Also see ‘Automotive News’ commentators show outrage over Dodge’s shift to EVs’
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Although this is a parody, the reality is that with Tavares gone and the return of the leader to Ram, I do expect that the big V8 will return to the lineup. Tavares had no clue about the American mentality and the degree to which Dodge Ram’s DNA is tied to the hemi.
Their sales have fallen off the cliff and the return of the hemi is an easy step to get some sales back.
l wonder how many euros it would take to install one in the back seat of a 2CV?(Given the ingenuity of fabricators, it has probably already been done!)
A reality check on the overall topic is that there are cracks in the European Union’s banning of gasoline new cars in 2035. The Italian Prime Minister has already said that she wants this scrapped.
I would not be surprised if the EU’s policies are fine tuned over the next decade. However, at this point I would not expect a dramatic shift in direction like we are apparently about to see in the United States.
I also suspect that the Trump administration could have less impact on the greening of automotive transportation than it may hope simply because the industry is now globally integrated. Too many other major nations are taking climate change seriously for Trump to act as a veto point.
Yes, the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has attacked the EU’s policies. It should be noted that she represents a right-wing party and has had links to fascist political elements in Italy. Her election reflects a general increase in the popularity of right-wing movements in western Europe. It remains to be seen how much power they will gain in the largest EU nations such as Germany and France, but it is telling that Elon Musk has recently expressed support for a German right-wing party called the AfD. Not surprisingly, Meloni has defended Musk’s political involvements.
It will be interesting to see how individual automakers navigate what could become a quite complex political environment. I suspect that the smartest industry leaders won’t take a hard-right turn like Musk has done.