Episode 288 | Whiplash in Detroit: From Electric Dreams to Autonomy Uncertainty

Pete Bigelow, Senior Reporter, Automotive News joined Grayson Brulte on The Road to Autonomy podcast to discuss how Detroit is handing tariffs, the slow adoption of electric vehicles and consumers increasing interest in autonomous vehicles. 

Detroit’s automakers are grappling with a future that is no longer electric, it’s autonomous. After racing full steam ahead towards electric vehicles, the momentum has stalled as consumers are opting for hybrids. Even as consumers opt for hybrids, they are increasingly interested in autonomy and the emergence of personally-owned autonomous vehicles. 

However, the question still remains whether traditional OEMs have the will or the ability to develop in-house and commercialize an autonomous driving system that is reelable and scaleable. If they can not develop it in-house, they will have to license the technology with the risk of becoming a contract manufacturer for the autonomy industry. 

Episode Chapters

0:00 The Mood in Detroit

4:17 Tariffs / Exporting Detroit 

6:54 Electrification

9:30 Will Economic Uncertainty Lead to the Rise of Personally-Owned Autonomous Vehicles?

15:03 Jeep, an Autonomy Brand

17:26 GM & Ford’s Fully Autonomous Aspirations 

19:55 Rising Road Fatalities 

26:59 Tesla Will Drive Me Home Trend

28:49 No Steering Wheel, No Pedals

30:58 Waymo Hyundai Robotaxis are Made in America 

31:45 Factories of The Future

35:19 Scaling Waymo

40:56 Tesla’s June Robotaxi Launch

43:20 Aurora Driver-Out in Texas

48:51 What To Look for in The Markets 

Recorded on Monday, April 7, 2025

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