(Image: Willie Nelson | Photo: Josh Withers, Shutterstock)
Can I interest you in a low-mileage Volkswagen? How about some bargain-basement crude oil? Better still a carton of Willie Nelson’s Willie’s Reserve premium cannabis?
Likely more takers for the latter than the former this past week after the global auto industry’s going-green road trip suffered a head-on collision with marketplace integrity following revelations that diesel-engine powered Volkswagen cars were outfitted with software that fudged emissions readings.
Staggering from the accident scene, Volkswagen bossman Martin Winterkorn said he was really sorry. However, the hurt inflicted on the automaker, which has been a highly prized global brand and was the unofficial fleet supplier to the 1960s hippie subculture, has been incalculable.
Hurt was likewise inflicted on Winterkorn’s resumé, as the German automaker’s CEO subsequently resigned, even more sorry than he was after viewing the accident scene and even though he maintained there was no wrongdoing on his part in causing the crash.
Meanwhile much hurt has also been inflicted on equity markets and what’s left of integrity in the global auto industry, especially the portion that claims to be on the road to a cleaner, less fossil-fuel-powered future.
Hopes rising for a smart carmaker. Somewhere over the rainbow:
Apple, long rumoured to be entering the predatory auto-manufacturing sector, appears to be getting closer to realizing that ambition.
According to reports in The Telegraph, the iPhone giant’s “Titan” self-driving electric vehicle project is heading from back of napkin to reality and a shipping date of 2019.
Prepare for buyer lineups starting now outside Apple stores.
Meanwhile out in fossil-fuel land:
North American crude continued its down-market flirtation with sub-US$50 per-barrel prices that a Wood Mackenzie analysis figured have derailed US$1.5 trillion previously destined for new U.S. tight oil projects.
So while the smart money might be on self-driving Apple i-mobiles, blue-collar commuters down on their luck and low on disposable e-dollars will for now likely be sticking with internal combustion mobility – just maybe not diesel-powered mobility.
Red alert for narcissists, mirror-gazers and the chronically self-absorbed:
Prior to Volkswagen’s $9 billion multi-car emissions crash, a report last week noted that there have been more deaths from selfie incidents than shark attacks.
According to the Mashable dispatch, one recent selfie death involved a Japanese tourist who fell down stairs while attempting a selfie at the Taj Mahal.
Other selfie fatalities and near-fatalities have included such ill-advised and dim-witted photo opps as selfies with bears and bull runs.
Still, the selfie faithful will likely be more willing to risk a great white encounter than stop using that selfie stick to video/photo themselves driving, walking and chewing gum at the same time or otherwise doing anything and nothing.
Back on the road again:
Not with a German auto maker but with something a little more down home: Willie Nelson and Tuatara Capital’s announcement of a partnership to establish Willie's Reserve, what a PR Newswire item described as “a premium cannabis lifestyle brand."
The two, according to the report, share a “passion and vision for the cannabis category.”
Might be worth passing Nelson/Tuatara contact information along to Volkswagen dealerships and sales folk. Maybe even Mr. Winterkorn.
@timothyrenshaw
