The 2022 LA Auto Show Kicked Off This Week, but EVs Weren’t at the Forefront

David Shultz

David Shultz reports on clean technology and electric vehicles, among other industries, for dot.LA. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Outside, Nautilus and many other publications.

Vinfast back of car
LA auto show/Hyundai

Every year, inside the sprawling Los Angeles Conventions Center, the world’s foremost automakers gather to map out the future of personal mobility as part of the LA Auto Show. Against the backdrop of the nation’s plans to electrify 50% of new car sales by 2030 and a state that has pushed for a ban on new gas car sales by 2035, one would think that EVs would be front and center at this year’s show. Instead, the event–at least so far–has revealed just how far most automakers still have to go.


Most manufacturers at the show had only one or two electric models in their line ups. Ford brought the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E in various configurations. Porsche had two versions of the Taycan on display. A Lucid Air in a glass box greeted customers outside at registration. Kia brought the EV6 and the Niro EV. But all the brands also featured half a dozen gas-driven platforms as well. The exception to the trend was Chevy, which brought the Bolt EV, the Equinox EV, the Blazer EV, and the Silverado EV. Impressive, but an outlier.

That the majority of the vehicles at the LA Auto Show weren’t EVs isn’t particularly surprising. I didn’t expect the show to be entirely electric. but there’s something strange about watching Ford advertise the power or headroom in its F-150 Raptor, knowing that you won’t even be able to buy one in California in 12 years. (On a mostly unrelated note: It’s kind of nuts that we let people drive gasoline powered cars around inside a venue crammed with people. I’m sure the LA Convention Center has a great HVAC system and all, but being indoors with a bunch of cars is also quite the sensation.)

Vinfast auto show Vinfast car Vinfast

Twelve is an interesting number in car years, as it equates to the average lifespan of a vehicle, according to Progressive. That puts the automotive industry in the dawn of the final generation for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. If electrification goes as planned, this is it. The last hurrah for gasoline. The whole vibe is very Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel.

Notably absent were many of SoCal’s major players in the EV industry. Rivian was not there. Mullen was not there. Faraday Future was not there. Fisker was not there despite the fact that the Ocean is scheduled to start shipping at the end of the month.

Vinfast–the Vietnamese EV company with a US headquarters in Los Angeles–was the most notable exception. Yesterday the company unveiled two new models for US production, the VF6 and the VF7. The VF6 is a subcompact SUV and the VF7 is a compact SUV. While we’ve known about the existence of these models for sometime, Vinfast’s decision to bring them to the United States starting in 2024 marked what turned out to be the biggest EV-related news of the conference so far. Which is especially wild considering the company hasn’t even begun selling its first two models, the VF8 and VF9. The company declined to give specifics on pricing and couldn’t confirm whether the cars will use the same controversial battery subscription plan as their big brothers, but the models should be less expensive.

Also present was IndiEV, a Los Angeles-based EV startup that’s put a heavy focus on putting gaming into its vehicle. Outside the main hall, in what’s referrred to as the West Atrium, their prototype vehicle which purportedly will start at $45,000, had two full sized monitors on the front dash, accompanied by a full keyboard, a mouse, an Xbox controller, and a VR headset.

During a tour of the car’s features, John Santos, a marketing associate at IndiEV, says the company is even working on building VR games that incorporate the G-force associated with driving into the player experience. Turning right or left might trigger in game events that make the experience even more immersive. If you get nauseous playing VR games while stationary, this might not sound appealing at all, but the comparison to how dream levels work in Nolan’s Inception, made this one of the most futuristic-feeling moments of the day. No details about when the car might enter production, however.

Subaru exhibit at LA auto showSubaru exhibit at auto show Subaru

Japanese car manufacturer Subaru had probably the most elaborate display in the entire venue. Complete with fake jungle aesthetics, a tree fort, and a fenced off area full of real live puppies, the company was obviously leaning hard into its outdoor-centric brand image. Which was a bit awkward because it also brought zero EVs to the show. A graphic listing all its models on display did include the electric Solterra SUV, with a caption that simply read “coming soon.”

On the infrastructure end of things, many of the usual charging companies made appearances. Electrify America was there, and sponsored charging at the venue. SoCal’s own EVGo was set up in a booth where attendees could browse through all its charger locations using the PlugShare app, which they acquired in the summer of 2021. They also had two goats–like the living farm animals–in a makeshift pen next to the booth. The rationale behind this decision apparently stems from the simple fact that “EVGo” sounds like “EVGoat.” A bit of a reach, perhaps, but the goats proved extremely popular.

It’s curious to watch this massive industry on the cusp of such a radical transition. The show makes it clear who’s ahead on electrification and who isn’t. Hyundai and Kia are two of the most exciting EV automotive brands in America right now. The Ioniq 5 and 6, in particular, looked slick, and the price points won’t make you want to walk into the Pacific.

Nonetheless, the LA Auto Show made clear that despite a depleted tank, the internal combustion engine is still running on more than just fumes. How much more mileage the industry can squeeze out of fossil fuels remains to be seen. But in 2022, the ratio of EVs to ICEV still remains low.

Big Wins: Dodgers Take the Title ⚾, ChatGPT Levels Up🚀

🔦 Spotlight

Happy Friday, LA! It’s been a week of big wins, on and off the field. 🎉

⚾️ First up, let’s talk Dodgers. With a thrilling 7-6 comeback victory over the Yankees in Game 5, the Dodgers clinched their eighth World Series title, their first since 2020. The city is buzzing, and fans are ready to celebrate! A parade kicks off this morning at 11 a.m., starting at City Hall and winding down to Flower Street, with a ticketed celebration at Dodger Stadium for those wanting to keep the festivities going.

Image Source: Dodgers

💻 Meanwhile, in the tech, OpenAI just rolled out a game-changing update for ChatGPT. Plus and Enterprise users can now access real-time internet search, powered by Microsoft Bing, bringing ChatGPT's responses fully up-to-date. This means users can now ask about the latest news, hotspots, or recent LA startup announcements, and ChatGPT will pull in fresh, relevant answers directly from the web. Previously limited to information up to 2021, ChatGPT’s new browsing capabilities make it a valuable digital assistant for anyone needing real-time insights in fast-paced industries like tech and entertainment.

Image Source: ChatGPT

🔍 The real-time search feature also includes “Browse with Bing,” allowing ChatGPT to source information from multiple sites for detailed answers to complex questions. Whether you’re exploring the latest venture capital trends in LA or curious about the best local spots, ChatGPT’s new browsing power helps you stay ahead with the latest info. This leap forward in AI functionality makes ChatGPT even more versatile and powerful for everyone, from business owners to everyday users.

From the Dodgers’ World Series win to OpenAI’s latest ChatGPT update, there’s a lot to celebrate in LA this week. Here’s to champions, innovation, and a city that’s always pushing boundaries. 🌆✨


🤝 Venture Deals

LA Companies

  • Final Boss Sour, a Los Angeles-based gaming-themed snack company specializing in healthier sour snacks, has raised a $3M Seed funding round led by Science Inc. to expand its product offerings and operational capabilities. - learn more
LA Venture Funds
  • Smash Capital led a $50M Series B round for Read AI, a productivity-focused AI company, bringing its total funding to $81M. The company offers a platform that enhances meeting efficiency through features like note-taking, summarization, and transcription. Additionally, Read AI introduced "Read AI for Gmail," a free Chrome extension that integrates information from various applications, reducing the need to switch between apps. The funds will be used to increase the company's headcount in engineering, data science, and business teams. - learn more
  • Distributed Global participated in a $25M funding round for Nillion, a company that provides decentralized privacy solutions designed to secure sensitive data using advanced technologies like secure multi-party computation. - learn more
  • Act One Ventures participated in a $5M Seed funding round for Latii, a construction materials supply chain startup, to enhance its platform that connects contractors with suppliers, aiming to streamline procurement processes and reduce costs in the construction industry. - learn more
  • SmartGateVC participated in a pre-seed funding round for Ritual Dental, a company revolutionizing dental care by integrating advanced technology and microbiome science to provide personalized, preventive treatments. - learn more

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      Billion-Dollar Milestones and Snapchat’s New Features

      🔦 Spotlight

      Happy Friday Los Angeles!

      This week’s spotlight showcases LA’s thriving tech scene, featuring Snapchat’s latest feature updates and two local startups Liquid Death and Altruist, making TechCrunch’s Unicorn List for 2024.

      Image Source: Snap

      Snapchat’s recent fall updates bring fresh features, including a new iPhone camera shortcut for instant snaps, Halloween-inspired AI-powered Lenses, and Bitmoji costumes inspired by Mean Girls and Yellowstone. Bitmoji stickers now reflect trending Gen-Z expressions like “slay” and heart symbols for added flair in chats. Plus, the “Footsteps” feature on Snap Map allows users to track their past adventures privately, adding a nostalgic touch.

      Image Source: Liquid Death

      ICYMI, two LA startups joined the Unicorn Club—achieving valuations over $1 billion. Liquid Death, based in Santa Monica, is a canned water company with edgy branding and a humorous sustainability focus. Known for viral marketing and brand partnerships, it redefines bottled water as a lifestyle brand and environmental statement. In March, Liquid Death closed $67 million in strategic financing, raising its total funding to over $267 million and valuing it at $1.4 billion.

      Image Source: Altruist

      Altruist, a Culver City-based fintech platform, offers financial advisors streamlined tools to better serve their clients. With a user-friendly investment and account management platform, Altruist has gained strong traction in the finance world. In May, it announced a $169 million Series E funding round, bringing its total funding to over $449 million and earning a valuation of $1.5 billion.

      Together, Liquid Death and Altruist exemplify LA’s capacity for innovation across diverse sectors, from lifestyle branding to fintech. Whether reshaping financial tools or redefining sustainable branding, these companies showcase LA’s unique entrepreneurial spirit. Go LA!

      Check out TechCrunch’s 2024 Unicorn List here. And don’t miss Snapchat’s latest features—perfect for adding some fun, connection and maybe a few selfies this weekend!


      🤝 Venture Deals

      LA Companies

      • Freeform, a company bringing AI to metal 3D printing, raised $14M in funding from NVIDIA’s NVentures and AE Ventures to further develop its AI-powered 3D printing technology for industrial-scale production. - learn more
      LA Venture Funds
      • Anthos Capital participated in a $70M Series D round for Carbon Robotics, which develops AI-powered robotics for precision agriculture, and the funding will be used to accelerate the growth of its autonomous weeding technology. - learn more
      • Anthos Capital participated in a $3.5M seed round for Plasma Network, aimed at expanding access to USDT stablecoins on the Bitcoin network, with the investment supporting the network’s growth and efforts to enhance stablecoin accessibility through the Lightning Network. - learn more

      LA Exits


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          ⚖️FTC’s "Click to Cancel" Rule and Its Ripple Effect on Tech

          🔦 Spotlight

          Happy Friday Los Angeles,

          The FTC’s new “Click to Cancel” rule is shaking up subscription-based tech. Now, instead of navigating a maze of cancellation hurdles, users can cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up—with a single click. This shift is a wake-up call for SaaS, streaming, and app-based companies, where once-hidden exit options often kept users around simply because canceling was a hassle.

          The rule also requires businesses to send regular renewal reminders, ensuring customers stay informed about upcoming charges. It's more than a cancellation button—it’s about transparency and giving users control over their decisions.

          For startups, the impact goes deeper than UX adjustments. Many have relied on "dark patterns," which subtly discourage cancellations by hiding the exit. Now, companies must shift toward building genuine loyalty by delivering real value, not by complicating exits.

          While this might affect retention rates initially, it could lead to more sustainable business models that rely on satisfaction-driven loyalty. Investors may start prioritizing companies that emphasize transparent, long-term engagement over those that depend on dark patterns to maintain retention metrics.

          The rule opens the door to more ethical UX design and a truly user-centered approach across the tech industry. It may even set a precedent against manipulative design in other areas, such as privacy settings or payment methods.

          Ultimately, the “Click to Cancel” rule presents an opportunity for the tech industry to foster trust and build stronger customer relationships. Startups and established companies that embrace transparency will likely stand out as leaders in a new era of customer-centric tech, where trust—not tricky design—is what retains users.

          As the tech landscape continues to evolve, LA Tech Week 2024 offers a chance to explore these shifts in real-time. Check out the upcoming event lineups to stay informed and make the most of your time:

          For updates or more event information, visit the official Tech Week calendar.


          🤝 Venture Deals

          LA Companies

          • Ghost, a company supporting top brands and retailers with streamlined logistics and fulfillment solutions, raised a $40M Series C funding round led by L Catterton to fuel its continued growth and innovation. - learn more

          LA Venture Funds
          • Assembly Ventures participated in a $27M Series A round for Monogoto, a provider of software-defined connectivity solutions that enable secure, cloud-based IoT and cellular network management on a global scale. - learn more
          • Angeleno Group participated in a $32M Series C round for REsurety, a company that recently launched an innovative clean energy marketplace aimed at providing better financial and operational insights to support renewable energy transactions. - learn more

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