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Autonomous driving and electric vehicle technologies are at the heart of the careers of many SAEA members specifically in the motor city (Detroit) where members meet regularly. Several SAEA members serve as engineers, consultants, and managers in automotive companies like Ford, GM, Magna, and Mitsubishi Motors to name a few, and have much interest in this field. Despite all that, there is overwhelming interest in discussions surrounding Tesla in the recent conference session.

Elon Musk’s Tesla was discussed primarily as a hub for innovation in these areas, however it’s important to note that Tesla’s competition is rapidly increasing as the desire grows and engineering capabilities improve in electric vehicles and AD/ADAS systems.

Members of SAEA discussed potential competitors who are approaching Tesla:

-Ford Motor Company’s Mustang Mach-E model

-General Motors (headquartered in Detroit, MI) GM plans to design, engineer, and produce EVs for every style and price point, including a Chevrolet Silverado EV with a 400-mile range.

-NIO Inc. ES8 and EP9, which is among the fastest electric cars in the world

-Volkswagen estimates that 50% of its U.S. sales by 2030 will be EVs