TO THE EDITOR:
I’ve been reading with fascination Keith Crain’s recent columns about the rush to electric vehicles by just about every manufacturer on the planet. Many years ago in a business class, we had a book titled Marketing Mistakes. It featured a number of bygone blunders such as the product Corfam from DuPont, the “no-credit policy” at J.C. Penney and, of course, the Ford Edsel.
I often wonder whether in a future MBA class at Wharton or Harvard, there won’t be a case study with several chapters on the “$500 billion mistake: Electric vehicles in the year 2020.”
I agree with Crain: The internal combustion engine may not be the ultimate answer, but given the current technology and infrastructure challenges, coupled with additional downsides represented by EVs (consumer preference and environmental issues, to name just two), I don’t personally believe EVs are the ultimate answer.
The whole idea of EVs seems to be steamrolling — I believe in large part on the basis of environmental agendas and an attitude of “If X car company is doing it, we better get on board, or else.”
Think of the children’s game of musical chairs — when the music stops, not everyone will have a seat. It’s not much of a risk when playing the game, but the stakes are a bit higher when an OEM CEO might have to bet the ranch.
JOSEPH A. GIACOMIN, Managing director, Automotive Practice, Angott Search Group, Rochester, Mich. Angott Search Group is an executive search firm.