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☆ Detroit went all-in on big, expensive EVs nobody wants. Here's what the data shows they'd rather buy.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewWhen the automotive industry started looking toward an electrified future, Detroit automakers decided to throw their hat in the ring with what they do best: Pickup trucks. Electric pickup truck pioneer Rivian has also warned of slowing growth, and Elon Musk's Tesla already appears to be offering some purchase incentives for the Cybertruck. Only four EVs sell in that range at the moment, according to Edmunds, and none of them are sold by Detroit automakers. On average, EVs sold for around $61,700 last year, $14,250 more expensive than the typical price paid for non-electric vehicles, Edmunds said. AdvertisementGM is taking another approach, pulling back on EV production as the company plans to bring more hybrids (a segment that has seen demand increase while EV demand wanes) to the North American market later this year.

Persons: —, Ford, Rivian, Elon Musk's Tesla, Edmunds, Jessica Caldwell, EVs, BCG, Jim Farley Organizations: Service, Detroit, Ford, Business, GMC, EV, Associated Press, Edmunds, Detroit automakers, Leaf, Fiat 500e, Hyundai Kona Electric, Boston Consulting Group, Bloomberg, North Locations: Detroit, Edmunds

☆ Where Electric Vehicles Are (and Aren’t) Taking Off Across the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Nadja Popovich | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +7 min

Where Electric Vehicles Are (and Aren’t) Taking Off Across the U.S.Last year, Americans bought more than one million fully electric cars, trucks and SUVs, a record and a milestone for the country’s transition away from gas-powered vehicles. To fight climate change, the Biden administration and many state governments want to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles. experience from pretty easy and kind of hard,” said Ken Kurani, a researcher focused on electric vehicles at the University of California, Davis. Only two electric vehicles in the analysis, both made by Tesla, cost the same or less than similar gas models. But for now, “there are some very real ways in which, in comparison to conventional vehicles, electric vehicles either really are still struggling to be as good or better, or are struggling against the imagination that they’re not as good or better,” he said.

Persons: Tom Libby, Mr, Libby, “, ”, Biden, Ken Kurani, Kurani, Brittany Greeson, Philip Cheung, We’re, Tesla, “ We’re, Jessica Caldwell, Kelley, Davis Organizations: P Global Mobility, P, Pew Research Center, University of California, The New York Times, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, General Motors Locations: Florida, Texas, West Coast, California, San Francisco Bay, Los Angeles, Detroit, Bismarck, N.D, United States, Davis, Chicago, Norway, Edmunds, U.C

☆ Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady, sets the stage for cuts. What that means for your money
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Greg McBride chief financial analyst at Bankrate"Below the surface, 60% of households are living paycheck to paycheck," McBride said. Now, with rate cuts on the horizon, consumers will see some of their borrowing costs come down as well, although deposit rates will also follow suit. From credit cards and mortgage rates to auto loans and savings accounts, here's a look at where those rates could go in the year ahead. Going forward, annual percentage rates will start to come down when the Fed cuts rates but even then, they will only ease off extremely high levels. Mortgage ratesDue to higher mortgage rates, 2023 was the least affordable homebuying year in at least 11 years, according to a report from real estate company Redfin.

Persons: Greg McBride, McBride, Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae, It's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds Organizations: Treasury, Fed Locations: Edmunds

☆ Why automakers are turning to hybrids in the middle of the industry's EV transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-08 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Sales of traditional hybrid electric vehicles, or HEVs, such as the Toyota Prius, are outpacing those of all-electric vehicles in 2023, according to Edmunds. Sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, accounted for only 1% of U.S. sales through November. In comparison, Ford's EV sales are up 16.2% to roughly 62,500 units, accounting for 3.5% of its total sales. Battery breakdown Both hybrids and plug-in hybrids have a traditional engine combined with EV technologies. The world's largest automaker is considered the pioneer of traditional hybrids, with the Prius.

Persons: Scott Mlyn, Biden, HEVs, EVs, There's, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Morgan Stanley, Eric Watson, Jim Farley's, Jeep Wrangler, Motors, Mary Barra, It's, Mark Reuss, Stephanie Brinley, Akio Toyoda Organizations: CNBC DETROIT —, EV, Toyota Prius, Toyota, Honda Motor, Hyundai, Kia, U.S, Representatives, Kia America, CNBC, Detroit automakers, Detroit, Ford Motor, Ford, Chrysler, Jeep, Cherokee, GM, Chevrolet, Automotive Press Association, National, Traffic Safety Administration, American Automotive Policy Council, Reuters, NHTSA, P Global Mobility . Industry, EVs, Wall Street Locations: Edmunds, U.S, That's, Kia America's, China, Detroit, EVs

☆ Soon you’ll be able to buy a Hyundai on Amazon
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

People will be able to shop for Hyundai vehicles on Amazon through an agreement with the South Korean automaker. Laws in most US states protect auto dealerships from automakers who might want to sell directly to consumers. Amazon customers will be able to search dealership inventories through the Amazon website, see pricing for vehicles, and click a button to initiate a purchase. This arrangement was announced as part of a package of deals between Hyundai and Amazon, including that Amazon will provide data storage for Hyundai and that future Hyundai models will include the Alexa voice assistant. Hyundai dealers won’t have to participate in the program, but can opt-in.

Persons: you’ve, Tesla, “ It’s, ”, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds.com, Caldwell, Jose Muñoz, Mike Sullivan, weren’t, “ I’ve, ” Sullivan Organizations: CNN, Hyundai, South Korean, Hyundai Santa Fe, Edmunds.com, Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai Santa Monica Locations: Hyundai Santa

Revenue of $44.13 billion rose 5.4% and also exceeded estimates of $42.48 billion, according to data provider FactSet. The UAW has been on strike since Sept. 15 — nearly six weeks — against GM and its Detroit competitors, Ford and Jeep maker Stellantis. Jacobson said the third-quarter strike loss was $200 million, since the walkouts were only in effect the final two weeks of the period. Jacobson said GM still expects to start turning low-to-mid single-digit profit margins on electric vehicles in 2025. The company's U.S. sales rose 21%, and Jacobson said the average U.S. selling price for GM vehicles was $50,750, down only slightly from the previous quarter.

Persons: Paul Jacobson, Jacobson, “, ” Jacobson, ” Jessica Caldwell, ” Organizations: DETROIT, General Motors, United Auto Workers union, GM, Wall, UAW, Detroit, Ford Locations: Detroit, Sterling Heights , Michigan, Louisville , Kentucky, Michigan, North America

☆ Sparse inventory drives prices for new, used vehicles higher. 3 things to do when car shopping
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Moreover, the strike might only affect a relatively small number of vehicles when compared to the auto market as a whole. Car shoppers hardly saw similar end-of-summer sales last year either because of a chip shortage that reduced production levels, added Caldwell. "It is absolutely a great time to look into the EV market, both for new and pre-owned," he said. Additionally, recurring price cuts from Tesla this year might also soften prices in the EV market as a whole, added Caldwell. Shopping tips for a low-inventory car market

Persons: Adam Gault, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Gen Z, We're, They're, Caldwell, Tom McParland, There's, Kelley, EVs Organizations: Finance, Workers, United Auto Workers, Automatch Consulting, EV Locations: Edmunds

☆ GM is shaping up to be the hardest hit by the UAW strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Alexa St. John | Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

GM has the most workers on strike of all the Detroit 3. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe ongoing United Auto Workers strike is taking a multi-million dollar toll on all three Detroit-based automakers, but General Motors might be hit the hardest so far. GM narrowly avoided a fourth strike Friday with an offer that delayed Fain's weekly update for members. This is also the second time in four years that GM has experienced a strike . AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd of the three automakers, GM also has the most striking workers and has temporarily laid off the most workers due to the strike.

Persons: —, Stellantis, Shawn Fain, Fain, Dan Ives, Mary Barra's, Tesla, Jim Cain, Cain, Ford, Ford's, Sam Fiorani, Fiorani, there's, It's, Cox, GM wasn't, Edmunds, Jessica Caldwell Organizations: GM, Detroit, Service, United Auto Workers, UAW, Ford, UAW nabbed, Detroit automakers, Wedbush Securities, Cox, AutoForecast Solutions, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Buick, GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Deutsche Bank Locations: Detroit, Arlington , Texas, Lincoln

☆ US car sales climb despite strike and rising interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —US new car sales soared in the third quarter, despite the combination of a strike at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, high prices and rising interest rates. “New-vehicle sales have remained somewhat consistent as pent-up demand keeps sales afloat despite economic challenges,” said Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds’ head of insights. “However, the landscape can change dramatically, and quickly, if the strike continues.”Rising ratesAnother factor that could slow sales at all automakers is rising interest rates, which is raising the average car payment to record levels. It’s the highest average interest rates for both types of loans since the start of the Great Recession and financial crisis of 2007. “Spiked interest rates remain the biggest impediment to affordability in both the new and used car markets today,” said Caldwell.

Persons: that’s, ”, Ivan Drury, Edmunds, “, ” Ford, Jessica Caldwell, Ford Bronco, Caldwell Organizations: New, New York CNN, General Motors, Ford, GM, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Edmunds ., Toyota, Lexus, United Auto Workers, UAW, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Traverse, Buick Enclave, Federal Reserve Locations: New York, Edmunds, Ford Chicago

☆ EVs are the only cars you can get a deal on right now
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Nora Naughton | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

As car companies produce more EVs than ever, these cars are starting to pile up on dealer lots for the first time. AdvertisementAdvertisementOn average, electric cars were selling for around $2,000 over sticker price last year, according to Jessica Caldwell, an automotive analyst for Edmunds. AdvertisementAdvertisementOn average, EVs are still more expensive, on average, than gas-powered cars, with EVs going for about $53,469 in July, says Kelley Blue Book (down from $66,000 a year earlier ). And with help from new federal tax credits, leasing deals abound on electric cars . Even some of the more expensive EVs are dropping in price rapidly, too.

Persons: Elon, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Caldwell, Tesla, Kelley, they've Organizations: Tesla, EV, Shoppers

☆ Tesla won't kill car dealerships, but it will force them to change
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

That would mean they'd have to eliminate their auto dealers. The car companies aren't likely to win that — but to compromise, their dealerships are going to have to evolve from what they are today. Tesla showed the auto industry it's possible to be successful without a traditional dealer network and instead sell vehicles directly to consumers. "I think that will cause some pressure for the other traditional automakers, but I think Tesla is the exception for the direct sellers," Jackson added. Dealerships might not go away, but they're certainly going to look different to car shoppers in the future.

Persons: Tesla, Elon, Tim Jackson, Jackson, they're, Scott Kunes, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Caldwell, Kerrigan, There's, Kunes Organizations: Auto, Ford, BMW, EV, Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, Kunes, RV

☆ Cybertruck superfans waited years for the launch. Now Elon Musk has to deliver.
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-12 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The stakes are high for Tesla's Cybertruck launch. A slowdown in EV growth could create a headache for the Cybertruck launch. The long-awaited Tesla Cybertruck is finally on its way , and the stakes are high for CEO Elon Musk. A successful Cybertruck launch will be key to meeting that goal, and graduating Tesla from a scrappy startup to an automotive powerhouse. The pickup truck market is a different ballgameThe US pickup truck market is one of the most lucrative in the world, presenting a huge opportunity for Musk and Tesla.

Persons: Elon Musk, Tesla, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Rivian's R1T, Ford's, It's, Sam Fiorani Organizations: Tesla, Tesla's, AutoForecast Solutions

☆ Auto execs still don't think the Tesla sales model will catch on
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Most automakers sell cars with a traditional franchise model, while Tesla sells direct-to-consumer. Auto executives still don't think the Tesla sales model will catch on — despite some pretty substantial shifts in the auto retail space already taking place. Automaker demands put some dealers on the chopping blockBut it's been a huge debate in the industry as auto dealers are a strong lobbying force, so much so that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned direct-to-consumer car sales in the state, with the exception of Tesla and EV startups that never had franchised dealers. Kerrigan experts have suggested this might be one way auto manufacturers are attempting to push out their dealerships amid the EV transition.

Persons: Tesla, Kerrigan, Jim Farley, Ron DeSantis, —, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Dave Thomas Organizations: Morning, Auto, Kerrigan Advisors, EV, Reuters, Florida Gov Locations: Florida

☆ People put down deposits for every electric truck in development, leaving dealers in the lurch when they eventually cancel all but one
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Nora Naughton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dealers lose in the race to get an electric truck in consumers' driveways. Dealers have more to lose than manufacturers, who book revenue once the truck leaves the factory. In an electric truck market where buyers are placing bets on what will arrive first, dealers are likely to be the ones left in the lurch. Listening to dealers about where the demand pendulum is swinging will be crucial for car companies as they roll out more and more electric models in the coming years. Car companies that use dealers book revenue on a car once it leaves the factory (that's one of the biggest advantages legacy car companies have over startups that use a direct-to-consumer model).

Persons: Cybertruck, Tesla, Karl Brauer, Brauer, they're, Ford, EVs, Jessica Caldwell, Edmunds, Caldwell Organizations: Dealers, Ford, GM, iSeeCars, EV, Car

☆ Ford, GM and Toyota push into midsize pickup trucks, the latest battleground for U.S. automakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Midsize pickup trucks are following the lead of their larger, full-size counterparts such as the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra. While the Detroit automakers dominate large pickup truck sales, Toyota Motor is the clear leader in midsize pickup truck sales with its Tacoma. Toyota has commanded a roughly 40% share of the American midsize pickup truck segment since 2019, when Ford and Jeep reentered the market, Edmunds reports. Edmunds reports the Detroit automaker's share of the U.S. midsize pickup segment last year was about 19%, followed by Stellantis ' Jeep Gladiator at 12.8% and the Nissan Frontier at 12.5%. Varying strategiesAutomakers' sales volumes speak to their diverging strategies in the midsize pickup truck segment.

☆ Automakers and dealers are playing a game of chicken — and customers could be the winners
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Nora Naughton | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Automakers and dealers have kept prices high and inventory low for years. Automakers and dealers are playing a game of chicken over how much a car should cost right now — and customers might come out the winners. Higher interest rates make everything more painfulMeanwhile, dealers are spending more to keep cars sitting. To make matters worse for dealers: Without discounts to ease rising interest rates, more customers are delaying their purchases and hoping to wait out the interest rates. If and when car companies start spending more on incentives, they are likely to target interest rates, Caldwell said.

☆ Automakers find a tax credit loophole to increase EV leasing and boost sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Buying a used Ioniq, which is produced in South Korea and Indonesia, wouldn't earn him $7,500 off through a federal tax credit. "I ran the numbers — what it would be without the leasing credit and with the leasing credit — and that kind of put me over the top and that was the main thing of why I went in that direction," he said. For a $50,000 EV and a 36-month lease, Chesbrough estimates the full $7,500 tax credit equates to $222 in monthly savings for a consumer. "It also allows them to level the playing field against competitors who get the full tax credit when purchasing." I wouldn't call it leveling the playing field," Watson said of leasing qualifying for the $7,500 tax credit.

☆ US first-quarter auto sales set to rise on better inventory
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But rising interest rates and fears of a recession may play spoilsport in an industry where most vehicle purchases are financed with loans, analysts say. "Consumers are facing credit uncertainty as rapidly rising interest rates have created barriers to entry for even the most qualified buyers," said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights at auto research firm Edmunds. The automaker is set to post a 15% rise in first-quarter U.S. sales, while Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp's (7203.T) sales are likely to fall nearly 10%, when they publish data beginning Monday, according to consultant Cox Automotive. Toyota has continued to struggle with inventory shortages sparked by supply constraints, losing its crown as the top selling U.S. automaker to GM. Trucks and crossover SUVs are expected to account for majority of new retail sales in the quarter, according to automotive data company J.D.

☆ People are so desperate to get an EV that they're putting deposits down on multiple and buying whichever one is built first
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Nora Naughton | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Without dealers, startups are learning new lessons in customer service. "At this point I've pretty much made up my mind," Pao said, "I'm just going to cancel my Rivian order." EV startups learn customer serviceElectric vehicle startups are learning a tough lesson in customer service, Caldwell said, as they try to keep would-be buyers on the hook for years on end. Some of Rivan's order-holders are losing hopeInsider has spoken or corresponded with nearly three dozen current and former Rivian order holders in recent months. Are you a current or former Rivian employee, Rivian vehicle owner, or Rivian order holder?

☆ These hopeful electric-car buyers have deposits at multiple automakers. They just want a car.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Nora Naughton | Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"At this point I've pretty much made up my mind," Pao said, "I'm just going to cancel my Rivian order." Customers are hedging their bets with orders for vehicles from multiple companies, from startups like Rivian to legacy companies like Ford and Toyota. EV startups learn customer serviceElectric vehicle startups are learning a tough lesson in customer service, Caldwell said, as they try to keep would-be buyers on the hook for years on end. Some of Rivan's order-holders are losing hopeInsider has spoken or corresponded with nearly three dozen current and former Rivian order holders in recent months. Are you a current or former Rivian employee, Rivian vehicle owner, or Rivian order holder?

☆ Tesla has declared a price war on electric-vehicle and traditional automakers alike. There are signs Elon Musk's company is making early gains.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( George Glover | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The automaker has slashed Model 3, Model Y, Model X, and Model S prices in 2023. While it's too soon to call a winner in the price war, there are signs Tesla is making early gains. Tesla also lowered prices for its Model S sedan and Model X SUV in January, then reduced them again in early March. The basic Model S now retails at $89,990, down 14% from the start of the year, while the entry-level Model X costs $99,990, down 17%. "Price cuts also annoy customers," Caspar Rawles, the chief data officer at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a price-reporting agency, told Insider.

☆ Millennials are building up a mountain of debt in pursuit of the middle-class American dream — and they're starting to miss credit card payments at an alarming rate
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Jacob Zinkula | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

This debt load is beginning to takes it toll — the NY Fed's report found that millennials are missing credit card and auto loan payments at rising rates. Millennials are starting to miss credit card paymentsAfter falling over the last few years as borrowers paid down their balances, US credit card debt rose $61 billion in the fourth quarter, the largest increase in the history of the NY Fed's data, which dates back to 1999. This increase brought total credit card balances to $986 billion, surpassing the pre-pandemic high of $927 billion. Inflation has caused many millennial consumers to spend more, save less, and ultimately turn to credit card debt as pandemic-era savings have run out. While there are surely several factors fueling credit card debt among millennials, the high cost of childcare and related expenses surely aren't helping.

☆ Tesla just ignited a price war in electric vehicles. Investors should see it as an opportunity
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

The event may have created a compelling entry point for investors who have been on the sidelines of the long-term shift to electric vehicles. Electric vehicles are becoming much more popular in the U.S. but still make up a small portion of automobiles on the roads. Cutting prices certainly caught the eye of consumers and boosted interest in Tesla vehicles, according to data from Edmunds. And, there are still issues with electric vehicles that make them impractical for large groups of consumers, said Mike Ward, an analyst at The Benchmark Company. There’s also a huge potential in firms that make batteries, key parts of electric vehicles that are also seeing surging share prices.

☆ Car buyers frustrated with inventory shortages should head to a Ford or GM dealer
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Alexa St. John | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In January, dealers were sitting on 37 days' supply, with about 21 days for cars and 41 days for trucks, according to a Deutsche Bank note Thursday. The domestic automakers had higher days' supply than others, with Ford at 60 days, GM at 52 days, and Stellantis (the merger of Fiat Chrysler and the French PSA Group) at 68 days, per Deutsche Bank. Even with inventory improvements, car-buyers need to look out for high interest rates and loan payments. Kekyalyaynen / Shutterstock.comBeware high interest rates and loan paymentsJust because there are available vehicles, that doesn't mean demand for cars is waning. Some automakers' loan payments are much higher than others, pricing buyers out of the market.

Jan 25 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc's (TSLA.O) aggressive price cuts have ignited demand for its electric vehicles, Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Wednesday, playing down concerns that a weak economy would throttle buyers' interest. However, Musk, who has missed his own ambitious sales targets for Tesla in recent years, said 2023 deliveries could hit 2 million vehicles, absent external disruption. He said he expected a "pretty difficult recession this year," but demand for Tesla vehicles "will be good despite probably a contraction in the automotive market as a whole." CYBERTRUCKThe company is relying on older products and Musk said its Cybertruck, its next new electric pickup truck, would not begin volume production until next year. Musk dismissed surveys that suggest his political comments on Twitter are damaging the Tesla brand.

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