Survey results from auto executives throughout the industry are showing that most car makers are focusing their efforts on refining the internal combustion engine, rather than developing electric vehicles. Of the executives questioned in the survey, 75% believed that investing into improvements for the internal combustion engine would offer greater efficiency and carbon dioxide reduction than electric vehicles for at least the next decade. More than a quarter also confirmed that their companies would be investing heavily into these improvements over the next several years, such as Ford and their EcoBoost engine, which has found its way into almost every model in their lineup. Though the prospects for the electric motor remain promising into the future, in its current form the internal combustion engine offers a much more plausible platform for improvement. Gary Silberg, KPMGs National Automotive Industry leader. Executives also noted a willingness to invest into their manufacturing plants, citing areas of potential growth in the production process.
64% of those surveyed said that their companies would be increasing investments into new plants during the next five years, up from just 55% from the year before. Along with improvements to the engines themselves, an improved method of production could also create noticeable benefits. In a number of global markets, including the US, many plants are already running at 100 percent capacity, meaning an additional investment would require an expansion of the facilities themselves. When combined with the kinds of accident avoidance technologies already being implemented today, these fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly internal combustion engines can deliver a safer and more reliable option than their electric alternatives. Until battery driven vehicles can demonstrate greater range and safety for occupants on board, the more practical investment will be towards the development of the kinds of engines already in service today. As a final question in the survey, each executive was also asked which companies they believed would control the most market share over the next five years. Volkswagen, Hyundai, and BMW were the favorites, each hard at work developing smaller and more efficient internal combustion engines, rather than putting their weight behind electric power.
My third and final trip of the year was another road trip, this time with my wife, my son, my mother-in-law and my wife's uncle Henry and aunt Diane joining us. Our home base was at the Easton Town Center near Columbus, Ohio and while the girls and my 2 year old shopped, Henry (my member/guest partner) and I played golf at some pretty great places. The highlight was two rounds bookending the trip at Muirfield Village GC, the Jack Nicklaus & Desmond Muirhead collaboration that has been home to the PGA Tour's Memorial Tournament for over 30 years. MVGC is a great test with a cool layout and some of the most incredible conditioning I've ever seen and this trip took place during a remarkably brutal hot spell that saw temperatures over 100 degrees. Thank goodness for their famous milkshakes, which were as good as advertised! Another highlight of our Ohio trip was playing Nicklaus' home course growing up, Scioto CC.
This 1916 Donald Ross gem was a true pleasure to play and one of the finest parkland designs I've ever played. I knew it would be good, as it resides near the bottom of most American top 100 lists but I came away thinking it is a bit underrated. A cool members club and an understated gem of a golf course. We also played the highly-rated Longaberger GC, an Arthur Hills public course in the neighbouring town of Nashport. It was good, not great, with some very odd routing choices but I enjoyed the day and some of the holes are very strong. Stay tuned for full reviews of Muirfield Village, Scioto and Longaberger, hopefully coming around springtime. We also played The Medallion Club and Wedgewood G&CC while in the Columbus area. Neither are highly rated but Wedgewood, a Robert Trent Jones Jr design, was a pleasant surprise - excellent conditioning and a pretty natural site equalled very good golf.
