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Enjoy Friday

Cookies, Toyota, Ford, Nissan, and Hawaii.
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5 Minutes of Fresh Perspective

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Enjoy Friday

Sometimes, we talk about cars and the companies that build them. Other times we talk about technology and the companies who control them. Today, we have some of both because there is just no way to grow apples without caring a little bit about dirt.

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Google's Delay of Third-Party Cookie Changes

Google is delaying its phase-out of third-party cookies.

  • Originally planned for Q4 2024, the change will take additional time to address used feedback until comprehensive reviews and tests are completed.
  • Industry tests are due by June and will factor into the eventual timeline.

So, based on current estimations, the phase-out of third-party cookies is now projected to occur in either Q1 or Q2 of 2025. Check out the full timeline and updates here.

Toyota New Sales and Production Heights

Toyota Motor set new records in global sales and production, as detailed in a recent Reuters report. Here's a breakdown of their fiscal year achievements:

  • Sales Growth: 7.3%, reaching 10.31M units.
  • Production Increase: 9.2%, totaling 9.97M units.

Despite the impressive annual figures, Toyota faced a bit of a downturn in March, particularly in China, and has pushed back the start of U.S. electric vehicle production to 2026, prioritizing product safety and quality amidst recent internal scandals.

Ford's Q1 Earnings: Zoom In

Ford Motor Company's performance in the first quarter has exceeded expectations, particularly driven by its commercial vehicle sector. Here are the highlights from their CNBC coverage:

  • Ford Pro Earnings: Up 120%, signaling strong commercial demand.
  • EV Division Losses: Reached $1.32B, offset by robust commercial sales.
  • Financial Outlook: Adjusted free cash flow is projected to rise, with capital expenditures trimmed down. Ford maintains its EBIT guidance between $10B and $12B for 2024.

Nissan's Backseat Buddy System

Nissan has introduced Iruyo, an animatronic toy designed to monitor a child's sleep status in the car. This "intelligent puppet," co-developed with an advertising agency and a baby product retailer, utilizes technology akin to Nissan's driver-assistance systems to observe whether a child is awake or asleep.

Despite its innovative design aimed at helping parents with rear-facing child seats, its effectiveness in soothing crying babies remains a point of contention.

Hawaii's Electric Vehicle Boom

Hawaii is making significant strides in EV adoption, ranking fifth in the U.S. for EV sales. Key insights from the Electrify News article include:

  • EV Growth Rate: A 29.9% year-over-year increase in registered EVs.
  • Total EVs Registered: 31,059 as of early 2024.
  • Driving Factors: High gasoline prices and smaller geographic areas reduce range anxiety, making EVs an attractive option.

In addition, Hawaii benefits from federal funding for EV charging infrastructure, significantly enhancing the state's EV adoption capabilities and setting a strong example for other regions.

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EVs were 16% of global light vehicle sales in 2023. Where do you see it by 2030?

Rounded to the nearest 10.

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