In this episode of XTRAordinary, hosts Teague Egan and Spence sit down with Rohit Makharia, the former President and COO of SES AI Corp. Rohit shares his extensive journey, starting from his beginnings as a chemical engineer at General Motors (GM), where he led the battery cell development for the Chevrolet Bolt, to his role at GM Ventures, and eventually his leadership at SES AI Corp. The conversation explores the dynamic landscape of electric vehicles (EVs), with a deep dive into the technological advancements and market trends shaping the industry. Rohit discusses the competition between Chinese BYD electric cars and Tesla, offering insights into how BYD has overtaken Tesla as the most popular EV brand. They also touch on the significance of startups like SES AI in driving innovation and why large car manufacturers such as Hyundai and Honda invest in smaller companies to leverage cutting-edge technologies. Rohit provides a personal perspective on his life growing up in India, reflecting on how his early experiences influenced his career path and professional philosophy. Additionally, the discussion highlights the value of startups in the automotive industry and their role in pushing the boundaries of what's possible in EV technology. Join us for an enlightening episode that spans career insights, industry analysis, and personal reflections, offering a rich narrative on the future of electric vehicles and the importance of innovation in the automotive sector. SUBSCRIBE TO XTRAORDINARY: https://www.youtube.com/@XtraordinaryShow FOLLOW XTRAORDINARY: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/xtraordinaryshow Twitter - https://twitter.com/xtraordshow TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@xtraordinaryshow FaceBook - https://www.facebook.com/xtraordinaryshow/ CHECK OUT OUR GUEST - Rohit Makharia : https://x.com/rohitmakharia TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome to XTRAordinary ROHIT! 01:25 Growing Up in India 04:00 Choosing to Become a Chemical Engineer 05:15 Chemical Building Blocks 10:00 Being President of SES 12:50 Developing Battery Technology 17:35 The Landscape of Electric Vehicles Right Now 22:50 Fundraising $600M for SES 29:50 Taking a Company Public 33:10 Being a Part of GM Ventures 39:30 You Don't NEED Permission 42:25 AI Changing Electric Vehicles 54:00 Exciting Investments While At GM Ventures 59:40 Career At GM Before Ventures 1:06:10 Fuel Cell vs. Battery Starting Out 1:12:45 What Advice Would You Give to a Young Person? 1:16:50 Thank You For Being on the Show Rohit! Keywords: Rohit Makharia, SES AI Corp, General Motors, Electric Vehicles, BYD, Tesla, Automotive Industry, Startups, Innovation, Career Journey, XTRAordinary Podcast.