Build What’s Next: Digital Product Perspectives

Exploring The Evolving Automotive Landscape with Tim Morey and Evangelos Simoudis

Method

In this episode of Build What’s Next: Digital Product Perspectives, host Josh Lucas is joined by Tim Morey, Global Head of Method, and Evangelos Simoudis, Founder and Managing Director of Synapse Partners.

Join them as they discuss:
-
What the ‘Flagship Experience’ is
- How automakers can become mobility partners of consumers
- The decision for automakers to outsource software development or keep it in-house
- The driving forces behind the continued push toward automotive innovation
- How automakers can create and monetize value by better understanding customers needs
- And more!

Evangelos Simoudis is the Managing Director of Synapse Partners, a company investing in early-stage startups developing horizontal and vertical enterprise software AI applications. He is also the author of The Flagship Experience: How AI and Software-Defined Vehicles Will Revolutionize the Automotive Customer Experience.

Since 2023, Tim Morey has been Global Head of Method, the global strategic design and digital product development consultancy. Prior to joining us, he spent almost thirteen years leading Silicon Valley companies.

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Episode Resources:
Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothymorey
- Evangelos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evangelossimoudis
- Josh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-lucas-7844401b
- Method Website: https://www.method.com

Episode Highlights:
[03:08] What Is The Flagship Experience? 
[10:44] How Automakers Can Become Mobility Partners of Consumers
[17:12] Should Automakers Outsource Software Development Or Keep It In-House
[24:27] Driving Forces Behind Continued Push Towards Automotive Innovation
[31:38] How Automakers Capture and Use Data
[38:20] How Automakers Can Create and Monetize Value From Understanding Customers
[43:46] Where Do Dealers Come in?


Quotes:

“I think there have been many attempts recently, in the last couple of years, to create an analogy between the smartphone and the software-defined vehicles, and at a high level, the analogy holds. But we should not forget that I cannot kill somebody if I throw my phone at them unless I was very strong, whereas the vehicle is a heavy piece of machinery that can create a lot of problems.” - Evangelos Simoudis

“I think an awful lot of incumbent carmakers don't give themselves permission to be a mobility partner. They're looking at sulfur-designed vehicles and electrification and new energy sources as really a linear move in technology.” - Tim Morey

“For the incumbent automakers, partnering is an attractive option because you get ready-made access to expertise. But with that choice comes the challenge that you're now no longer fully in control of the overall experience that you're offering.” - Tim Morey