Apr 29, 2016 - 08:06 am

Jon McNeill, Peter Schmidt, Jason Belton.

“We’ve doubled production capacity each of the last several years and we will continue doubling – and one of the focus points for the entire company is making sure that we are ready to deliver Model 3 on time.”

These are the reassuring words of Tesla President of Global Sales Jon McNeill, who also hinted at the possibility of setting up an additional production facility in China.
electrek.co

“If manufacturers like BMW and Mercedes don’t sell sufficient electric cars or plug-in hybrids they stand next to no chance of meeting the 2021 fleet average rules. If they don’t meet it, the fines from Brussels will be astronomical.”

Peter Schmidt, editor of Automotive Industry Data, stresses that the decision for electrification is not deliberate or purely strategic any longer, but simply a matter of survival. The German EV subsidy comes thus just in time.
forbes.com

“I would definitely prefer an electric vehicle over a gas powered vehicle, because we remove the fire hazard with the gasoline itself.”

Jason Belton, firefighter with the Reno Fire Department finds electric and hybrid cars increasingly less of a hazard. Just do not cut the orange cable, ever.
kolotv.com

Mar 4, 2016 - 10:03 am

Oliver Blume, Berhard Maier, Rupert Stadler, Peter Schmidt.

“From Porsche’s point of view, infrastructure is the top priority – incentives are more important for high-volume manufacturers. Both measures are able to boost electric mobility.”

Porsche CEO Oliver Blume hopes that the German government will both decide on an incentive scheme for EVs, as well as help with the development of charging infrastructure. He says Porsche will do its part.
wiwo.de (in German)

“Mobility must become clean. We have therefore fitted the VisionS with electric motors and plug-in technology. By 2019, we will offer the first Škoda with this technology. A purely electric vehicle will follow shortly after.”

Škoda CEO Bernhard Maier confirms that the manufacturer will offer an all-electric car. Škoda already showcased a plug-in version of its VisionS in Geneva.
greencarcongress.com

“Hybrid and plug-in hybrids are a transitional and bridge technology for about the next ten years.”

Audi CEO Rupert Stadler expects electric and hybrid car sales to account for 20-25 percent of sales by 2025, after which all-electric cars will become mainstream. He also said that fuel cell technology was worth looking into.
autocar.co.uk

“The market for electric cars in Europe has been extremely disappointing. Five years ago, carmakers were really optimistic, but at the moment, in my view they will be lucky if the market share reaches 1 percent by 2020.”

Peter Schmidt, chief editor of Automotive Industry Data, says that low petrol prices are keeping drivers from going electric. Only in countries like Norway, which has an extensive incentive scheme, are electric vehicles taking off.
bloomberg.com

“With Ferrari, it’s almost an obscene concept.”

Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne doesn’t mince his words, saying that we will not ever see an electric Ferrari. Nor a self-driving one, as Marchionne added that “you’ll have to shoot [him] first.” We that think that may be that is a bit drastic…
cnn.com

Aug 4, 2015 - 08:24 am

Dairmuid O'Connell, Peter Schmidt, Bob Lutz.

“We are about to hear a lot of rhetoric that Americans don’t want to buy electric vehicles. From an empirical standpoint, the regulations are very weak, eminently achievable and the only thing missing is the will to put compelling products on the road.”

Dairmuid O’Connell, Tesla’s VP of development, is tired of listening to carmakers lamenting tighter emission standards. Instead, he imputes all responsibility to reluctant carmakers, while calling on authorities to make the rules even tougher.
wsj.com

“Batteries are a huge handicap. The cost, the increasing amount of energy for cooling, they cannibalize themselves wasting electric power to keep cool, the weight and range anxiety and the time to recharge. You don’t have this with hydrogen and they have the range of gasoline and diesel cars.”

Peter Schmidt, editor at Automotive Industry Data (AID), sees fuel cell cars the way to go in what he calls the “longterm future,” that is beyond 2025, given that hydrogen infrastructure will continue to be build up.
forbes.com

“The end state is going to be the fully autonomous, fully electric module with no capability for the driver to steer it or exercise any sort of command. You will call it up, it will arrive at the domicile, you’ll get in, input the destination and go to the freeway.”

Industry veteran Bob Lutz delivers his vision of the future of mobility, which seems pretty convenient at first glance. However, standardisation and intermodality do not hold many gains for traditional carmakers, but for IT corporations.
autonews.com

Mar 9, 2015 - 10:37 am

Peter Schmidt, Adalberto Maluf Filho.

“All the big manufacturers, with the exception of Fiat Chrysler, seemed to be quietly readying battery only cars and plug-in hybrids. Tesla may not have everything its own way for much longer.”

Peter Schmidt, editor of bi-weekly newsletter Automotive Industry Data (AID), says that while electric and hybrid cars were not in the spotlight at the Geneva Motor Show, there is a lot of activity behind the scenes.
forbes.com

“It is the best deal in the world for taxi drivers, because today they are spending both on fuel and on car payments.”

Adalberto Maluf Filho, director of BYD’s marketing and governmental affairs in Brazil, says the company will lease its electric cars to taxi companies at the same price as “regular” cars. The price, however, will not include the battery.
eco-business.com

Jan 7, 2014 - 09:38 am

Peter Schmidt.

“I expected about 2,000 i3s would be ready for the big bang, but we got a damp squib.”

Peter Schmidt, editor of the British newsletter Automotive Industry Data (AID), is not impressed by the trickling sales of the new electric BMW. He had expected a run on the i3 following the massive marketing campaign preceding the launch.
forbes.com