This is partially true. Vehicles are needed but most of the computing the modern ones do is completely unnecessary for the primary function and purpose of the vehicle. There is really nothing important I can do with my Tesla that I can’t with my 1980s Ford ranger. There are definitely important things I can do with the old pickup truck that I can’t do in the Tesla. Until we reach a point where the car can legally drive you home from the bar while you are passed out in the back most of the stuff chips are used for in vehicles pretty much is for sales purposes and turns it into a giant smartphone. Add in the whole remote exploit thing about some of the models of different 2000s models with dash computing that never get firmware updates but still have remote network connectivity and it’s actually a pretty shitty idea overall until actual self driving cars are a thing. Before anyone mentions that you can track your car if it’s stolen, it’s important to remember most of the thieves going after new cars will back up to the vehicle with a metal box truck lined with some kind of faraday material then pull your car into it.

Having an electric vehicle doesn’t mean it needs the fastest hardware. You can run the entire base mechanics sensors and outputs of an electric vehicle on an Arduino with some extra breadboards.