Talking Michigan Transportation Tariffs, automated vehicles and zero-emission planes
Mar 26, 2025
Joann Muller, a Detroit-based transportation correspondent for Axios, dives into the current challenges facing the auto industry due to tariffs and how automakers are adapting. She discusses cutting-edge advancements in automated vehicles, specifically driverless Uber trials in Austin. Muller also highlights Delta Airlines' innovative blended wing body aircraft, which aims for net-zero flying by 2050. Finally, she teases her new newsletter focused on the future of mobility, exploring the evolution of transportation.
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Tariff Uncertainty Hampers Automakers
- Automakers face uncertainty and disruption due to rapidly changing tariff policies.
- They delay strategic decisions, hurting competitiveness against global rivals, especially Chinese automakers.
CHIPS Act Bolsters Auto Supply
- The CHIPS Act boosts semiconductor production in the US to prevent chip shortages.
- Automakers benefited from increased chip supply after COVID-19 disruptions and want to avoid future shortages.
California's EV Mandate Challenges Automakers
- California's EV mandate requires all new cars be electric by 2035, with 11 states adopting it.
- Automakers worry about hitting sales targets in markets with low EV adoption, risking losses from discounted EV sales.