https://insideevs.com/news/693626/ford-cuts-ev-investment-after-losing-36000-usd-every-ev-sold-q3/ https://insideevs.com/news/693556/hyundai-record-q3-profit-ev-plans-on-track/ Does not look good for Ford going forward, esp after the UAW strike and settlement agreement. And as previously announced, EV delays with GM, too. https://insideevs.com/news/691887/gm-postponed-ev-pickup-production-orion-assembly/ And these battery plants could also be in jeopardy. https://insideevs.com/news/693384/uaw-demands-may-jeopardize-detroit-korea-28-billion-usd-battery-plants/ And not exactly smooth sailing for Tesla either. This CyberTruck is going to be a real albatross for them. Not to mention FSD. https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-tesla-earnings-call-analyst-b2436230.html How are we going to meet our 2030 EV targets with all this hanging over us? Maybe Toyota will come in and save us, with more hybrids first, and then solid state BEVs.
It looks like I'm going to trade my Sonata plug-in for a used Leaf plus sometime in the next three months. As far as Ford, there hasn't been many Lightnings on the dealer lots due to the production hold. So maybe some good news there going forward. As far as Tesla, there is some good news with the 4680 battery and the Model 3 update. Plus there is some good news with the semi. As far as GM, production seems to be moving upward. Not as fast as they want, but still going upward. In addition, the IRS has said they aren't going to recapture the tax credit for those under the income limits. If this holds, then that's going to help some too. So not all gloom and doom. As to Toyota, the solid state battery isn't in production, and who knows how long it will take to get it there. Their plug-in hybrids aren't exactly cheap. So I don't see much advantage there. Their plug-less hybrids do have a price advantage. The one thing saving Toyota is the price of new EVs.
I think Tesla could have done much better than the Cybertruck, if they had stuck with a more conventional design. I believe the cars, models S, X, and 3 have done well because they are good looking, at least on the outside. The exterior design was very conventional. They should have stuck with that philosophy on the Cybertruck. But I will admit, that Elon Musk is not stupid, and I think he chose that design to lower manufacturing costs, which in the end will be crucial going forward,... for all car manufacturers.
Volvo cautious about solid state batteries. https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/business/money-report/volvo-cars-ceo-strikes-cautious-tone-on-solid-state-battery-technology/3353933/
Yes, lots of things still to work out. And the first ones on the market will be expensive. But from what I've seen and read about Toyota, they seem to be in the lead with this technology. At least we know they won't rush it to market until it is ready so as not to risk their reputation for quality and reliability. https://www.ft.com/content/6224f235-568c-4e2f-8247-e7dacf0ef20c
It doesn't sound like the Cybertruck's design lowers manufacturing costs, based on Elon's latest comments: "We dug our own grave with Tesla Cybertruck" and "there will be enormous challenges in reaching volume production with the Cybertruck and in making the Cybertruck cash-flow positive."
Just saw on CNBC this morning with the UAW settlements, the all-in (wages and benefits) wage costs for the domestic big 3 goes up from $64 per hour to 89. Wow, that is going to be a big hit on margins and car costs. In comparison all-in for the foreign manufacturing plants in the US is $55/hr and for Tesla it is 45/hr. Get ready for more higher prices of cars.
Well if car prices go up too much for locally produced cars at GM, Ford and Stellantis, they will produce them somewhere else and import them. Plus this could provide an opening for BYD to overcome the Trump tax.
Yes, that could be very true. I was in to see my Hyundai dealer today where I bought the I6. The GM there said demand has really slowed, and is expecting some tough sledding the next few months. And they have lots of inventory now. Kind of tough for them. Before they couldn’t get inventory, and now people don’t have money to buy. I would expect it to be a buyers market now for a while, and probably some pretty good discounts. He also told me they have a new package coming now for the I6. There will be a RWD long range version with the Ultimate trim. I wonder if that will be the same for the I5. I really can't say enough about this dealer. First they treat me like a VIP when I walk in and everyone says hello. I went in to see if a rear seat belt tear could be fixed. It was my fault, as I was putting some stuff in there and it caught and ripped a small hole. Anyway the service advisor looked at it, talked to his manager, and they offered to fix it under warranty with a new one. I didn't ask for that, but was certainly pleased. Of course I went back and thanked the GM as well. They really are a good bunch there.
