DETROIT -- The auto industry is encountering a pivotal moment: It can slash pollution and traffic fatalities through production of electric and autonomous vehicles, said AutoNation Inc. CEO Mike Jackson.
But doing so won't be easy, he said.
The industry must shift to electric vehicles, Jackson, 68, told the Automotive News World Congress here. Jackson acknowledged that the shift comes with challenges, such as range, recharging and durability, but those issues will be addressed, he said. In 2030, he predicted, EVs will make up 15 to 20 percent of the market.
"In the auto industry, we are at that groundbreaking moment. It's there for the taking. Yes, there are inconvenient truths. Yes, there are challenges. Yes, there will be bumps in the road. Yes, there will be setbacks," he said.
"But I believe we are at an epic moment where we can fundamentally change," he said, the "amount of pollution and the amount of fatalities that are associated with our industry."