Thursday, 3/25/21 (copy 03)

Hello again,

The past couple of weeks I've been checking on spring and summertime car shows and the outlook is not good - I'm sad to report.

Because many of the organizers that had to cancel 2020 spring events told us to put their 2021 events on the calendar.  But California's over-regulation shut them down again.  

What's mind-boggling is how air travel is reaching its highest peaks since COVID started.  That means that it's okay for hundreds of people to pack into flying tubes, breathing the same air for many hours straight.    

But, here in California, we cannot gather for an

outdoor

event.  An event where we'd be breathing fresh air and capable of socially distancing with ease.  

If we lived in Texas we could.  Arizona too.  And Nevada.  (It's making me seriously think of changing the name to

iDrive-the-heck-out-of-SoCal!

)

To be clear, there are some events still planned.  For instance.  The

Heartbeat Happening Car Show

- that's on!  And our

cars and coffees

are still happening.  But the majority of late-spring annual shows are off.  And most of them until 2022.  Some are rescheduling to the fall of 2021.

Call me crazy, but the one-political-party state of California doesn't seem to be working.  (Not even a little.)

Finally, as

gas prices rise

nationally,

we're getting hit the hardest of all

- of course.  Somehow a gallon is cheaper in Hawaii!

Eyes on the road,

-T

Around The Gas Pump - And Electric Socket

Electric - There's No Escaping It

• Lucid shares big production plans and bigger starting prices.

• Tesla is now accepting payment in Bitcoin.

• Rivian's IPO, an EV truck maker, should boost Ford's stock.

• Rivian hasn't sold a vehicle yet - but plans 10k chargers in North America.

• The 'fast unprecedented' shift to electric is in for a reality shock (I think)

• Due to COVID cars aren't polluting LA - it's the trees!  (Real story)

Autonomous

• TuSimple self-driving truck startup readies to go public.

• Kodiak self-driving truck startup partners w/ Chinese lidar maker.

Trucks

• The chip shortage is halting midsize GM truck production.

• Ram recalls trucks due to fire hazards - owners should park outside.

Concepts

• This could be the GOAT Batmobile!

• Some cool - and not - Toyota concept cars.

• The concept of a Green Egg grill in an RV is cool - and real.

Speed

• 0-60 mph in 1.8 seconds... really?  Apparently yes.

• Electric motorcycle quietly goes for a land speed record.

• Tiger apparently never hit the brakes during his South Bay car crash.

• Racecar driver (retired) Danica Patrick is single and ready to mingle.

Other

• Rare Corvette grabs nearly $3M at auction!

• Love that new car smell?  Apparently, it's bad for you!

• Interesting video: Evolution Of Movie Car Chase Scenes - Since Forever.

VW's EV Battery Recycling Plans

10-years in the making. Thankfully VW has been thinking about what happens at the end of battery life.

EVENTS THIS WEEKEND

It's Cars And Coffee events this weekend.  But with it being the last weekend of the month we have a couple that only pop-up then.

Saturday:

• El Segundo, Manhattan Beach Cars And Coffee

Sunday:

• Ventura, Cars & Coffee Ventura - back from hiatus

• Silverado, Silverado Cars And Coffee

Complete events list HERE.

Lucid Motors Studio In Torrance

With so many EV companies making grand headlines and plans... seeing is believing.

Our Partners

Shopping?

I'm happy to make personal introductions to top management at any of our partners.  (Just reply to this email and let me know how I can help.)