#110 - Arun Kumar - Managing Director, AlixPartners

“Global automakers need to spend an additional amount equivalent to one year’s spending for the next five years to transition to EVs. Add the investments to make AVs reality, and automakers are staring at a huge profit desert.”

Some sources estimate that over 500 billion dollars have been invested already in the quest for full autonomous driving, and an equal amount is likely to be invested over the next few years.

Everyone is in this race - from tech companies, VCs and PE funds, sovereign wealth funds, neo manufacturers and traditional automotive industry players - OEMs and large Tier 1 suppliers. If you are in the automotive A-list, you are working on an AV. 

Are we witnessing an AV Arms Race?

On this episode of the AI in Automotive podcast, I am hosting Arun Kumar from AlixPartners. AlixPartners is a renowned turnaround and innovation consulting firm, with deep expertise in automotive, and Arun is a Managing Director based in the Chicago office. 

Arun and I talk all things AV - the hype cycle of the last few years, the sobering realisation of the present, and the challenges and opportunities of the future. Arun shares his perspective on the AV Arms Race, and what it will take to come out on top.