Looking Out #37
New Renaults and Rivians, Elon's interview, a new London emerging, designing for the wrong problems, and how tech outstayed its welcome
25 March, 2024
Welcome to Looking Out, where we connect the dots across the automotive industry, mobility, design, and culture. Looking Out is brought to you by Joe Simpson and Drew Smith of The Automobility Group. If you like what you see, tell your friends!
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Looking Out - The Podcast EP16
It seems that the death of the cool small(er) car has been greatly exaggerated. Renault has given us the the R5, Rivian the delightful R3, and we dive in to the designs of both. We also talk about the death of the Apple Car, and why it might not matter that much, and the state of design in corporates.
Auto
Stellantis Must Make Batteries for Its Own EVs, Says CEO Tavares
Why it’s interesting: when Tavares speaks, it’s usually worth listening - this suggests that Stellantis will get on the train of vertically integrating its battery supply as it attempts to make EVs that can compete (at least on cost grounds) with Tesla and BYD.
The Costs Of GM’s Software Woes: A Cautionary Tale
Why it’s interesting: when GM launched the Chevy Blazer at the end of 2023, it quickly became clear that the software wasn’t quite right. This focuses less on how GM put things right, but the wider issues around software in the automotive industry and the cost and impact of getting things wrong.
Dacia Will Sell You A New Car Without A Center Screen
Why it’s interesting: Last month we celebrated Scout selling cars with buttons. This month, we’re celebrating Dacia selling a car without a screen. It’s fantastic to see a brand acknowledging that the best infotainment device is the one we carry in our pocket and wholeheartedly embracing BYOD (bring your own device). Watch the product video here.
Pair with: Disruptive Innovations Always Look Like Toys
Don Lemon interviews Elon Musk
Why it’s interesting: Drew watched it and he’s still scraping his brain up from the floor, so you’ve been warned. But it's a fascinating insight in to the mind of the man that has influenced so much of the automotive world, to say nothing of the world at large.
Mobility
Riese & Müller Carrie: the compact Cargo Bike
Why it’s interesting: The Cambrian explosion of micromobility continues apace. This new cargo bike addresses one of the biggest limitations of the category: their size. There are some really lovely design solutions here.
The battle for Zone 6’s soul
Why it’s interesting: a piece that explores the concept of suburbia and what is happening on the edge of London right now, in terms of housing, community and attitudes. Some of this is specific to London and the UK but elements of it are repeated the world over and the sentiments that the people interviewed express, get to the heart of debates about the future of modern society
The 10 most innovative companies in transportation of 2023
Why it’s interesting: who doesn’t love a list? Despite its American bias, this list captures some of the most interesting work happening in mobility right now, and might even include a name or two you’ve never heard of.
Design
A chat with Chiho Sasaki
Why it’s interesting: if you’re a Muji fan - and frankly who isn’t - you’ll want to have a read of this chat with Chiho Sasaki.
disassembly lab’s 3D knitted recyclable sneakers can be taken apart for repair and restoration
Why it’s interesting: While Nike, Adidas and others already have shoes that keep materials in the loop, and the space hippy undoubtedly drove a particular aesthetic, this disassembly lab sneaker puts their ability to take it apart at the core of the design aesthetic.
Ikea’s creative director thinks we’re designing for the wrong problems
Why it’s interesting: Markus Engman’s influence on the world we inhabit is somewhat under recognised - and his thought leadership around sustainability and design (going beyond far more than just household furniture) is outlined in this Fast Company piece.
Mixed Reality: The Future of Automotive UX Prototyping
Why it’s interesting: Gotta love a prototype. In another great blogpost from friend-of-Looking Out Casper Kessels, he walks through how he built a mixed reality automotive UX prototype using a tablet and an Oculus Quest headset. There’s so much to explore here…
Culture
A Gearhead Programmer, an Epic European Road Trip, and the Creation of OutRun
Why it’s interesting: while it’s Gran Truism that gets the modern day plaudits for the development of car culture in the games console age, to many of us in our (ahem) 30s and 40s, it was SEGA’s arcade driving-not-racing game ‘Outrun’, that was our first love and driver of so many mental imaginaries of simply driving exotic cars at high speed. This wonderful piece tells the story of its creator and creation.
How Tech Outstayed Its Welcome
Why it’s interesting: Cory Doctorow introduced us to enshittification as a way to describe the diminished quality of products and services (and products-as-services) as a result of financialisation and monopolisation. The car is rapidly heading in the same direction, with Audi just the latest example of a company trying desperately to enshitify its product, in this case the facelifted A3. OEMs might wanna be careful how closely they ape their Silicon Valley shamans. The popular tide might be turning.
Pair with: They Praised AI at SXSW—and the Audience Started Booing
Behind F1's Velvet Curtain
Why it’s interesting: What happens when you send a socialist road cyclist to cover the Formula One? The kind of insight that might make your skin crawl. And a reaction so incendiary that Road & Track retracted the article. An incredible piece of writing.
Join or Die
Why it’s interesting: Across many developed societies, individuals are becoming more isolated and the impact on individuals and communities is devastating. This is a fascinating documentary about Bob Putnam, the academic who developed the concept of social capital, and how joining clubs might just be the thing that saves civil society.
Pair with: End the Phone-based Childhood Now
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That's it for this issue. We love feedback (positive and negative), and to answer any questions you have. So email Joe or Drew and we’ll get back to you.