By Shinoo Mapleton · May 15, 2026

🎧 Stream us on Apple Podcasts!

Few industries pivot as slowly, or as publicly, as the automotive industry. Product plans are developed years in advance, factories are tooled around long-term assumptions, and entire brands are often built around a single technological direction. That is what makes the current shift away from an EV-only future so fascinating to watch.

After spending the last 40 years around the automotive industry, I’ve had a front row seat to several major powertrain transitions. I watched carburetors disappear in favor of fuel injection. I saw naturally aspirated engines give way to turbocharging. Manual transmissions were replaced by dual-clutch automatics, and lightweight analog sports cars gradually became rolling computers. But the current pivot, away from an aggressively forced EV future and back toward internal combustion and hybrids, may be one of the most significant reversals yet.

And it is happening because customers, not regulators, are reasserting themselves.

Just a few years ago, the industry narrative felt settled. Governments around the world announced aggressive 2035 ICE bans, manufacturers committed billions toward EV-only lineups, and internal combustion development began slowing dramatically. Many companies behaved as though the future had already been decided.

The problem was that customers never fully agreed.

EV adoption certainly grew, particularly in luxury segments and urban markets, but the demand curve flattened sooner than many expected. Charging infrastructure remained inconsistent, resale values became volatile, and buyers outside major metropolitan areas often found hybrids or traditional ICE vehicles better suited to their lives.

At the same time, governments began softening deadlines and easing regulations surrounding combustion bans, recognizing that infrastructure, energy grids, and consumer demand were not moving as quickly as policy makers had hoped.

The industry had planned for a revolution.  What it got instead was a recalibration.

That recalibration is now pushing manufacturers toward a middle ground that many enthusiasts quietly suspected would happen all along, the hybrid.

For decades, hybrids were often viewed as transitional technology, neither fully electric nor fully combustion. Today they are increasingly being viewed as the practical long-term solution for many markets. They preserve range, reduce emissions, improve fuel economy, and still allow the emotional and functional advantages of internal combustion engines to remain part of the experience.

That shift is now influencing even the most performance-focused manufacturers.

One of the most interesting developments in this transition is the rise of Horse Powertrain, the joint venture backed by Renault, Geely, and Saudi Aramco focused specifically on advanced ICE and hybrid powertrains.

That partnership would have sounded almost contradictory just a few years ago. At the peak of the EV push, investing heavily in new combustion engines would have been viewed by many as backward-looking. Today it looks increasingly pragmatic.

Horse is developing modern hybrid-ready ICE platforms, including a new high-output twin-turbo V6 designed specifically for future hybrid applications. Geely appears to be leveraging that capability aggressively across its portfolio, and Lotus may become one of the clearest examples of this new strategy.

Recent reports suggest the upcoming Lotus Type 135, which many expect to revive the Esprit name, will move away from its original EV-only direction and adopt a hybrid V8 configuration instead. At the same time, the Emira is reportedly preparing to transition toward a Horse-developed hybrid V6 platform as emissions regulations tighten and customer demand continues favoring six-cylinder cars.

That is a remarkable shift for a company that once publicly committed to becoming fully electric.

For enthusiasts, none of this should be surprising.

People do not connect emotionally with propulsion technology alone. They connect with sound, response, character, range, usability, and familiarity. Internal combustion engines still deliver many of those qualities in ways EVs struggle to replicate, particularly in sports cars where emotion is part of the product itself.

That does not mean EVs are failing. In many applications they make tremendous sense. Instant torque, packaging flexibility, and smoothness are real advantages. But the assumption that EVs would completely replace ICE vehicles on a compressed timeline increasingly appears unrealistic.

The market is now telling manufacturers what enthusiasts understood years ago.

The future was never going to be purely electric.

What makes this moment particularly interesting is that it highlights the tension between engineering ambition, government policy, and customer behavior. Automakers can shape trends, but ultimately customers decide what succeeds. When enough buyers hesitate, delay purchases, or simply choose something else, the industry adapts.

That is exactly what we are seeing now.

Manufacturers are not abandoning EVs entirely. Instead, they are recognizing that the transition will likely take longer, remain more regional, and require more flexibility than originally planned. Hybrid systems are becoming the bridge that allows companies to meet regulations while still delivering the range, usability, and emotional qualities buyers continue to demand.

The industry spent years preparing for the death of internal combustion. Instead, it appears to be entering a new phase where ICE, hybrid, and EV technologies will coexist far longer than many predicted.

And perhaps that should not surprise us. The automobile has always evolved in layers, not absolutes. New technologies rarely erase the old ones overnight. They simply force them to become better, more efficient, and more focused.

The future may still be electric eventually.  But for now, combustion is proving far harder to replace than many expected.

— Shinoo Mapleton

InoKinetic Group, Inc. | Temecula, CA | inokinetic.com | drakancars.com

The official Full Throttle Talk merch store is now live.

Built for enthusiasts who appreciate performance, design, and the culture behind great cars, our merch collection brings the spirit of Full Throttle Talk beyond the podcast and into your everyday lifestyle.

From premium tees and hoodies to hats and accessories, every piece is designed for people who live life in the fast lane — whether you're behind the wheel, in the garage, or at your next car meet.

Every purchase directly supports the show and helps us continue bringing you more conversations, stories, and automotive content each week.

👉 Explore the collection here: full-throttle-talk-shop.fourthwall.com

Drive inspired. Stay Full Throttle.

📩 Don’t keep Full Throttle Talk a secret—share it with a friend, family member, or colleague. Let’s spread the fun!

🧠 Got an article or market take? Send it in—we’ll feature our favorites in an upcoming issue.

💬 Want your question featured on the next show? DM us on Instagram or reply to this newsletter.