AUTOMOTIVE
Nissan to Move Away From ICE Development
Nissan plans to end the development of new ICE vehicles in all major markets except the United States. The Japanese company will shift focus to EV development and production, with a smaller number of ICE vehicles, mostly pickups, being developed in the US. This makes Nissan the first major Japanese automaker to make the jump toward full EV as many others in the industry are moving toward doing.
Telling it like it is — Shifting focus from dinosaur coffee to lightning bottles feels like sci-fi, but here we are…
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AUTOMOTIVE
Ford CEO Signals EV/ICE Breakup
In a recent earnings call Ford CEO, Jim Farley, inadvertently suggested the future of the automotive giant may be 2 independent companies, with one maintaining the Legacy Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) business while the other realizes the still emerging Electric Vehicle (EV) opportunities and challenges.
The suggestion was not made in any direct consideration, but an indirect realization when Farley shared he is already running the two (ICE and EV) as if they were carved apart. Farley went on to remark on how different the rhythm of the EV and ICE businesses are and that "running a successful ICE business and a successful EV business is not the same"
Telling it like it is — A wise man once said "No car needs two drivers, and no driver can handle 2 cars at once"
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AUTOMOTIVE
Automakers Considering Subscription Based Vehicle Features
![](https://media.giphy.com/media/av2qAouzcA70A/giphy.gif)
With vehicle-based software becoming more complex each year, automakers are aiming to generate revenue with monthly or yearly fees used to access and update in-car services such as heated seats, remote start, advanced cruise control, and more. The option comes on the back of over-the-air software update tech pioneered by Tesla nearly 10 years ago. With more vehicles including computerized and internet-connected features, new options for access have the automaker industry in a brain-storm phase with their eye on Silicon Valley-style subscription-based profits.
Early attempts have not gone over well. BMW abandoned a plan to charge for Apple Carplay in 2019 due to pushback, and Toyota said it would review its subscription plan after an unintended paywall issue with remote start. The trick seems to be in offering things that have not become standard features in most new cars to avoid customers feeling they have paid to have the hardware in their vehicle but now need to pay to have the software turned on.
Telling it like it is — “Gas pedal is free, but the break is gonna costs ya” - Henry Ford, probably.
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CLUBHOUSE
Today's Conversation
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MARKETS
Frontier to Buy Spirit Airlines
The $2.9 billion deal will pay out nearly 2 Frontier shares and $2.13 for each Spirit share, implying a value of $25.83 for each of the Spirit shares sold in the deal. Frontier shareholders will own 51.5% of the combined company and name 7 of the 12 directors.
With the leisure travel industry recovering more quickly, ultradiscounter airlines like Frontier and Spirit stand to see rapid growth as travel returns to normal. Spirit Chairman Mac Gardner has called the deal "all about growth, opportunities and creating value for everyone."
Telling it like it is — As people who ride in planes and do not own planes, we are looking forward to experiencing ‘value for everyone.’
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CULTURE
2022 Winter Olympics Have Begun
The 2022 Winter Olympics started Friday, February 4th in Beijing and promise to be packed with the sort of talent and passion that make medal winners! With legends and newcomers alike, the next two weeks will be history in the making for the people and nations competing. Due to being held in Beijing, the televised coverage will mostly be in the late hours for viewers in the US, but many excellent performances and all medal awards will be public knowledge shortly after their live broadcast, thanks to the internet.
Companies have also put on their Sunday best for the event, revealing new commercials, Like Comcast's "Show me the Olympics," that have captured the interest and attention of many.
Telling it like it is — Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up, it's bobsled time!
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