Tech. Cars. Machines.

Episode 52: Building the Future of Electric Trucking with Anja Van Niersen Anja Van Niersen, CEO of Milence, discusses plans to establish a charging network for European long-haul trucking. Milence is a 500MM Euro joint venture amongst Daimler, Traton and Volvo trucks. 00:00 Introduction to Milence 03:04 Anja's background and career 03:10 Milence's mission and … Read More Read More

Live from Anaheim! I was at the world's premier event for sustainable commercial transportation. Here's a brief ~10-minute recap of key trends regarding China, electrification, sustainability's future, and regulation. The highlight for me was driving a massive “day cab,” the driver part of a semi-truck.  You can see the video at www.gtkpartners.com/act25

Lux Capital General Partner Shahin Farshchi, PhD, talked with me about his background, Lux's history, and how the firm came to position itself as the leading investor in hard-tech. A focus on outstanding teams, market readiness, patience and taking the lead from entrepreneurs on the “next great sector” has led to investments such as Anduril, … Read More Read More

Steve Patton shares EY's perspective on how consumer demand and regulations shape the automotive landscape.  We touch on Chinese car makers, sustainability, electrification, autonomy and logistics.  Is sustainability self-sustaining, or does it still need regulatory incentives?  Steve explains.   Note the “skip to” audio time stamps below.  You can read the related article here in 3 minutes.      … Read More Read More

Has any company made a bigger impact on the automotive sector in the last decade than Tesla? Love them or hate them, Tesla has masterfully used the extraordinary latitude it's been afforded by investors and customers to disrupt the profit, supply and dealership structure of the industry.  This latitude is also potentially the Company's biggest weakness, contributing … Read More Read More

Can your AI make life-and-death decisions? Mercedes-Benz's Drive Pilot can.  Does your AI vendor take legal responsibility for those life-and-death decisions? Mercedes does.  Drive Pilot is the only certified Level 3 passenger car system globally.  Georges Massing, global head of the company's automated driving and cabin technologies, tells us how.  We hear his thoughts on … Read More Read More

Reilly Brennan, author of the must-read Future of Transportation newsletter and partner at Trucks VC, returns to Tech Cars Machines for a discussion on recent trends in transportation investing. We discuss financing round sizes and valuations, AI in autonomy and robotics, the promise of hydrogen combustion engines, the EV market, and much more.   Host:  … Read More Read More

China, EVs, vehicles that are too big and too heavy, autonomy, the future of transportation and lessons from history.  We cover hot news and trends in all these sectors with Marc Amblard, Partner at Orsay Consulting, the well-known San Francisco-based advisor in automotive technology.   He is the author of the widely read Mobility Revolution monthly … Read More Read More

How do you start a new business in a large corporation and quickly scale it to hundreds of millions of revenues? Savi Baveja, President of 3D Printing and Chief Incubation Officer at HP, Inc. told me how.  Focused on production, with markets in auto parts (custom Porsche seats), personal medical devices and drones, Savi gave … Read More Read More

Interested in a piece of a $400 billion pie from which Tesla once took a $465MM bite?  Chris Creed, Chief Investment Officer of the Department of Energy's Loan Program's Office spoke to me about how his piece of the pie is made available to innovators or scalers in renewable energy and energy infrastructure.  He discussed … Read More Read More

GE's “fuels guy” and current Global Hydrogen Value Chain Leader at GE Vernova, Dr. Jeffrey Goldmeer, shares his 23 years of experience and insight on energy generation, energy transition, the electric grid, and the role of hydrogen. We got technical in an accessible way about electric grid characteristics and how the transition to carbon-free sources … Read More Read More

You get a billion! And you get a billion! And YOU get a billion! (repeat 4 more times). The Department of Energy recently announced seven recipients of a total $7 billion who will build hydrogen hubs around the U.S.  The auto and steel sectors, concentrated around Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, are covered by the Midwest … Read More Read More

Cars that drive themselves not enough for you? How about trucks? 80,000 pound trucks.  Flying down the highway. Peter Vaughan Schmidt, CEO of Torc Robotics, an independent autonomy holding of Daimler Truck, describes his “no hobbies” focus on long-haul, Class 8 applications. From, “no hobbies”, to  scalable commercial deployment in 2027, to “no limits” afterwards! … Read More Read More

Cars that drive themselves not enough for you? How about when they do it at 192 MPH? And head-to-head on a racetrack. With no remote intervention. In total darkness. Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President of the Indy Autonomous Challenge, and I talk at the Las Vegas International Speedway. He tells me how this is possible, … Continue reading 35. Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President, Indy Autonomous Challenge →

A summary for executives, capital allocators, technologists, geeks and generally enthusiastic people.  A behind-the-curtains view of trends in M&A, financing, AI, autos, autonomy, electric vehicles, and the Internet of Things. A raw transcript is here.  More information on your host Ali Tabibian and GTK Partners. Links to mentioned companies: Torc and Daimler Trucks; Indy Autonomous Challenge; … Continue reading 34. CES 2024: The Inside Scoop →

Can electric batteries provide power for heavy-duty and long-haul applications in trucking, mining, agriculture and shipping?  Probably not.  Most insiders think hydrogen power will be required.  Will a simultaneous investment in hydrogen production, its distribution networks and hydrogen-capable vehicles pay off?  Probably not. Leveraging more economically justifiable uses for hydrogen outside of transportation may provide … Continue reading 33. ACES Delta: A Back Door to Hydrogen Transportation →

Joachim Rosenberg is with Volvo Group, one of the world's largest producers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.  He is Executive Vice President, Volvo Group Strategic Initiatives and President Volvo Energy.  Joachim describes Volvo's deep and sincere commitment to sustainability throughout its value chain, including its suppliers, its own operations, and in the “second life” of … Continue reading Joachim Rosenberg, Volvo Group →

This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. LeddarTech has become a comprehensive end-to-end environmental sensing company by enabling customers to solve critical sensing, fusion and perception challenges across the entire value chain. The company offers cost-effective and scalable … Continue reading Charles Boulanger, CEO, LeddarTech →

This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. AEye develops advanced perception systems that act as the eyes and visual cortex of autonomous vehicles. The company's solution, based on LiDAR, is particularly suitable for high-performance applications. You can find … Continue reading Blair LaCorte, CEO, AEye →

This is one of a series of quick-take episodes on automobile technologies, specifically sensing and LiDAR-enabled sensing, recorded at CES 2023 in Las Vegas.  Lumotive delivers critical semiconductors to LiDAR systems providers for both automotive and other applications.  The company's optical semiconductors enable non-mechanical beam-steering technology to deliver differentiated performance, cost, reliability, and size for … Continue reading Lumotive: Sam Heidari, CEO & Gleb Akselrod, Founder/CTO →

Atif Askar is the head of Business Development, Strategy and Mergers & Acquisitions for Traton, one of the world's largest producers of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.  Traton is controlled by the Volkswagen Group.  Why are battery-powered commercial vehicles almost always the most appropriate form of sustainable vehicles, and why is hydrogen fuel likely not … Continue reading Atif Askar, Traton →

Jan Krönig is the head of Strategy & Corporate Development for Daimler Truck, the world's largest producer of medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.  When are battery-powered vehicles most appropriate, and when is the answer hydrogen fuels? What are the challenges and timelines associated with each?  Jan explains Daimler's approach to meeting the challenge of climate … Continue reading Jan Krönig, Strategy, Daimler Truck →

Listen to Jon Gordon, Co-founder of Universal Hydrogen, discuss how the Company intends to make a flexible and economical carbon-free future possible in the world of aviation.  Jon provides an overview of Universal Hydrogen and very nicely creates a "visual" (in audio) of the Universal Hydrogen solution, which involves capsules and manageable retrofits of turbo-prop aircraft.  Jon describes how, compared to typical venture investments, a longer horizon is necessary for UH2's endeavors. Learn more about Universal Hydrogen and Jon.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren't active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Jon Gordon, Co-founder of Universal Hydrogen, discuss how the Company intends to make a flexible and economical carbon-free future possible in the world of aviation.  Jon provides an overview of Universal Hydrogen and very nicely creates a “visual” (in audio) of the Universal Hydrogen solution, which involves capsules and manageable retrofits of turbo-prop aircraft. … Continue reading Jon Gordon, Universal Hydrogen →

Listen to Amy Davis, President of the New Power Segment of Cummins, Inc. a $20 billion engine manufacturer discuss the path this revered manufacturer is taking to remain at the forefront of providing the best powertrains and power sources for commercial transportation.  Amy provides an overview of Cummins and her career within the company.  She provides a broad and detailed survey of alternative powertrain technologies such as electric and hydrogen-based, discusses where applications are likely to emerge first, and the large, complex issues that need to be resolved. Learn more about Cummins and Amy.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Amy Davis, President of the New Power Segment of Cummins, Inc. a $20 billion engine manufacturer discuss the path this revered manufacturer is taking to remain at the forefront of providing the best powertrains and power sources for commercial transportation.  Amy provides an overview of Cummins and her career within the company.  She … Continue reading Amy Davis, President, Cummins New Power Segment →

Listen to a panel of experts on AI & robotics discuss the applications of these technologies to defense. More about GTK, your moderator Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren't active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to a panel of experts on AI & robotics discuss the applications of these technologies to defense. More about GTK, your moderator Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Prith Banerjee, Chief Technology Officer of software simulation firm ANSYS, discuss the benefits of applying physics-based simulation with machine learning techniques. Prith describes how his career in IoT has convinced him that ANSYS is the right platform to influence asset performance management, predictive analytics, digital twins, and real-time product design feedback.  These advances … Continue reading Prith Banerjee, CTO, ANSYS →

Listen to Prith Banerjee, Chief Technology Officer of $25 billion software simulation firm ANSYS, discuss the benefits of applying physics-based simulation with machine learning techniques. Prith describes how his career in IoT has convinced him that ANSYS is the right platform to influence asset performance management, predictive analytics, digital twins, and real-time product design feedback.  These advances reduce product development cost, improve quality, improve service margins, and will significantly change workflows. Learn more about ANSYS and Prith.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Reilly Brennan, co-founder and partner at early-stage venture fund Trucks VC, discuss his investments in the transportation and autonomy space.  Reilly describes how his investment criteria and portfolio have changed over time and shares his thoughts on the Future of Transportation. Learn more about Trucks and Reilly and his must-read weekly newsletter, The Future of Transportation.  More … Continue reading Reilly Brennan, General Partner, Trucks VC →

Listen to Reilly Brennan, co-founder and partner at early-stage venture fund Trucks VC, discuss his investments in the transportation and autonomy space.  Reilly describes how his investment criteria and portfolio have changed over time and shares his thoughts on the Future of Transportation. Learn more about Trucks and Reilly and his must-read weekly newsletter, The Future of Transportation.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to A. Charles Thomas, PhD., Chief Data & Analytics Officer of General Motors discuss how data analytics are influencing every part of GM.  Charles describes his objectives, processes and success metrics for bringing a “data centric” approach to …

Listen to A. Charles Thomas, PhD., Chief Data & Analytics Officer of General Motors discuss how data analytics are influencing every part of GM.  Charles describes his objectives, processes and success metrics for bringing a "data centric" approach to the ogranizations where he has led data analytics, including GM, Wells Fargo and USAA Insurance. Learn more about GM and Charles.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

CES was kind enough to reach out to us, suggest we record an episode from the floor of the 2019 CES show, and offer us studio space. – Hear our reflections on CES as an event, as an auto show, and as a consumer electronics show.

CES was kind enough to reach out to us, suggest we record an episode from the floor of the 2019 CES show, and offer us studio space. Hear our reflections on CES as an event, as an auto show, and as a consumer electronics show.  We chatted with the CEO/Founder of May Mobility (autonomous shuttles) and the VP of Strategy for NovuMind (AI chip). More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Mamatha Chamarthi, Chief Digital Officer of ZF Group, a $40 billion revenue German Tier 1 auto supplier, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity, electrification and sharing.

Listen to Mamatha Chamarthi, Chief Digital Officer of ZF Group, a $40 billion revenue German Tier 1 auto supplier, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity, electrification and sharing.   Hear her insights on how a large organization like ZF fosters innovation and transitions electromechanical excellence into a "See. Think. Act." mantra through digital technologies.  What are ZF's strategies for creating, finding and adopting new methods and technologies? Learn more about ZF Group and Mamatha.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Technology Officer and also the President of the Power & Vision Division of $40 billion Tier 1 auto supplier Magna International, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity,

Listen to Swamy Kotagiri, Chief Technology Officer and also the President of the Power & Vision Division of $40 billion Tier 1 auto supplier Magna International, discuss the future of transportation and the influence of autonomy, connectivity, electrification and sharing.   Hear his insights on a large organization like Magna stays at the cutting edge.  What are Magna's different styles of partnership with innovators such as Lyft, and why? Learn more about Magna and Swamy.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Electric vehicle adoption will threaten automotive profit distribution sooner than expected and much sooner than unit volumes would imply.  Tesla has brought about this and many other large but less-noticed changes & threats.

Electric vehicle adoption will threaten automotive profit distribution sooner than expected and much sooner than unit volumes would imply.  Tesla has brought about this and many other large but less-noticed changes & threats.  The Company has been afforded unprecedented (and sometimes counterproductive) latitude by customers, investors & the media. This 2-part episode is a companion to our publication, Everybody Hates Tesla . More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Electric vehicle adoption will threaten automotive profit distribution sooner than expected and much sooner than unit volumes would imply.  Tesla has brought about this and many other large but less-noticed changes & threats.  The Company has been afforded unprecedented (and sometimes counterproductive) latitude by customers, investors & the media. This 2-part segment is a companion … Continue reading Everybody Hates Tesla, Part 1 →

Electric vehicle adoption will threaten automotive profit distribution sooner than expected and much sooner than unit volumes would imply.  Tesla has brought about this and many other large but less-noticed changes & threats.  The Company has been afforded unprecedented (and sometimes counterproductive) latitude by customers, investors & the media. This 2-part segment is a companion to our publication, Everybody Hates Tesla . More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.gtkpartners.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Alysia Green, Chief Information Officer of Chevron's upstream energy exploration business, describe the interaction of Information Technology and Operational Technology.  She discusses what's shared and what's different,

Listen to Alysia Green, Chief Information Officer of Chevron's upstream energy exploration business, describe the interaction of Information Technology and Operational Technology.  She discusses what's shared and what's different, from an IT perspective, between "conventional" exploration and "unconventionals" (such as fracking in the Permian Basin).  Learn about the practical solutions derived from today's Big Data and artificial intelligence, and machine learning technologies.  Alysia describes the influence of human factors and safety on IT decisions. Learn more about Chevron and Alysia.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Behrooz Abdi, Chief Executive Officer of TDK InvenSense, describe the genesis of the microelectromechanical or MEMS sensor.   Behrooz explains why he thinks many years of growth and innovation is ahead for the industry, how sensor fusion can provide smart answers at the network edge without needing to access the cloud, and why … Continue reading Behrooz Abdi, CEO, TDK InvenSense (MEMS / automotive sensors) →

Listen to Behrooz Abdi, Chief Executive Officer of TDK InvenSense, describe the genesis of the microelectromechanical or MEMS sensor.   Behrooz explains why he thinks many years of growth and innovation is ahead for the industry, how sensor fusion can provide smart answers at the network edge without needing to access the cloud, and why smartphone sensors are encroaching on industrial applications.  Behrooz describes why the acquisition of public company InvenSense by TDK was the right decision from a technology and manufacturing perspective. Learn more about TDK InvesSense and Behrooz.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Bill Ruh, Chief Executive Officer of GE Digital, describe the genesis of GE Digital in 2011 when he joined GE from Cisco.   Bill explains the lessons learned in establishing the leading industrial internet of things player and why GE Digital's offerings are what they are today.  Listen to Bill describe how to … Continue reading Bill Ruh, CEO, GE Digital →

Listen to Bill Ruh, Chief Executive Officer of GE Digital, describe the genesis of GE Digital in 2011 when he joined GE from Cisco.   Bill explains the lessons learned in establishing the leading industrial internet of things player and why GE Digital's offerings are what they are today.  Listen to Bill describe how to innovate within a large company. Learn more about GE Digital and Bill.  More about GTK, your host Ali Tabibian, our conferences, publications and subscriptions thereto. If links aren’t active in your app, please go to www.techcarsmachines.com. A raw transcript is here.

Listen to Eddie Amos, Chief Technical Officer of GE explain how, since joining GE Digital via its acquisition of Meridium, he has focused on digital products ranging from manufacturing solutions to Asset Performance Management (APM) applications and other technologies that allow customers to digitize their operations and unlock the productivity of industrial equipment. Learn more about … Continue reading Eddie Amos, CTO, GE Digital →