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☆ Tesla loses its EV quality edge as repair problems continue to plague the market
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Justine Fisher | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A dog looks out the window from a Tesla electric vehicle charging at a Tesla Supercharger location in Santa Monica, California on May 15, 2024. Last year, the U.S. EV leader received a rank of 257 problems per 100 vehicles, compared with 265 problems per 100 vehicles on average for EVs from traditional automakers. Across the broader industry, not just BEVs, Tesla has consistently ranked toward the bottom in initial quality since J.D. BEVs averaged 266 problems per 100 vehicles, 86 points higher than gas- and diesel-powered vehicles, which averaged 180 problems per 100 vehicles, according to the study. "It is not surprising that the introduction of new technology has challenged manufacturers to maintain vehicle quality," Hanley said.

Persons: Tesla, Power, Power Frank Hanley, Hanley, — CNBC's Michael Wayland Organizations: J.D, Tesla, Auto, Apple, Android Locations: Santa Monica , California, J.D ., U.S

☆ U.S. auto sales are expected to slow during the second half of 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Cars sit on a Chevrolet dealership's lot on June 20, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. DETROIT – U.S. auto sales through the first half of the year are expected to be up by 2.9% compared to a year ago, but there are concerns that the auto industry may not be able to continue the momentum during the last six months of the year. Vehicle inventory levels are growing, incentives are increasing and there's growing uncertainty during the second half of the year surrounding the economy, interest rates and U.S. presidential election, according to Cox Automotive. The auto data and research firm expects sales growth to slow during the second half of the year to end 2024 at 15.7 million units, roughly a 1.3% increase compared to 2023. And, unlike in recent years, growth is coming from commercial sales compared to more profitable sales to consumers.

Persons: we're, Cox, Jonathan Smoke Organizations: CDK, DETROIT, Cox Automotive Locations: Chicago , Illinois, United States, Canada, DETROIT – U.S

☆ VW updates 2025 Jetta to boost sales of the brand's entry-level car
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Volkswagen on Tuesday announced updates for its 2025 Jetta sedan to boost sales amid industry-wide affordability concerns. The entry-level version of the Jetta with an automatic transmission will start at $21,995 when it goes on sale, expected by the end of the third quarter, the company said. That model will replace the current lower-priced model of the Jetta, which has a manual transmission and has seen limited sales since many drivers only know how to drive vehicles with an automatic transmission. The changes come amid concerns around vehicle affordability and growing vehicle inventories following years of constraints due to the coronavirus pandemic and supply chain issues. The Jetta's new starting price compares with the average transaction price of a new car sold in May of $47,455, according to Cox Automotive.

Organizations: Volkswagen, Jetta, Cox Automotive

☆ GM's Cruise names former Amazon, Microsoft Xbox executive as new CEO
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

DETROIT – General Motors' Cruise autonomous vehicle unit on Tuesday announced former Amazon and Microsoft executive Marc Whitten as its new CEO. His appointment comes at a crucial time for Cruise, which is testing and relaunching its autonomous vehicles on public roadways. Following the incident, several key leaders, including Cruise CEO and co-founder Kyle Vogt, departed the company. The probe also investigated allegations of a cover-up by Cruise leadership, but investigators did not find evidence to support those claims. Cruise was a crucial part of GM's plan to double revenue to $280 billion by the end of this decade.

Persons: Marc Whitten, Whitten, Kyle Vogt, Marc, Mary Barra, Cruise, Rowe Price, Nick Mulholland, Craig Glidden, Glidden, Grant Dixton, Dixton, Mary Organizations: DETROIT, Motors, Amazon, Microsoft, Cruise, GM, Honda Motor, Walmart, Rivian, Activision Blizzard, Boeing Locations: San Francisco, Phoenix , Houston, Dallas, Dubai

☆ Rivian secures up to $5 billion from Volkswagen, shares soar 40%
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Volkswagen plans to invest up to $5 billion in electric vehicle startup Rivian , starting with an initial investment of $1 billion. The additional $4 billion is expected by 2026. Shares of Rivian soared roughly 40% during after-hours trading Tuesday – two days ahead of an investor event for Rivian, which has been under pressure from Wall Street due to its cash burn and significant losses. The Detroit automaker sold a majority of its Rivian shares by 2023 after walking back a plan to codevelop EVs with the company. Rivian reported $7.86 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments to end March, with more than $9 billion in total liquidity.

Persons: Rivian, Rivian's Organizations: VW, Volkswagen, Ford Motor, Amazon, Detroit, Scout Motors Locations: California, South Carolina, Illinois, Georgia, Normal , Illinois

☆ Fisker files for bankruptcy protection in wave of EV startups, moment of déjà vu for its founder
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Henrik Fisker stands with the Fisker Ocean electric vehicle after its unveiling at the Manhattan Beach Pier ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobilityLA in Manhattan Beach, California. The new filing comes after the Fisker company failed to secure an investment from a big automaker to keep afloat. The automaker, unlike most of its peers, contracted a third-party manufacturer to build the Fisker Ocean crossover. Déjà vuFor Henrik Fisker, a renowned automotive designer credited with designing the BMW Z8 and Aston Martin DB9, it's déjà vu. His first namesake company – Fisker Automotive – filed for bankruptcy protection in 2013, shortly after he left the company.

Persons: Henrik Fisker, Patrick T, Fallon, Fisker, Nikola, Faraday, It's, Henrik Fisker's, Tesla, Sam Abuelsamid, Magna, Abuelsamid, Geeta Gupta, Gupta, Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Aston Martin, – Organizations: Manhattan, Los Angeles Auto, AFP, Getty, Lordstown Motors, Guidehouse, Software, U.S, Canadian, Apple, Adobe, SAP America, Manpower, Systems, CNBC, Cox Automotive, Fisker, Inc, BMW Z8, Aston, Aston Martin DB9, China's Wanxiang Locations: Manhattan Beach , California, EVs, U.S, North America, Europe

☆ Top BofA auto analyst says Detroit automakers need to exit China as soon as possible
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-18 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT – The traditional Detroit automakers – General Motors , Ford Motor and Stellantis – should exit the Chinese market "as soon as they possibly can," Bank of America's top automotive analyst said Tuesday. Murphy, who has previously asked General Motors about exiting the market, said the "D3" automakers need to focus on their core products and more profitable regions. It's a prospect that would have been unthinkable for the automakers, specifically GM, just a few years ago, but the rise of local Chinese automakers such as BYD and Geely has put growing pressure on the companies. While the Detroit automakers need to rethink the way their doing business in China, Murphy said it's slightly different for U.S. electric vehicle leader Tesla . Murphy said Tesla, like Chinese companies, has a roughly $17,000 cost advantage in EV components compared to the traditional Detroit automakers to assist it in the Chinese market, allowing it to have "more room to run."

Persons: John Murphy, Murphy, Geely, Joe Biden, it's, Tesla Organizations: Automobile Works, FAW, Haima, Co, Detroit, –, Motors, Ford Motor, Bank, BofA Securities, Automotive Press, GM, Ford Locations: China, Haikou, Hainan Province, DETROIT, Detroit

☆ Stellantis plans to grow Jeep sales 50% by 2027
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Stellantis expects to grow sales of Jeep vehicles globally by 50% in the next three years, as the automaker attempts to leverage the quintessential American SUV brand for increased profits. The transatlantic automaker on Thursday said it will expand production and sales to roughly 1.5 million units by 2027. To do so, the company will grow its vehicle and powertrain offerings. Jeep plans to expand its vehicle nameplates from 10 to 13 by 2027, Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa said Thursday during Stellantis's investor day at its North American headquarters. Much of the expected growth is targeted in North America, where the brand aims to top sales of 1 million units by 2027, up from roughly 700,000 last year.

Persons: – Stellantis, Antonio Filosa Organizations: AUBURN Locations: AUBURN HILLS, Mich, North America

☆ Ford ends EV dealership program that required hefty investment to sell electric models
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An electric Ford truck is displayed during the Electrify Expo D.C. in Washington, D.C., on July 23, 2023. Ford Motor is ending a controversial electric vehicle dealership program that initially asked store owners to invest upward of $1 million to sell EVs. That's led to automakers delaying or canceling future electric vehicles and investments. "The world has changed," Marin Gjaja, chief operating officer of Ford's Model E electric vehicle business, said Thursday during a media briefing. Instead, Ford will open EV sales to all of its dealers in an attempt to grow sales of its all-electric cars and trucks.

Persons: Jim Farley, That's, Marin Gjaja, Gjaja, Ford Organizations: Washington , D.C, Ford Locations: Washington ,

☆ Stellantis has achieved $9 billion in cost reductions from merger
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares speaks to media on June 13, 2024 following the company's investor day at its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Stellantis has achieved 8.4 billion euros ($9 billion) in cost reductions from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and PSA Groupe that created the company in January 2021, CEO Carlos Tavares said Thursday. That amount is more than double initial expectations from when the merger was announced in 2019, and an increase from the updated 5 billion euros in expected reductions within five years of completion of the merger that formed one of the world's largest automakers. Cost-saving measures have included reshaping the company's supply chain and operations, as well as headcount reductions. Since the merger was agreed to in December 2019, Stellantis has reduced headcount by 15.5%, or roughly 47,500 employees, through 2023, according to public filings. Several Stellantis executives described the cuts to CNBC as difficult but effective.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, – Stellantis, Tavares, Stellantis Organizations: Fiat Chrysler, PSA Groupe, CNBC Locations: Auburn Hills, Mich, AUBURN HILLS, U.S, Italy

☆ At Stellantis investor day, cost cuts and China come into focus
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Massimo Pinca | ReutersDETROIT – Since spearheading a merger to create Stellantis in 2021, CEO Carlos Tavares has been on a cost-cutting mission. "We are not in the race to transition to EVs, but in a race to cut cost on EVs," Tavares said in late May during a Bernstein investor conference. The cuts are part of Stellantis' strategic plan to increase profits and double revenue to 300 billion euros by 2030. Executives on Thursday will outline developments across Stellantis' regions and businesses, including its capital and operational disciplines, according to Stellantis CFO Natalie Knight. "The share price reaction to the [capital markets day] will likely be driven by how these short-term concerns are addressed.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, Massimo Pinca, Tavares, " Tavares, Stellantis, Ned Curic, EVs, I've, Natalie Knight, David Dee Delgado, Ram, China's, Patrick Hummel Organizations: Reuters DETROIT, Atlantic, PSA Groupe, Fiat Chrysler, Ram, CNBC, Amazon, New York, Auto, Reuters, Cox Automotive, UBS, GM, Ford Locations: Turin, Italy, U.S, Auburn Hills , Michigan, Manhattan , New York, China

The investor pitch claimed GM had already committed to an investment, along with the Menlo Park-based VC firm Tribe Capital. "GM agreed to let us collect the ground truth data in their factories," Foundation said in the document. "GM has never invested in Foundation Robotics and has no plans to do so," spokesman Darryll Harrison said in an emailed statement. The contents of the document were confirmed by someone with direct knowledge of Tribe Capital. Tribe Capital and its cofounder Sethi declined to comment, while Pathak didn't respond to messages seeking comment.

Persons: General Motors —, Darryll Harrison, cofounders, Mike LeBlanc, LeBlanc, Sankaet Pathak, Arjun Sethi, Sethi, Pathak Organizations: Synapse, General Motors, Robotics Labs, CNBC, GM, Menlo, Tribe, Foundation, Foundation Robotics, Robotics, New Foundation Foundation, Cobalt Robotics, McKinsey, Tribe Capital Locations: Mexico

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Apple shares pop, Musk drops OpenAI lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Musk drops OpenAI suit Elon Musk dropped his lawsuit against OpenAI, CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman, which alleged breach of contract and fiduciary duty. Apple pops Apple 's shares rose to a record high a day after it announced its push into artificial intelligence. Get the CNBC Daily Open report in your inbox every morning and keep up to date with the markets wherever you are. For more, CNBC's Jeff Cox explains there could be a huge impact from the consumer price index and the Fed meeting.

Persons: Paul Jacobson, Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Siri, OpenAI, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, David Malpass, Dennis Lockhart, Jeff Cox, — CNBC's Lim Hui Jie, Lisa Kailai Han, Alex Harring, Spencer Kimball, Hayden Field, Samantha Subin, Ashley Capoot, Michael Wayland Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, CNBC, General Motors, GM, OpenAI, Microsoft, Apple, Apple Intelligence, Federal Reserve, Brent, Bank, Biden, Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Atlanta Fed Locations: New York City, U.S, San Francisco

☆ GM board approves new $6 billion share buyback authorization
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT – General Motors on Tuesday announced a new $6 billion stock repurchase authorization has been approved by its board. The new buyback authorization comes as an accelerated $10 billion share repurchase program announced in November 2023 is expected to be completed by the end of this month. This allows us to continue returning cash to shareholders," GM CFO Paul Jacobson said in a release. The new authorization will allow GM to opportunistically repurchase shares after the completion of the existing reauthorization, the automaker said. The announced buyback plans come amid uncertainty surrounding the adoption of all-electric vehicles, which GM has bet heavily on, and stalling customer demand for new vehicles.

Persons: Paul Jacobson, Jacobson Organizations: DETROIT, Motors, GM

☆ GM trims 2024 EV forecast amid slower-than-expected demand
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT – General Motors is trimming its expected sales and production of all-electric vehicles this year, as U.S. adoption of EVs occurs slower than expected. GM Chief Financial Officer Paul Jacobson said the company now expects production of 200,000 to 250,000 EVs this year, down from a previously announced range of 200,000 to 300,000. Jacobson said GM expects EVs to make up 8% of U.S. sales industrywide this year. GM expects its EVs to be profitable on a production, or contribution-margin basis, once it reaches production of 200,000 units. EV sales totaled 16,425 units, or 2.8% of the automaker's overall sales during the period.

Persons: Paul Jacobson, Jacobson, EVs Organizations: DETROIT, GM, Deutsche Bank Locations: North America

☆ UAW president under investigation by federal monitor
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT — United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is under investigation by a federal court-appointed watchdog who is tasked with monitoring the union and eliminating corruption, according to a Monday court filing. The monitor, Neil Barofsky, is investigating whether Fain abused his power as union president. He also accuses union leaders, including Fain, of obstructing the investigation and interfering with his access to information. More recently, the filing says the monitor expanded the investigation to include additional allegations of retaliation by Fain against one of the union's vice presidents. The monitor also opened an unrelated investigation into another unnamed UAW International Executive Board, or IEB, member, a regional director, after receiving allegations of potential embezzlement, according to the filing.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Neil Barofsky, Fain Organizations: United Auto Workers, Health, Education, Labor, Pensions, Washington , D.C, DETROIT — United Auto Workers, UAW, U.S . Department of Justice, Union, UAW International, Board Locations: Dirksen, Washington ,, DETROIT

☆ GM has a secret to help sell its new EVs. It's Costco
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-07 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Costco Auto has facilitated more than 500,000 vehicle sales annually over the past five years on average, according to Jay Maxwell, Costco Auto Program general manager responsible for strategic partnerships. GM declined to disclose how many Costco customers have purchased GM vehicles through the program. EV interestA growing number of vehicle sales made through Costco Auto are of electric vehicles, Costco said. In addition to GM, Costco Auto has partnered with Volvo, including its Polestar EV startup brand, Audi and others over the years. The Costco Auto Program was initially part of wholesale competitor Price Club, which merged with Costco in 1993.

Persons: Kena, Motors, it's, Marissa West, Michael Wayland, Jay Maxwell, Maxwell, Mary Barra, That's, Cox, Scott Mlyn, Julie Craig, –, Melissa Repko Organizations: Costco, Corbis, Getty, DETROIT —, Costco Wholesale, Detroit automaker, Costco Auto Program, EVs, Chevrolet, Chevrolet Blazer, GM North America, CNBC, U.S, Costco Auto, Canada, Ford Motor, Volkswagen, Brands, Lithia Motors, AutoNation, GM, EV, Volvo, Audi, CNBC Costco Auto, Cadillac, Industry, Cox Automotive, Dealers, New York Auto Show, Price Club Locations: Teterboro , New Jersey, CNBC, U.S, Detroit, Canada

☆ Rivian redesigns all-electric R1 pickup and SUV, adds Nvidia chips and improves performance
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-06 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In this article NVDARIVN Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT2025 Rivian R1S RivianRivian Automotive has redesigned its all-electric R1 pickup and SUV models to improve range, performance and computing power with the help of Nvidia chips, the company said Thursday. Amid the most notable changes to the new vehicles is their computing power, which Rivian says delivers 10 times more performance than the previous system. The lower-priced vehicles are crucial to Rivian's expansion as sales of its current models have slowed amid a sluggish industrywide sales pace for electric vehicles. 2025 Rivian R1T and R1S RivianRivian said pricing for the second-generation R1S SUV will increase $1,000 from current models to start at $75,900, with top-end trimotor models starting around $106,000. Rivian said the vehicles also feature more luxurious, updated interiors as well as a fully redesigned software interface.

Persons: Rivian, RJ Scaringe, R1T, Rivian Rivian Organizations: Nvidia, Max Locations: Illinois, Georgia, The California

☆ Ford EV and hybrid sales surge 65% in May
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

DETROIT – Ford Motor's U.S. new vehicle sales rose 11.2% last month compared with May of last year, boosted by strong sales growth for all-electric and hybrid models. The Detroit automaker on Tuesday reported roughly 65% increases in sales of both hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The boost to EV sales is a conundrum for investors. The spike in hybrid sales is part of Ford's plan to double down on the technology. Ford reported total year-to-date U.S. sales through May of 877,685 units, up 5.6% compared with the same time period in 2023.

Persons: DETROIT –, Ford Organizations: New York, DETROIT, DETROIT – Ford Motor's U.S, Detroit, EV, Ford

☆ Jeep expects to grow plug-in hybrid SUV sales by as much as 50% in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) during the 2023 New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) in New York, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. NEW YORK – Jeep plans to grow U.S. sales of its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by as much as 50% this year as it leans into the technology as a bridge between its traditional gas-guzzling SUVs and all-electric vehicles amid a slower-than-expected sales pace of EVs. The Stellantis brand expects to sell 160,000 to 170,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, in the U.S. this year, an increase of 40% to 50% from last year, Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa told CNBC. "One of the pillars of growth for the market is going to be freedom of choice." PHEV sales at the level Jeep is expecting this year would top Stellantis' total 2023 U.S. sales of the vehicles, at roughly 143,000 units.

Persons: Antonio Filosa, Filosa Organizations: New York, Auto, CNBC, Jeep Locations: New York, U.S

☆ See inside Ford's new tech campus, a century-old Detroit train station restored for $950 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The $950 million project encompasses the 18-story former train station called Michigan Central Station – once the state's marquee transit building – an adjacent 270,000-square-foot building and other, supporting facilities. The 30-acre "Michigan Central" campus and station was initially announced in 2018 and slated to open by 2022. Train station campusThe Michigan Central campus is located southwest of Detroit's main business district in a trendy neighborhood known as Corktown. The Michigan Central campus in total spans 1.2 million square feet of commercial space, including retail, restaurants and hospitality. The restored grand waiting room inside Ford's Michigan Central Station in Detroit.

Persons: Michael Wayland, Bill Ford Jr, Ford, Bill Ford, He's, Henry Ford, Ford Ford, Josh Sirefman, it's, It's Organizations: CNBC DETROIT, Michigan Central, Ford, CNBC, General Motors, Renaissance, eBay, Michigan Central Station, Detroit, Michigan, Central Station, CNBC Ford, Architects, Detroit Public, Depository, Google, Detroit Lions Locations: Motor, Michigan, Detroit, Silicon Valley, California, East, Detroit's, Dearborn , Michigan, Ford's, Mankato, Indiana, CNBC, Motor City, Pontiac, Rouge

☆ Jeep reveals all-electric Wagoneer S in EV offensive, starting at $72,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV JeepNEW YORK – The first all-electric Jeep SUV for the U.S. will be the Wagoneer S, starting at about $72,000 when it's scheduled to go on sale this fall. The $71,995 starting price of the Wagoneer S EV sits between gas-powered versions of the Wagoneer, starting at about $63,000, and more luxurious Grand Wagoneer, starting at roughly $92,000. 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV JeepHe also said the company will release electric, extended-range versions of the traditional gas-powered Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in 2025. 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV "R-Wing" JeepDespite sharing the "Wagoneer" name with Jeep's current gas-powered model, the five-passenger, two-row EV shares little with its three-row traditional internal combustion engine counterpart other than some Jeep styling. Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles during the unveiling of the Jeep Wagoneer S EV on May 30, 2024 in New York City.

Persons: Antonio Filosa, Filosa, Michael Wayland, Jeep, Carlos Tavares, Tavares, " Tavares, Massimo Pinca, Wagoneer, Ralph Gilles, Stellantis, Gilles Organizations: EV, CNBC, Reuters, Cherokee, CNBC Stellantis, U.S, Jeep Locations: U.S, North America, Turin, Italy, PHEVs, Europe, Mexico, New York City

☆ Stellantis CEO says $25,000 Jeep EV coming to the U.S. 'very soon'
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Stellantis plans to offer a $25,000 all-electric Jeep vehicle in the U.S. "very soon" to better attract mainstream consumers amid slower-than-expected electric vehicle adoption, CEO Carlos Tavares said Wednesday. "In the same way we brought the 20,000 Euro Citroen e-C3, you will have a $25,000 Jeep very soon," he said Wednesday during a Bernstein investor conference. Stellantis currently offers an all-electric version of its Avenger SUV in Europe, starting at about 35,000 euros, or about $37,800, according to its website. Offering a new EV for around $25,000 has long been a target for automakers such as Stellantis, Tesla and others. "If you ask me what is an affordable BEV, I would say 20,000 euros in Europe and $25,000 in the U.S.," Tavares said.

Persons: Carlos Tavares, Tavares, Stellantis, Tesla, BEV, " Tavares Organizations: Citroen Locations: U.S, Europe, China

☆ Cadillac's new entry-level Optiq EV to start at $54,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DETROIT – General Motors' new entry-level 2025 Cadillac Optiq electric vehicle will start at $54,000, the company said Wednesday. The compact-sized crossover is set to be Cadillac's fourth electric vehicle when it goes on sale later this year. It follows the $59,000 Lyriq midsize crossover, the $300,000-plus bespoke Celestiq sedan and the upcoming $130,000 Escalade IQ SUV. The Optiq will be sold in 10 regions, including North America, China and Europe, where it debuted Wednesday at a new Cadillac showroom in Paris. It comes as automakers attempt to expand the appeal of EVs with less-expensive models following slower-than-expected sales for the emerging vehicles.

Persons: Cadillac, John Roth Organizations: DETROIT, Motors, EV, Cadillac Locations: North America, China, Europe, Paris

☆ Porsche reveals first-ever 911 hybrid sports car, starting at $164,900
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Michael Wayland | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Porsche on Tuesday revealed the first-ever production hybrid version of its iconic 911 sports car, with a starting price of $164,900. The 2025 911 Carrera GTS hybrid marks a significant change to the iconic German sports car amid the automotive industry's focus on increasing electrified vehicles and tightening fuel economy standards. "We developed and tested various ideas and approaches to decide on a hybrid system that optimally suits the 911," Frank Moser, Porsche vice president of the 911 and 718 model lines, said in a release. The new 911 Carrera GTS can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds – 0.3 seconds quicker than the prior non-hybrid GTS model – and reach a top track speed of 194 mph. It is powered by a newly developed 3.6-liter boxer hybrid engine that produces 532 horsepower and 449 foot-pounds of torque.

Persons: Frank Moser Organizations: Porsche, Carrera, Volkswagen

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