They no longer have to make the cars they didn’t want to make in the first place. You know, the ones they barely even marketed. And things like home EV chargers or public plugs? That was somebody else’s problem. Back to doing what they’ve always done: selling gas-powered trucks and SUVs.<\/p>\n
In recent months, we’ve seen Stellantis “flex hard into ICE production<\/a>,” Nissan delay new U.S.-made EVs<\/a>\u00a0and Honda slash its electrification investments<\/a>, just to give a few examples. Every week, more hits keep coming as automakers blame “consumer demand”\u2014when in reality, their products just weren’t that good<\/a>.<\/p>\n But over at Rivian, CEO and founder RJ Scaringe\u2014who’s had tough words for the legacy automakers before\u2014says he’s confident that the car companies that hit the brakes or even reverse on EV technology will pay for this decision later.\u00a0<\/p>\n “If you’re a legacy manufacturer, I think a lot of them would, if they’re really being honest with themselves, would like the good old days of we can sell… V8 [cars], and that’s a nice, profitable business,” Scaringe said on last week’s InsideEVs Plugged-In Podcast<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At least, it has been in years past and could be right now, Scaringe said. But what about tomorrow?<\/p>\n “You’re absolutely, undoubtedly, not up for debate, mortgaging the future of the business to pay for today,” Scaringe said. “The\u00a0companies demonstrating the most leadership are willing to make the investments today, sacrifice short-term gains, to protect the long-term future.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n