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- 🫣 December 3: Tesla’s Cybertruck Pause, Jaguar’s Bold Leak, Nissan’s Woes
🫣 December 3: Tesla’s Cybertruck Pause, Jaguar’s Bold Leak, Nissan’s Woes
The Gist
Tesla’s juggling courtroom drama (Elon’s paycheck got benched), Cybertruck woes (is the hype rusting?), and a make-or-break sales push in China.
GM decided to call “efficiency” on selling a battery plant, while Ford’s European EV gambit with the Puma Gen-E is less meow and more hmm.
Jaguar accidentally leaked a bold EV concept (or maybe it was strategic?) and now has everyone debating its design chops.
Hyundai and Kia smashed sales records with electrified vehicles, thanks to fat incentives, while dealer lots are brimming with inventory for the first time in years.
And Nissan? They’re trying not to skid off the road entirely, with production cuts, tariffs, and executive exits piling up.
Fuel for Thought
🚗 Tesla in China, Court, and The Cybertruck Factory
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Tesla is juggling legal drama, factory slowdowns, and a crucial quarter-end push in China. The stakes? Maintaining its dominance while battling courtroom losses and waning Cybertruck demand.
Courtroom Setback: Musk’s $101 billion pay package has been blocked—again. A Delaware judge ruled it unfair to shareholders, pointing to Tesla’s board’s failure to negotiate adequately with its own CEO.
China’s Q4 Crunch: Tesla needs 515,000 vehicle deliveries in Q4 to meet its annual goal. With ~70,000 November deliveries in China, incentives like ¥10,000 discounts and subsidized loans aim to keep momentum strong.
Cybertruck Concerns: Production halts at Tesla’s Austin plant raise questions. With fewer than 30,000 units sold this year, is the angular pickup’s hype fizzling faster than expected?
🔋 GM Finds a New Solution: Retreat
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GM selling its battery plant stake to LG is a move they’re calling strategic. But is this a step forward or an awkward shuffle backward?
GM offloads its Lansing battery plant to LG Energy Solutions while promising efficiency and innovation. Does this signal a pivot or a retreat?
Wait, isn’t GM supposed to be leading the EV charge?
Apparently, leading now involves retreating. Selling its $1B stake to LG lets GM focus on other ventures, but it feels more like trimming weight to stay afloat.
Does this mean GM is throwing in the towel?
Not yet. They still own three U.S. battery plants and are pushing new tech like prismatic cells. But with subsidy uncertainty under Trump’s incoming administration, this move feels less confident and more cautious.
Is this “capital-efficient growth” or corporate spin?
Both. GM gets to claim efficiency while sidestepping the challenges of running another factory. The result? A balance sheet that looks smarter in the short term but could limit growth down the line.
⚡ Jim Farley and the Electric Mountain Cat
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Ford’s Puma Gen-E showcases its EV ambitions with European flair, but can this electric crossover help reverse Ford of Europe’s sagging fortunes?
An EV Built for Europe
Ford’s Puma Gen-E trades gasoline for electricity, offering up to 234 miles of range in a compact, stylish package. With smart features like wireless charging and a subcompact frame, it’s tailored for European roads.
A Market in Decline
Despite its charm, the Puma Gen-E enters a tough market. Ford’s sales dropped 17.5% in Europe this year, and market share slid to 3.4%. The end of legacy models like the Focus looms large.
Can the Puma Climb Back Up?
Ford is banking on the Puma Gen-E to claw back sales, with production already underway in Romania. Whether it can carry the weight of Ford of Europe’s future remains to be seen.
🐆 Jag's New EV: Accidental Leak or Strategic Peek?
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Leaked images of Jaguar’s Design Vision Concept sparked intrigue and debate. Is this bold EV design the future of luxury, or just a risky gamble?
A Bold New Direction
Jaguar’s leaked Design Vision Concept flips EV conventions, with dramatic proportions and no rear window. The cab-rear stance and slatted roof emphasize individuality over conformity.
Specs for the Luxury Crowd
Set to inspire a 2026 luxury GT with 600 hp and 400 miles of range, Jaguar is doubling down on exclusivity. The leaked design suggests bold colors and unconventional shapes aimed at premium buyers.
Risk vs. Reward
By refusing to follow trends, Jaguar is staking its claim in the EV market. Whether this design gamble pays off or alienates customers will define the brand’s next chapter.
🌎 Incentives and Records w/ Hyundai and Kia
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Hyundai and Kia shattered November U.S. sales records, driven by aggressive incentives and surging demand for electrified vehicles.
Sales Records Set: Hyundai sales rose 8% (76,008 vehicles), and Kia jumped 20% (70,107 vehicles). Both brands credit strong demand for hybrids and EVs.
Electrified Vehicles Dominate: Hyundai’s EV deliveries surged 70%, while hybrids climbed 114%. Kia’s electrified models saw a 45% increase in November.
Aggressive Incentives: Automakers offered deals like 0% financing and deferred payments. As EV tax credits face potential changes under Trump’s administration, brands are rushing to close 2024 strong.
🛠️ Dealers Got Extra Cars
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Dealer inventories are rebounding, hitting pre-pandemic levels. But will rising stock and growing incentives spur year-end sales or stall progress?
Inventory on the Rise
New-vehicle inventory topped 3 million in November for the first time since the pandemic, driven by increased production and easing supply chain woes.
Incentives Sweeten the Deal
Discounts climbed to 7.7% of transaction prices, a high not seen since April 2021. Falling auto loan rates and higher supply are nudging consumers toward new purchases.
What’s Next for Dealers?
With a stronger close to 2024 expected, the real question is whether these trends are sustainable or just a year-end push to clear lots.
🔄 Nissan's Recent Whiplash
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Nissan’s wild ride includes production cuts, executive shake-ups, and tariff threats. Can the automaker weather its mounting challenges?
Nissan’s cutting production—again? Do they even want to sell cars?
It sure doesn’t look like it. With outdated models and declining North American sales, Nissan plans to build 100,000 fewer vehicles this fiscal year.
Are tariffs the icing on this mess?
Pretty much. Trump’s proposed 25% tariff on Mexico and Canada imports could hammer Nissan’s already struggling operations.
Wait, another executive leaving? Who’s left?
CFO Stephen Ma’s exit leaves CEO Makoto Uchida as the last top exec standing. With Nissan mired in leadership turnover, stability is nowhere in sight.
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