The German Auto Empire Is Cracking — Bob Lutz | MotoMan Podcast # 032

The global auto industry is changing faster than it has in decades — and Bob Lutz has some very strong opinions about who is getting it right, who is getting it wrong and which automakers may be in serious trouble. This week on the MotoMan Podcast, Bob Lutz returns for a wide-ranging conversation about China, the future of the German auto industry, electric vehicles, Porsche, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, General Motors, Ford, Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Ferrari, Corvette and the rapidly changing economics of building cars. Are Chinese automakers really leaving the West behind? Bob argues the real Chinese advantage may have less to do with EV technology than many people think — and far more to do with cost, development speed, vertical integration and the ability to improve products at a pace legacy automakers struggle to match. Then there’s Germany. Bob explains why he no longer considers companies like BMW, Mercedes and Audi as bulletproof as he once did, why China has become such a major problem for European automakers, and why Volkswagen and Porsche face particularly difficult decisions. He also weighs in on Porsche’s EV strategy, the enormous cost of failed vehicle programs and whether the German government would ever allow its biggest automotive companies to fail. The conversation goes well beyond Germany and China. Bob and MotoMan debate GM’s current strength, why Hyundai and Kia continue to move so quickly, Tesla’s shrinking product portfolio, the future of EV batteries and fast charging, Slate Auto, Rivian, software-defined vehicles, humanoid robots in automotive manufacturing and whether automation could ultimately help Western automakers close the cost gap with China. They also get into enthusiast cars, Corvette, the possibility of a Corvette SUV, why performance vehicles still matter to automakers, Ferrari design, the Pontiac Aztek and one of the most important questions facing the industry: Who adapts — and who gets left behind? CHAPTERS 00:00 Bob Lutz Returns 01:26 Bob’s Wild Custom Pontiac 08:00 Are EVs Still the Future? 15:20 The Battery Breakthrough Coming Next 20:10 Are German Automakers in Trouble? 21:52 China Changes the Equation 26:19 The Real Chinese Automotive Threat 30:26 Can China and the West Coexist? 38:20 Why Car Development Takes Too Long 45:42 Tesla’s Radical Product Strategy 50:10 Slate Auto, Rivian & the Maverick 52:26 Who’s Winning — and Who’s Losing? 54:30 Volkswagen and Porsche in Trouble 57:28 Should Governments Bail Out Carmakers? 01:00:01 The Economy and the Auto Business 01:10:29 Do Enthusiast Cars Still Matter? 01:14:41 Should Corvette Become a Brand? 01:17:46 What CEOs Must Learn From China 01:20:26 Can Robots Save Legacy Automakers? 01:24:14 Why China Can Improve So Quickly 01:27:46 Ferrari and “Adult Supervision” 01:28:32 What the Pontiac Aztek Teaches Us 01:32:09 What Happened to German Car Design? What do you agree with Bob Lutz on — and where do you think he gets it completely wrong? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to the MotoMan Podcast for more long-form conversations with the people shaping the automotive industry. #BobLutz #AutomotiveIndustry #ChinaCars #Porsche #Volkswagen #BMW #MercedesBenz #Audi #ElectricVehicles #EV #GeneralMotors #Tesla #Corvette #CarIndustry #MotoManPodcast For driving adventures & car reviews, before sure to visit us @MMTVCars Download the MotoManTV Podcast @https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/motomantv-podcast/id1836304387 https://open.spotify.com/show/0V4AKzLYrZc6rNCF23kwOt https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/90ba9b31-fe69-4baf-817d-cb3816a33c21/motomantv-podcast Connect with our Short Form content here: https://www.instagram.com/motomantv/ https://x.com/MotoManTV https://www.tiktok.com/@themotomantv @MMTVPodcastShorts @MMTVPodcastClips @MMTVCarsShorts @MMTVCarsClips Help us grow the show! If you enjoyed this deep dive into the "grind" of motorsport, please Subscribe and Share this episode on Reddit. If you’re listening on a podcast platform, leave us a written review and tell us who your favorite guest has been. Proudly shot on Sony’s Cinema line of Cameras