#593 -⚡️⚖️🐎 All About That Balance

TOGETHER WITH

Ford reallocates, cold charging, and sunshine vibes.

Lots to look at today, but none of it adds up to loving people without you on the other end.

Welcome to Monday, the hardest day to love for so many people, making it an important day to show love for the rest of us.

Tell somebody they are perfect for their job today.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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NADA 2024

Yo, Looking For A Party?

BUSINESS

News Around The World

Ford All Over

Despite being the top-selling electric pickup in the US, Ford is scaling back its F-150 Lightning production. Production outpaced demand and the company says the cuts are strategically aimed at achieving a balance between the two. 

• Lightning sales jumped 55% in 2023 with more growth expected this year. 

• Ford was the 2nd highest-selling electric brand in the US last year. 

In addition to the scale back at the Lightning plant, the company says they will up production of gas powered Broncos and Rangers. 

• In addition to 700 relocated Lightning production workers, the push to produce more Broncos and Rangers includes 900 new jobs created for the Michigan plant. 

European Electric Explorer Delayed. Ford's plans to bring an all-electric version of the Explorer EUV to Europe have been delayed eight months due to new battery standards. The brand's 2nd EV in the market should still be released in 2024, but many wonder if the delay will diminish its competitiveness for some time after. 

Honestly, it's for the better... The company also abandoned ambitions to patent tech designed to create self-repossessing cars. Since Ford simply never responded to the Patent and Trademark Office to complete the filing.

We like to imagine this plan got abandoned when Ford learned about bike chains and let their imaginations wander a bit. 

Cold Chargers and Long Lines

A few days ago, we covered a dead-battery pile-up at Tesla chargers in Chicago, but some Vikings told us cold and ICE also don't mix.

In Norway, EVs make up 23% of cars on the road, but a roadside assistance company called Viking says electric cars only make up about 13% of too-cold-to-drive issues reported to them.

Doesn't change much for the stranded people. That is true, but it does change the context for solution-minded thinking. The issue rests with the chargers, as long as the EV battery is pre-conditioned correctly.

So, the idea that Tesla is the only game in town if you want to charge an EV may not be set in stone. Reliability can beat convenience from time to time.

Back here in the states, the government is looking to handle these pesky charging issues like a matador... without the red cape. Or bull. Or battle to the death. Really, just the "charging" part is shared. 

• The US Department of Transportation and Energy is investing part of its $5B National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program funds as a $325M investment for advancing EV tech, repairing/replacing chargers, and reducing the cost of battery production.

• About $150M of the investment will span a 20-state project to repair or replace 4,500 chargers. 

Let's hope NY is one of those states... A mandate in New York City has all rideshare fleets moving toward the electric doors by 2030, which is a nice 6 years of prep time that people should, apparently, take more advantage of. 

Lines at NYC EV chargers are starting to back up with folks trying to take advantage of the benefits of going electric in the gig worker world, leading to some companies, like Revel, building their own "Superhubs" to keep their drivers moving and increase access for the public at the same time. 

China, Energy, US Solar

Here at home or across the ocean (Pacific, to be specific), energy, power, electricity, or plain ol' go-juice is becoming the main character in many mobility discussions. 

Fun(?) Fact(?):  Chinese electric cars consumed as much power as all of Ireland last year. At first glance, it seems like a dire situation, but it reveals a bit of hope about the sustainability of a nation's grid under the pressure of electrification. 

That is, if the nation's grid is modernized. China's BYD is looking to triple its dealership presence in Thailand. The explosion will lead to about 300 dealerships by the end of 2025. That's a steep ramp-up for Thailand's 2/3 natural gas power grid. 

• The push will cost $504M and include a factory in Thailand set to open this year.

• Thailand is down! The nation aims to have its annual vehicle production 30% electric by 2030. 

• BYD is also moving toward other SouthEast Asian markets with new models and a $1.3B assembly plant coming to Indonesia. 

We've played enough risk to know one of the best ways to conquer the US is to dominate every other part of Europe and Asia first. 

The US has the grid, but where will they get more power to keep these. "environmentally friendly" cars, environmentally friends? Snatch it outta the sky! 

• The US just opened 22 million acres of federal land to solar development. 

• The plan will nudge the US toward its net zero goal by 2035 by producing more energy without carbon emissions. 

• US Solar is expected to jump 75% by next year and overtake wind as the country's most powerful renewable energy source.  

--

Excluding carts and horseshoes, mobility tech as we know it has existed for just over 100 years.

A few generations separate us from the Model T in one direction and who knows what in the other.

One hundred years of changing tech is no indication we can expect anything to stay the same.

One hundred years of consumers having preferred brands, dealers, and salespeople because of their experience indicates that people buy what they trust and from whom they trust.

You can control one of those things.

TOGETHER WITH PARTSEDGE

Unleashing the Power of Inventory Management at NADA 2024

While you check out the show, visit our friend Kaylee Felio for her Purposeful Inventory Management Workshop.

Hear real-world examples of innovative, data-driven strategies for parts inventory that shift the focus from a reactive mindset to strategies that optimize your inventory management process, save hundreds of thousands of dollars, and drive growth.

Pickup PartsEdge's proactive mindset to keep your fixed operations team running smoothly and profitably. 

You already give every customer the unique experience and attention they need, so let PartsEdge ensure they never wait on a part again. 

Join Kaylee at 1 pm on February 3rd at NADA 2024 in room W222 for Unleashing the potential of Purposeful Inventory Management.

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Speaking of Solar Power…

Glenn Lundy and his community at 800% Elite Automotive Club are celebrating something far more than cars.

One member of the community, Richard Bruce, with the support of his Breakfast with Champions and Rise and Grind network, has brought light, literally, into a once darker place.

Richard and his team installed solar panels on an orphanage that supports over seventy children.

ASOTU is always looking for the light, and thanks to this bright soul and his network of automotive leaders, thinkers, and doers, children who may never venture into a US retail auto showroom have a brighter today and tomorrow.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• FEBRUARY 1 - 4, 2024

  NADA 2024 in Las Vegas

  Are you going to NADA and itching for some eye-catching media coverage? We're your dream team for content creation.

  🎥 Let’s link up 🎥

In The Dirt

The Washington Auto Show was wall to wall, minute to minute, packed with things to learn. We caught up with Jamie Darvish to talk it over and hear more about what he sees coming up for dealers all over the US.

Check out the full conversation here.

Quick Hits

• A story finds a significant correlation between bigfoot sightings and the black bear population. 🧸

• The S&P 500 has its first record close in 2 years as chipmakers leap.🔔

• An upcoming Indiana Jones first-person adventure video game has a new trailer out. Let’s see if the game’s original story can make up for that weird fridge/nuke thing that has fans so worked up. 🤠

History

• 1930: Construction begins on the Empire State Building. It is completed just 410 days later. 👷‍♀️

• 1970: The Boeing 747 makes its first commercial passenger trip to London, England. ✈️

• 1984: The Apple Macintosh, the first consumer computer to popularize the computer mouse and the graphical user interface, is introduced during a Super Bowl XVIII television commercial. 🍏