It is likely that during your car-driving lifetime there will be a significant shift from internal combustion engines (ICEs) to electric vehicles (EVs). Some customer segments, some geographic areas, and some manufacturers will shift sooner than others. This week we will do some speculating on what this will mean for auto companies and consumers.

McKinsey and Company, a global consulting firm, produces a number of interesting reports and articles on many industries. Two on electric vehicles can be found at https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and… and https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/expanding-electric-vehicle-adoption-despite-early-growing-pains. These is not a an easy read, even if you are a car nut. Together they portray a careful economic analysis of the electric vehicle industry.

1. What part of McKinsey’s analysis did you find most surprising? Why was this surprising, and why does this seem to go against what you thought you knew about electric vehicles?

2. Different governments at different times have provided both incentives for consumers to purchase electric vehicles, and penalties for the use of internal combustion vehicles (especially in smog-ridden cities). Should a U.S state, or Canadian province, take regulatory action to encourage the adoption of electric vehicles? Why, and specifically, what would you recommend, and how would this serve a public purpose? [Norway, which has significant oil production reserves, has the highest per capita adoption of electric vehicles in the world.]

3. Which automaker, other than Tesla, do you think is best positioned to benefit from the shift to electric vehicles, and should be agressively pursuing this market? [Answering this question will likely require a little research beyond what is in the McKinsey article.]

Start your original post with either the number 1, 2, or 3 and a 3-10 word description of your thinking, which correspond with a question listed above. Please, just focus on one question in your original thread. The syllabus provides further details on what is expected in discussions, and the grading criteria.