💥 December 13: Amazon’s Car Grab, Toyota’s Paint Power, and Musk’s Crash Pass

The Gist

Amazon’s sliding into dealership territory with Hyundai sales that are just a few clicks away—pickups happen at your local dealer, who’s now basically a glorified valet. Meanwhile, dealers ponder their next move: evolve or embrace their new life as service hubs.

Toyota’s painting Kentucky green with a $922M eco-friendly facility while Europe gets a fun-sized EV SUV. Call it big moves in Bluegrass and bite-sized in Brussels.

Mercedes is teasing luxury vans for 2026 that aim to be as electric as they are posh. Think road trips with Wi-Fi, not awkward gas station stops.

Over at Nissan, Jeep’s ex-CEO Christian Meunier tries to revive a struggling brand that reportedly has a year to turn it all around. Big shoes, tight timeline.

Rivian powers up Michigan’s first NEVI-funded chargers, while Nikola clings to life, burning cash like it’s going out of style. And Musk? He’s thrilled Trump might kill crash reporting rules that Tesla really doesn’t like.

Fuel for Thought

• 📦 Amazon Is Declaring Victory?

  • What’s Amazon’s Endgame?

• 🚙 Toyota SU(E)V: Big and Small

  • Big Moves in the Bluegrass State

  • Europe Gets a Compact Treat

• 🚐 Mercedes's Spring Chicken

  • Why This Van Matters

• 🔄 Moving Day: Jeep’s CEO Moves to Nissan America

  • Is Meunier the Right Fit?

• 🚨 Trump to Cut Crash Reporting that Musk Hates

  • Why the Drama?

• ⚡ Rivian's Michigan Chargers

  • Charging into the Future

• 💸 Nikola Holds Off Bankruptcy Another Day

  • Is Nikola Running on Empty?

📦 Amazon Is Declaring Victory?

The Retail Giant Drives into Dealership Territory

Amazon Autos allows buyers to shop, trade-in, finance, and purchase Hyundai vehicles online, with local dealerships acting as pickup hubs. While dealerships remain crucial for service, the platform could change the sales dynamic entirely.

What’s Amazon’s Endgame?

• Convenience is King:
  Hyundai customers in 48 U.S. cities can complete the entire car-buying process online, simplifying the often-dreaded dealership experience.

• Dealerships Shift Roles:
  Instead of focusing on high-pressure sales, dealers become service hubs, fostering long-term customer relationships.

• Future Impacts:
  With Electrify Expo providing hands-on EV experiences and Amazon’s reach, this model could reshape how Americans buy vehicles.

🚙 Toyota SU(E)V: Big and Small

Electrifying Investments in Kentucky and Beyond

Toyota is doubling down on electrification with a $922 million advanced paint facility and a compact Urban Cruiser SUV for Europe. Sustainability and versatility are front and center.

Big Moves in the Bluegrass State

• Eco-Friendly Efficiency:
  Toyota’s Kentucky investment cuts carbon emissions by 30%, saves water, and prepares for electric SUV production by 2026.

Europe Gets a Compact Treat

• Urban Cruiser Unveiled:
  Toyota’s collaboration with Suzuki brings a compact EV SUV with 248 miles of range and AWD, aligning with Europe’s push for greener cities.

🚐 Mercedes's Spring Chicken

A Luxury Van with an Electric Future

Mercedes is teasing its upcoming electric van lineup, built on the scalable VAN.EA platform, designed to combine luxury and functionality with cutting-edge tech.

Why This Van Matters

• Electric Everything:
  The VAN.EA platform supports midsize and large electric vans for personal and commercial use, with ranges over 311 miles.

• Luxury for All:
  These vans promise high-end comfort while aiming to dominate both private and fleet markets.

• Coming Soon-ish:
  Production starts in 2026, with camper and luxury versions potentially heading to the U.S.

🔄 Moving Day: Jeep’s CEO Moves to Nissan America

Can Meunier Steer the Ship?

Former Jeep CEO Christian Meunier returns to Nissan in a bid to revitalize the struggling automaker. With sales lagging and hybrid efforts lacking, the road ahead is rough.

Is Meunier the Right Fit?

What’s his track record?
Meunier’s Jeep tenure saw a 12% sales drop, but he also spearheaded the 4xe hybrid line. Nissan hopes his experience can spark a turnaround.

Can he save Nissan?
Sales are down, hybrid development is behind, and the company faces stiff competition. Meunier’s task is daunting, to say the least.

What’s at stake?
With only "12 to 14 months" of viability, according to reports, Nissan needs a major shift—or it risks irrelevance.

🚨 Trump to Cut Crash Reporting that Musk Hates

Why Tesla Loves This Proposal

The Trump transition team is pushing to scrap NHTSA’s crash reporting rule, a move Tesla supports. Critics argue it could weaken oversight of automated-driving systems.

Why the Drama?

• Tesla’s Stake:
  The company says reporting rules make it look worse due to its advanced crash data, though critics say the data is vital for safety oversight.

• What’s Next?
  If the rule is axed, federal safety investigations into automation technologies could slow, with implications for recalls and consumer trust.

⚡ Rivian's Michigan Chargers

The First NEVI-Funded Fast Chargers Arrive

Michigan’s first federally funded NEVI EV chargers, built by Rivian, are live in Lansing. This marks a significant step toward the state’s 2030 goal of 2 million EVs on the road.

Charging into the Future

• Accessible for All:
  The chargers, powered by 100% renewable energy, are open to all EV drivers, not just Rivian owners.

• Statewide Rollout:
  Michigan will install 100+ fast chargers by 2026, funded by $110 million in federal grants.

💸 Nikola Holds Off Bankruptcy Another Day

Fuel Cells, Layoffs, and Desperation

Nikola’s financial woes deepen as the company struggles to avoid bankruptcy. Layoffs, stock dilution, and mounting liabilities cast doubt on its future.

Is Nikola Running on Empty?

How bad is it?
The company loses $200 million per quarter and has just secured $65 million—enough to survive one more month.

Can it recover?
With weak fuel-cell truck sales and lawsuits piling up, a turnaround seems unlikely.

Any hope for hydrogen?
Hydrogen tech still lags behind batteries, leaving Nikola’s future as uncertain as its cash flow.

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