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> By my count, this is the fifth time that the Japanese automaker has quit F1 Makes you wonder how serious one should take this announcement. > our current g

> By my count, this is the fifth time that the Japanese automaker has quit F1 Makes you wonder how serious one should take this announcement. > our current goal of "electrifying two-thirds of our global automobile unit sales in 2030" Sounds ambitious, but we know by now that nobody - no company, no government - has ever met any of their climate pledges.

nindalf 6y ago
They’re not electrifying their fleet by 2030 because they want to make the world a better place through technology. They’re doing it because in 2035 they lose access to the world’s 4th largest economy - California. No manufacturer can take that kind of hit. All manufacturers see the writing on the wall - they need to invest in EVs or perish. In 10 years if it looks like a majority of manufacturers are successfully making the transition, every jurisdiction will enact a rule similar to California’s. The remaining laggards will be dearly departed.
- onion2k 6y ago
  No manufacturer can take that kind of hit. California has a huge economy but that doesn't translate directly to the number of cars sold. Sales of cars is proportionate to population size more than economy size in wealthy Western countries. Honda will obviously have many EVs on the market for Californians (and other Americans, and Europeans, and Asians, and every other market that's banning petrol and diesel cars) to buy, but they're also going to continue to make and sell fossil fuel powered cars for long time in countries that don't have the electrical infrastructure to support electrification of civilian vehicles.
- toyg 6y ago
  I believe Germany is also supposed to switch in 2035, and the UK committed to 2040 but are looking into the possibility of moving it forward to '35. Nordic countries will probably do it before the end of this decade too. It's finally happening, we probably have the emission scandal to thank for it. Not that this has any real link with the current announcement, it's a fig leaf over a classic Japanese move: in bad times, cut all non-essential items related to foreign markets, and regroup at home. F1 is largely an expensive promotional activity targeted at Europe.
- perfunctory 6y ago
  > every jurisdiction will enact a rule similar to California’s every jurisdiction has already announced similar plans. California is not a leader here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_fossil_fuel_vehicles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_fossil_fuel_vehic...

nindalf 6y ago

They’re not electrifying their fleet by 2030 because they want to make the world a better place through technology. They’re doing it because in 2035 they lose access to the world’s 4th largest economy - California. No manufacturer can take that kind of hit. All manufacturers see the writing on the wall - they need to invest in EVs or perish. In 10 years if it looks like a majority of manufacturers are successfully making the transition, every jurisdiction will enact a rule similar to California’s. The remaining laggards will be dearly departed.

onion2k 6y ago
No manufacturer can take that kind of hit. California has a huge economy but that doesn't translate directly to the number of cars sold. Sales of cars is proportionate to population size more than economy size in wealthy Western countries. Honda will obviously have many EVs on the market for Californians (and other Americans, and Europeans, and Asians, and every other market that's banning petrol and diesel cars) to buy, but they're also going to continue to make and sell fossil fuel powered cars for long time in countries that don't have the electrical infrastructure to support electrification of civilian vehicles.
toyg 6y ago
I believe Germany is also supposed to switch in 2035, and the UK committed to 2040 but are looking into the possibility of moving it forward to '35. Nordic countries will probably do it before the end of this decade too. It's finally happening, we probably have the emission scandal to thank for it. Not that this has any real link with the current announcement, it's a fig leaf over a classic Japanese move: in bad times, cut all non-essential items related to foreign markets, and regroup at home. F1 is largely an expensive promotional activity targeted at Europe.
perfunctory 6y ago
> every jurisdiction will enact a rule similar to California’s every jurisdiction has already announced similar plans. California is not a leader here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_fossil_fuel_vehicles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_fossil_fuel_vehic...