It doesn't have to be a "dumb" car. Just don't route everything through a stupid touchpad. I know it costs more to install buttons but I don't want to have to hunt and peck through dropdown menus to turn on the radio or air conditioning. And I definitely don't want a subscription service, that will be canceled eventually, to access remote start.

This is what Slate Auto is doing with their truck.

The problem is tracking you provides them revenue since they can sell the data, so they make more money with a vehicle that tracks you vs one that doesn't. A non-tracking vehicle is less competitive if it has to be sold for the same or less money than one that tracks you.

I need a golf cart that can go 80+mph and passes us safety standards.

Just give me a damn conversion kit... I love my current car and like none of the modern ones, with useless features and annoying stuff like the mandatory lane assist, but I'd gladly stop polluting if I could.

The sad truth is that 99.99% of customers (citation needed) don't give a shit about getting tracked or having stupid "smart" features

No car needs that shit, but how else can they justify $60000?

they'll come eventually

The first wave where the tech bros were you can leverage $ off them. Car manufacturers themselves said they were initially going after the high margin paying customer. You cant sell a new car here in Aus without all sorts of passive monitoring stuff,so that's an issue for a simple car.

now you're at the family level, mid size SUVs are prevailing here in Australian the BYD Atto 2 and similar models from Geely and KIA etc. Telsas are still unfortunately popular and we only get the 3 and the Y

most people want connected cars, my gf loves preheating our BYD when she heads off on an early morning start before she hops in, seats and cabin have been prewarmed etc. she likes the 360 birdseye cameras and I must admit they are very good.

When it's at a public charger you can monitor it while you're away so you don't get hit with idle fees etc albeit 90% of our changing is at home off solar panels. The biggest complaint from Cupra and VW EV owners in Australia is the lack of connected services though there is possibly a bunch of folks who bought them for that reason who aren't complaining.

The problem is Japan doesnt refine any materials while China refines all the materials, and electric vehicles are relatively simple relative to combustion engines so theres less barrier to entry. The largest barrier is the battery, which is also manufactured in China.

They're saying they need more taxpayer money.

They're probably angling for more restrictions on Chinese cars in the US/Japan. Then they can enjoy their monopoly over the domestic market without having to actually invest anything to actually compete with Chinese auto companies

Ugh... He's not impressed with the gasoline free, infinitely superior propulsion technology - he's impressed by how much the in vehicle systems are like smartphones.

I threw up a little. We're never escaping this bullshit.

A few, like Tesla, have successfully made cars that act and feel like consumer devices—vehicles with lots of tech features, **** and a steady stream of meaningful software updates. Most are playing catch-up.

"smooth digital interfaces"

Nobody actually fucking wants this!

I'm really not surprised. Detroit hires engineers but they suck the creativity out of them and just make the same tired shit decade after decade.

See also: Sears pioneering the concept of ordering things through the mail from a catalogue, and then getting demolished by Amazon's online ordering system. Way to go guys, you got destroyed by some upstart punk doing what you got started doing, but doing it better and cheaper than you could.

I want a car that doesnt guzzle gas, blows hot and cold and is relatively easy to maintain.

Every other "luxury" feature like touch screens, heated seats, backup cams, I don't necessarily need. I do like having a backup camera though. My 2015 Toyota Camry does everything I need it to, aside from the stupid touchscreen and the obnoxious way it plays whatever was last playing when my phone connects. Thankfully it still has physical buttons and dials for things.