Can Toyota Learn To Act Like Tesla?
On the Plugged-In Podcast, we discuss the new Tesla Model Y, Toyota's EV challenges and a recent Rivian R1T road trip.
That's kind of a wild question, when you think about it. What could the biggest automaker in the world learn from a company that barely existed 20 years ago?
A whole lot, as it turns out. We write a lot around here about how Tesla (and now China's automakers) got a wide lead over established car companies when it comes to software. How it leads on charging experience and over-the-air updates. How it's reached economies of scale for electric vehicles that the legacy auto players can only dream of.
The Toyota bZ4X EV.
But Tesla also schools Toyota in another unlikely way—the actual nuts and bolts of designing EVs. My co-host Patrick George and I discuss that and more on this week's episode of the Plugged-In Podcast.
Much of our conversation was inspired by an enlightening Bloomberg Businessweek story from this week. It argues that Toyota's most basic production systems and ways of thinking aren't built for the EV era. Tesla and innovative Chinese companies like BYD have become electric-car juggernauts by fundamentally rethinking how cars are made and relentlessly focusing on vertical integration. Toyota, meanwhile, depends on designs honed over decades in the combustion-car business and lots of outsourcing.
Can it learn to thrive in the EV era, and on what timeline? That's the big question. Because Chinese automakers are wasting no time as they gobble up market share pretty much all over the world. Oh, and Toyota isn't alone here; other old-school automakers need to wake up too.
The refreshed Tesla Model Y.
Also on today's show, we talk about the new Model Y and Patrick's recent road trip in a Rivian R1T. Spoiler alert: He broke it. But Rivian fixed it quickly, and the truck continued to impress.
Our podcast is available on the InsideEVs YouTube channel and all major audio platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio and Audioboom. New episodes drop every Friday. Make sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, leave us a review and tell a friend to tune in. Enjoy!
Contact the author: Tim.Levin@InsideEVs.com
Previous Podcast Episodes
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
The Tesla Model Y Gets Tough Competition From The BYD Sealion 7
Volvo Goes Into Cost-Cutting Mode
The New Tesla Model Y Gets Its Most Fearsome Competitor Ever
The Telo MT1 May Be Tiny, But It's Still Built For Hard Work
The New Tesla Model Y Is Now $11,000 Cheaper
Foxconn's Model C Is Coming To The U.S.—But It Won't Wear A Foxconn Badge
Tesla Model Y Battery Degradation After 100,000 Miles: A Surprising Result