Daily Digest Newsletter - Automotive’s Post

From the rubble and the shadows of post-World War II Germany came the rise of an auto giant we now know as Volkswagen. Throughout its history, the automaker has developed a sizable but notable portfolio of models regarded as icons amongst its loyal fanbase. However, hordes of loyal fans worldwide can only do so much to uphold the brand they love ever so dearly. Recently, Volkswagen has been trying to adjust to the rest of the automotive industry, as it adopts electrified and electric vehicles to adhere to tighter emissions regulations in major markets like Europe and North America. While VW executives promise U.S.-bound hybrid vehicles, Volkswagen is struggling to save itself from a hole it created in its lean towards electric vehicles, and its struggles may have cost a key executive his job.

“I think it was overhyped and now it’s probably underhyped,” GM CEO Mary Barra said on the US outlook for EVs 🤷♂️ For every negative PR on EVs, there’s usually a positive data point around the corner… Exciting new technologies tend to invite two sides to the debate (no, not referring to politics, but leaders and laggards). After all, it’s what keeps the category fun to watch for both, outsiders & insiders. Here’s the facts: - For six of the top 10 brands, growth topped 50%+ in Q1⚡️📈 - GM has committed to electrifying some of its biggest brands, which are finally reaching production including: $35,000 Equinox SUV and its sibling Blazer; Silverado EV, and GMC Sierra electric pickups with up to 450 miles of range - This year Hyundai, GM and Ford are each on track to reach that 100,000 threshold of mass production, a potential turning point for US EV competition - Stellantis is expected to start selling its first electric Jeeps and Ram pickups - Hyundai is unleashing a diverse stable of EVs for its new factory opening in Georgia in October - Honda just started delivering the Acura ZDX and is building a production hub in Ohio for additional EVs coming in 2025 - “If the global market for EVs continued at this “slowdown” pace indefinitely, virtually all cars would be electric in a decade.” Yes, in a bear case scenario where growth remains at this pace, EVs are still on track to dominate the auto market now - 2030. Xeal Kirsten Swanson Regan Hartley Danny Fawcett Sean Steele Helen Bowman (Revell)

General Motors (GM) maintained its top spot in U.S. car sales despite a slight dip, with standout performances from full-size pickups and the Cadillac LYRIQ EV. Toyota North America saw a 20.3% surge in sales, notably driven by electrified vehicles. Ford Motor Company exceeded industry growth with a 6.8% increase, emphasizing hybrid and EV success. Tesla faced delivery challenges, while Rivian surpassed production expectations. Other brands like Mitsubishi, Subaru, Kia, Hyundai, and Mazda also reported strong sales. The Q1 2024 auto market showcases evolving consumer preferences and dynamic industry trends. #AutoIndustry #Q12024Sales #ElectricVehicles

Number of Cars on Dealer Lots Climbing Higher & Higher Across USA Much has been said in recent months about supposedly slumping EV sales growth. As we’ve pointed out on a number of occasions now, EV sales are actually soaring at many automakers in the USA, including at Ford, GM, Rivian, Audi, BMW, and several others. However, it seems there’s a brewing ... [continued] The post Number of Cars on Dealer Lots Climbing Higher & Higher Across USA appeared first on CleanTechnica . https://lnkd.in/eHt__KMP #netzero

■ Stellantis pushes Ram 1500 REV launch to 2025! Instead, Stellantis is first launching the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger Daytona EVs. By Dealership Guy ■ Stellantis is delaying the launch of the fully-electric 2025 Ram 1500 REV pickup to the first-half of 2025 as it prepares to ship two other electric vehicles in the coming weeks. ■ CEO Carlos Tavares confirmed the postponement during a Tuesday conference.  Tavares explained the delay would give the company more time to validate the pickup’s design. “In terms of validation, it's very important for Stellantis to demonstrate that we have all the capabilities and that we master the technology with a high level of durability,” he commented. ■ The REV was originally scheduled to deploy in Q4 of this year. However, Ram CEO Christine Feuell hinted in Oct. that the date would be pushed back until next year. ■ Stellantis is instead focusing on the upcoming launch of the Jeep Wagoneer S and Dodge Charger Daytona EVs, both due before winter. The two vehicles are the company’s first fully electric models for U.S. retail customers. ■ Zooming out: While Tavares said the delay would avoid mistakes and improve the REV’s quality, Stellantis is far from being the only automaker to push back an EV launch this year as the industry grapples with a variety of challenges. All three Detroit automakers have taken a step back from electric pickups in recent months, with Ford temporarily halting production of the F-150 Lightning truck until Jan. Profitability remains a key roadblock to electrification plans. Ford expects its electric car division to lose about $5 billion this year. And while General Motors estimates it will see a reduction in EV-related costs ranging from $2 billion to $4 billion in 2025, it has pushed back planned factory upgrades that would have expanded its electric pickup production. Government incentives are also a concern for manufacturers. Incoming President Donald Trump reportedly intends to cancel the $7,500 tax credit for EV purchases, potentially dealing a blow to demand. ■ Looking back: Stellantis is also aiming to cut back on spending after its profits plummeted nearly 50% in the first half of this year, although its financial woes are less related to EVs than its competitors. The company has been cutting employment in recent weeks in an attempt to balance its budget ahead of 2025 and is boosting incentives to stir up demand ahead of the holidays. #stelllantis #RAM #Jeep

https://lnkd.in/gG3YMZxf “ (Bloomberg) -- Ryan Xu was a dream customer for Germany’s automakers. The Guangdong-based entrepreneur and her husband own a Porsche 911 and a Mercedes-Benz G-Class and were among the first buyers of the electric Porsche Taycan. But her views on German cars have soured as Chinese consumers increasingly favor tech refinement over traditional selling points like horsepower and handling. The software systems in the Taycan, which costs well over $100,000, were “terrible,” the 36-year-old mother of three said. It was “just an electrified Porsche — and that’s it.” Her assessment isn’t isolated. As China moves away from combustion-engine cars, Volkswagen AG, Mercedes-Benz Group AG and BMW AG are struggling to offer electric vehicles that appeal to customers in their largest and most lucrative market, putting €35 billion ($38 billion) of investment on the line. The latest warning signs came last week, when all three German manufacturers reported slumping third-quarter sales in China. BMW posted its steepest sales drop there in more than four years, a 30% plunge, and Mercedes’ deliveries declined 13% amid poor demand for its priciest cars, including S-Class and Maybach limousines. Porsche’s sales in China tumbled 19% to its worst third-quarter performance in a decade as global demand for the Taycan nearly halved. Volkswagen — the parent of Porsche and Audi — reported a 15% decline. “The competitive situation in China is particularly intense,” said Marco Schubert, who oversees sales for VW. After dominating the gas-guzzler era, German manufacturers became complacent, underestimating the threats posed by new rivals and reluctant to abandon the profits generated by big-engine cars. That allowed Tesla Inc. and local manufacturers led by BYD Co. to speed by with tech-savvy and affordable plug-ins, and now China no longer needs or wants them there.” ….. …..

Ford Zooms Past Toyota as Sales Surge for Second Month Straight: with EV sales surging 80.1% year-over-year. #Ford (F) continued its strong momentum, securing the top spot for auto sales in the US for the second consecutive month in February. This impressive achievement is fueled by a growing demand for both hybrid and electric vehicles within the Ford lineup. Overall sales climbed 10.5% year-over-year, reaching 174,192 vehicles, surpassing Toyota's total of 159,262. Hybrid sales witnessed a significant 31.5% jump, driven by record-breaking figures for the Maverick hybrid pickup and Escape hybrid SUV. Ford's commitment to electrification is paying off, with EV sales surging 80.1% year-over-year to 6,368 units, likely boosted by recent price cuts on the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning. This positive news is reflected in the stock market, with Ford shares experiencing a rise of over 3% in early trading on Monday. #autos #electricvehicles #hybrids #innovation #leadership #autoindustry Ford Motor Company Toyota Motor Corporation https://lnkd.in/gUUZyfKZ

Ford Sales Accelerate in 2024:    Ford continues to lead non-Tesla U.S. sales, growing 65% in just May 2024. Earlier this year, the company slashed prices, citing a lack of demand. Though Ford is expecting to lean into hybrid models, their all-electric options are seeing record highs. The F-150 Lightning, with its new "Flash" trim, longer-range battery, and new tech inside, is up almost 80% in sales. Read more at Electrek´below: https://lnkd.in/eTtiq-VY #ElectricVehicle #Ford #Tesla #HybridCars

A common prediction for 2024 EV sales was that General Motors would struggle to maintain the momentum it gathered in 2023. Two factors were commonly used to support this position: 1) The most popular all-electric model in GM's line-up, the Bolt EV, leaving the line-up for MY 2024, and 2) Ultium models experienced early production issues, while also not being affordable enough to replace the Bolt EV for budget-conscious buyers. Q1'24 sales further backed the notion of a tough year for GM, with YOY numbers down 20.5% compared to Q1'23. Meanwhile, competitors like Ford Motor Company (up 86.1%) and Hyundai-Kia (up 56.1%) posted numbers heading in the opposite direction. As reported by InsideEVs, GM appears to be in the middle of a very strong Q2 thanks to the Cadillac Lyriq, which made up around one-third of the company's 9,000+ EVs sold in May across the U.S. and Canada. That marks the best sales month yet for GM's electric vehicles, which previously stood at approximately 7K sold and relied heavily on the budget sector of the Bolt EV, rather than the more premium pricing that the Lyriq commands. With the Chevy Blazer EV arriving on dealer lots across North America and the Chevy Equinox EV receiving very positive press, plus the Silverado EV looking like the pick of 2024's all-electric truck options, GM could actually steal a march on its competitors. Although the lure of becoming the first automaker after Tesla to sell more than 100K EVs is the more realistic milestone, it's worth noting that GM's stated target for the year is more than 200,000 EVs sold. Even if they fall short, posting numbers in that region amidst a wave of negative headlines - and following the Ultium platform's troubled 2023 rollout - would be a remarkable turnaround. It would also set the stage for a bumper 2025, with the Bolt EV set to return as the market's most affordable electric car alongside a product roster that hits some key vehicle categories and price points. What barriers exist that could undercut this rosier outlook for GM's EV ambitions? #EVsales #electricvehicles #EVmarket

Ford Motor Company Sales for the first quarter surged by 6.8% compared to last year, outpacing the industry average growth of 4.7%, according to Motor Intelligence data. With 508,083 vehicles sold, Ford is demonstrating remarkable strength in the market. Ford's success lies in its "freedom of choice" strategy, offering consumers a range of options including electric, gas-powered, and hybrid vehicles. Hybrid vehicle sales are a particular highlight, showcasing Ford's unique strength in the market. This strategy has caught the attention of competitors like General Motors, prompting them to pivot towards adding hybrid options to their lineup. It's clear that Ford's approach is not only competitive but also forward-thinking in today's rapidly evolving automotive landscape. #Ford #AutomotiveIndustry #HybridVehicles