "black swan" events like the Boeing 737 MAX issues and the General Motors strike as additional drags on the economy. Trump suggests that without the Fed's rate hikes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average would be 5,000 to 10,000 points higher.

A 10-year-old clip features politicians, including current presidential candidate Jay Inslee, claiming to have driven across the country in a car powered by algae. The technology, once touted as a "promising" green energy solution that consumes CO2, is dismissed as a scam that failed to produce viable commercial results.

The 2019 Geneva Motor Show is dominated by electric and hybrid vehicles as manufacturers race to meet tough new EU emission standards. Highlights include the 2,000-horsepower Pininfarina Battista and the Citroën Ami One, a "slow" urban object that does not require a driver's license. The marketing of hybrids is noted for emphasizing "clean" city driving while maintaining petrol power for long distances.

General Motors has appointed several high-profile former intelligence and defense officials to its board of directors, including a former deputy director of the CIA and executives from Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. The company claims these appointments provide necessary guidance for navigating cyber attacks and geopolitical instability. Critics suggest the board's composition reflects a deep integration between the automotive industry and the military-industrial complex.

A series of reports highlight invasive data collection practices, including Amazon Alexa patents for detecting illness via voice and Kinza connected thermometers selling fever data to pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, General Motors was found to be monitoring the radio listening habits of 90,000 drivers to sell data to advertisers.