Today’s News: Wheels and Deals

Automaker & Dealer Dynamics: Steering Through the EV Transition

Dealer/automaker relations are at a crossroads, navigating the high stakes of an electric future amid pressures and mixed incentives!

• 🛑 Diverse Decisions: Approximately 50% of Ford and GM's Buick dealers are steering clear of selling EVs in 2024, with investment costs and market readiness sparking both hesitation and lawsuits.
• 💸 Financial Fork in the Road: Facing investments up to $400,000, many dealers choose buyouts or traditional models. Chevy demands all-in commitment with no exit offers.
• 📈 Adapt or Divert: As some dealers embrace the electric shift with Chevy's push and Ford's Model E certification, others opt out, reshaping the automotive retail landscape and testing brand loyalties.

BYD Gears Up to Eclipse Tesla

Tesla's reign as the EV king might just get a shock from China's BYD, proving the race isn't over until the last volt zaps!

• 🏎️ Narrowing Gap: BYD is trailing Tesla by only 3,456 EVs globally in Q3, and as Q4 results rev up, it's poised to potentially snatch the EV sales crown.
• 💵🌏 Competitive Edge & Global Chess: BYD is not just undercutting Tesla with more affordable models but also expanding globally amidst tariff tensions. Despite potential battles in Europe and cautious U.S. entry, its dominance in China and strategic moves electrify the market.
• 🚘 Autonomous Aspirations: Recently, BYD has obtained a conditional license for testing level 3 autonomous driving, joining the high-speed tech race and marking a significant leap in its innovation journey, potentially shifting the landscape of automated driving.

These numbers could change any second if BYD decides to enter the US market or Musk decides to stop personally adjusting the mirrors of every Tesla before it leaves the factory.

Toyota's Record Surge & EV Strategy Amid Daihatsu's Safety Scandal

In a dramatic twist of automotive fate, Toyota zooms ahead with record-breaking production and a new electric SUV, while Daihatsu slams the brakes over a safety scandal!

• 📈 Production Powerhouse: Toyota's global output surged by 11% in November, hitting a record with 926,573 vehicles produced, reflecting a robust recovery from supply chain disruptions and soaring demand.
• 🔌 Electrifying China: Launching the Bozhi 4X, an upgraded bZ4X electric SUV in China at around $25,000, Toyota heats up the EV race with impressive features and a 615 km range, signifying a strategic pivot towards affordable electrification.
• 🛑 Daihatsu Dilemma: Toyota-owned Daihatsu hits pause on production across all plants until the end of January amidst a scandal involving falsified safety tests for three decades, potentially impacting Toyota's 9,000 workers and its sterling reputation.

Toyota breaking monthly output records is like that one pinball machine with every top score taken by some guy who only goes by “A.S.S.” each time he hits another high score.