Looking Out - The Podcast

In this special episode, Joe and Drew take a look - both macro and micro - at the recent IAA, also known as the Munich motor show.
The motor show itself:
This is the second coming of the biennial motor show in Munich. We talked about how it's evolved and what it means for brands who are compelled to show at the Messe, or exhibition grounds, and in the centre of the city.
The Mercedes CLA and the state of Mercedes design:
Although sporting enough Mercedes badges to make a Louis Vuitton trunk blush, Joe's quite complimentary of the CLA concept. And the EQXX blows his mind with its intelligence and execution.
The new BMW 5 Series:
Sadly, the same can't be said for the new, €98,000 5er. A dog's dinner outside and evidence inside of just how hard BMW has had to work to make this new, electrified platform pay, all at the cost of customer experience.
The BMW Neue Klasse:
It's not all bad news at BMW as the Neue Klasse shows a brand returning to form. From its delightful glasshouse to serene interior, it shows a promising future for the 3 Series.
The €45,000 Renault Scénic:
What was once a compact, family MPV has turned in to another crossover for the upwardly mobile. While beautifully designed (and better finished than the BMW 5 Series) it's up against the Tesla Model Y. Old world values versus new world tech: FIGHT!
The geopolitical backdrop:
The Chinese brought it home to the Germans, and the Germans don't like it. The EU is investigating China's subsidies but it better be careful: don't bit the hand that feeds you, as the saying goes.
The death of European automotive design has been exaggerated:
But it is struggling. Automakers desperately need to find a renewed sense of focus, a greater sense of connection to a rapidly evolving younger market and, perhaps, consider a pivot to America in order to thrive.
Any other business:
Joe discusses the emerging AV clustercuss in San Francisco and how Volkswagen's desultory efforts to build an American charging network have driven their competitors to adopt Tesla's charging standard.
Drew, on the other hand, is delighted by a company that's electrifying original Renault Twingos and announces our new Instagram account.

That's it for this episode! Thanks for listening.
If you like what you hear, please leave a review for us on your favourite podcasting platform. It helps other folk like you find us!
And you can sign up for Looking Out - The Newsletter, the sidekick to our podcast, here: automobility.substack.com

What the hell happened at Tesla's We, Robot event!? Joe and Drew dive in to the design disappointments of that fateful day and reflect on an industry in short supply of inspiration.

That's it for this episode! Thanks for listening.
If you like what you hear, please leave a review for us on your favourite podcasting platform. It helps other folk like you find us!
And you can sign up for Looking Out - The Newsletter, the sidekick to our podcast, here: automobility.substack.com

Joe and Drew dive deep on the most popular topics from our recent newsletter.
In this show, they explore:

• why Hyundai is giving us reasons to be happy,
• what it means when design no longer matters to Apple,
• and the future of Europe's small cars.

They also mourn the death of Twitter and explore how you might assess in-car subscription services.

Show Links:

• Measure of Success - Christopher Butt on Hyundai
• Apple’s Industrial Design Chief Hankey to Leave Three Years After Ive
• Volkswagen Polo faces axe as Euro 7 rules drive price up
• Mercedes Makes Better Performance a $1,200 Subscription in Its EVs
• Mastodon

Looking Out:
Subscribe to: Looking Out - The Newsletter
Subscribe to: Looking Out - The Podcast
Joe Simpson & Drew Smith
Joe on LinkedIn
Drew on LinkedIn
Drew on Twitter
StudioPhro.com
Show produced by: Chris Frith

That's it for this episode! Thanks for listening.
If you like what you hear, please leave a review for us on your favourite podcasting platform. It helps other folk like you find us!
And you can sign up for Looking Out - The Newsletter, the sidekick to our podcast, here: automobility.substack.com

Joe and Drew dive deep on the most popular topics from our recent newsletter.
In this show, they explore:

• the EV charging clustercuss,
• why a car costs more than your house,
• and cars in the cloud.

They also share some thoughts on the end of the age of abundance, and the emergence of AI art.

Show Links:
The Bentley Batur
The end of the age of abundance
Jeep's new EVs
Looking Out:
Subscribe to: Looking Out - The Newsletter
Subscribe to: Looking Out - The Podcast
Joe Simpson & Drew Smith
Joe on LinkedIn
Drew on LinkedIn
Drew on Twitter
StudioPhro.com
Show produced by: Chris Frith

That's it for this episode! Thanks for listening.
If you like what you hear, please leave a review for us on your favourite podcasting platform. It helps other folk like you find us!
And you can sign up for Looking Out - The Newsletter, the sidekick to our podcast, here: automobility.substack.com

The Tokyo Motor Show, now known as the Japan Mobility Show, has always been one of the most surprising on the circuit.
Historically the launchpad for some of the wilder concepts the industry has seen, Tokyo has also represented something of a forbidden garden, full of of pocket-sized delights that preview new Kei car models that are soon to hit the streets.
Once upon a time, we’d look at those cars and think “Cute...” and move on. Yet in a world in which automobility desperately needs new answers to the challenges of increasing urbanisation and increasingly limited resources, Japan’s tiny car and sub-car concepts look more and more relevant.
In this show, Joe and Drew survey the Japan Mobility show, covering the hits (Toyota’s IMV 0, Mazda’s Iconic SP, Honda’s CI-MEV and Motocompacto) and the misses (Handa’s new Prelude and every Nissan at the show).
They also look at the opportunity that micromobility represents for Japanese automakers, and why it might just slip through their fingers.

That's it for this episode! Thanks for listening.
If you like what you hear, please leave a review for us on your favourite podcasting platform. It helps other folk like you find us!
And you can sign up for Looking Out - The Newsletter, the sidekick to our podcast, here: automobility.substack.com