Andy Palmer, the former CEO of Aston Martin and known as the ‘godfather of electric vehicles,’ has issued a warning to car manufacturers that are prioritizing hybrid vehicles.
According to Inside EV on Thursday, Andy Palmer remarked that prioritizing hybrid vehicles is merely a stopgap measure. He argued that this approach delays the transition to electric cars and essentially hands the market to Chinese competitors.
“Hybrids are a road to hell. They are a transition strategy, and the longer you stay on that transition, the less quickly you ramp up into the new world. If you just delay transitioning to EVs by diluting it with hybrids then you are more uncompetitive for longer, and you allow the Chinese to continue to develop their market and their leadership. I honestly think it’s a fool’s errand.”
Palmer also commented on the growth of Chinese automakers, noting that companies like BYD are leading the way in the electric vehicle market. He emphasized that Chinese vehicles are high quality and offer incredible value for money.
Palmer also discussed the tariffs the US and Europe imposed to protect their industries in response to China’s rise. He warned that a global approach using tariffs will not be effective in the long run. He argued that protectionist measures would only widen the gap and make industries complacent about innovation, allowing China to move ahead.
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