Volkswagen s Big Electric Push Hasn t Gone So Smooth
Photo: Getty (Getty Images)
Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess made his first tweet earlier today in an apparent effort to start some beef with Elon Musk. The reality, though, is that VW’s $50 billion electric push hasn’t gone so swell.
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Here is the tweet. I apologize for showing it to you.
The timing of the tweet was weird because at 10:31 a.m. many people in the United States and I have to assume a fair number of people across the world had their eyes on Washington, and the transfer of power happening there. Most people at that moment in history were not thinking about Volkswagen or its electric car situation.
GM s Cruise Partners With Microsoft Because Carmakers Can t Go It Alone Anymore
Image: Cruise
The pursuit of autonomous cars has brought auto manufacturers and tech companies closer together than ever. Microsoft and General Motors, strange bedfellows though they might’ve been a decade or two ago, are now partnering to put Cruise’s robotaxis on the road.
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On Tuesday, Microsoft announced a contribution to a $2 billion investment round that also included funding from GM and Honda, placing Cruise’s total valuation at $30 billion. GM acquired Cruise in 2016; since then, the self-driving research startup has grown from 40 employees to almost 2,000, according to the Financial Times.
In Case You Needed A Reminder Tesla Fans Are Creepily Culty, Here You Go
Screenshot: Adoration of the Golden Calf, oil on canvas by Nicolas Poussin
I know that we often get accused of having a strong anti-Tesla bias on our site, but that mostly comes from hardcore Tesla fans. I think overall, we treat Tesla fairly, but I admit, it is a bit complicated. I think most of us here respect the engineering and design of Tesla’s cars, but have some real issues with the build quality and the way Autopilot is marketed, and, yes, the Big Man himself. But the Tesla-stans, there’s something unusual going on there, and by chance I was reminded of it today.
American Gods (ongoing, Starz): In its third season, and now with its third showrunner, the Neil Gaiman book adaptation continues to chart the relationship between Shadow Moon (Ricky Whittle) and Mr. Wednesday (Ian McShane), as well as the ongoing battle for believers between the Old and New Gods.
Batwoman (ongoing, the CW): Whatever ends up happening onscreen on
Batwoman this season is surely going to be impacted by what happened off-screen: star Ruby Rose left the show and was replaced by Javicia Leslie, who’s playing a new character entirely. Making that story make sense (so far so good) will be the show’s main goal before the new Batwoman can truly spread her wings.
Photo: Rebecca Brenneman/The CW
Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Thursday, January 21. All times are Eastern.
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Top pick
Walker (The CW, 8 p.m., series premiere): Howdy, folks. The name’s Walker. Ranger Walker. From Texas.
We think that somewhere in The CW’s corporate bylaws, there must be a clause that demands at least one program in which Jared Padalecki is featured must be on the schedule at all times.
Walker fulfills that obligation. Our own bylaws require that Roxana Hadadi recap this reboot, and she stands ready to do so.
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