News From Ford, Honda, Lambo, Stellantis, GMC, and Lego

Ford's Big Moves

Ford is always doing too much.

Today, it's fleets, infotainment, and keeping the EV dream alive.

Tomorrow? Who knows! Maybe tunnels? Flame throwers?? Rocket ships???

• Fleet Success: Ford's "Ford Pro" fleet ops have raked in $18.7B in earnings and $184.5B in revenue since 2021, turning fleet sales into a goldmine.

• New Tech: The 2025 Ford Explorer will debut the Android-based Digital Experience system, featuring Google services and wireless CarPlay/Android Auto.

• EV Discounts: Ford's reintroduced $1,500 UAW discount on 2025 EV models boosts accessibility and sales, with EV sales up 31% in July.

Honda's Financial Boost and Yen Trouble

Honda is riding high on a wave of hybrid sales, but because their country's money is worth more money, their financial stability isn't guaranteed. You'd think money being worth more money would be good.

• Profit Surge: Honda's quarterly profit is expected to top $3.17B, driven by strong U.S. hybrid sales.

• Yen Impact: The yen's rapid appreciation affects Japanese exporters, with Honda and Toyota shares falling and increased market volatility.

Lamborghini's Pricey Swimwear

I (Chris) once went to a wedding and needed a suit. Luckily, I found a shop in town that sold me a tailored one and shirt for $99. All the buttons fell off the coat at the wedding, but it was still a pretty good deal.

Lambo is taking the opposite approach with minimal coverage at maximum prices.

Lamborghini's new line with Orlebar Brown includes $376 swim shorts and $190 towels. The collection is high-priced with minimal branding, highlighting the luxury market's quirks.

Leapmotor's European Expansion 📈🤷

It's interesting to read this story about Leapmotors and Stellantis and think, "Wow, that's a 150% increase," and then think, "Oof, that's just a 300-unit increase." Both are true.

• New Shipments: Leapmotor and Stellantis shipped the first C10 SUVs and T03 cars to Europe, aiming to increase sales points from 200 in 2024 to 500 by 2026.

• Affordable EVs: C10 starts at $17,900 with a 420 km range; T03 at $13,500 with a 265 km range, offering advanced EV tech.

High Lease Prices for GMC Sierra EV

We talk a lot about companies looking to meet affordability-driven consumers where they are, but every so often a company says: "Buy it or don't, peasant!" and we kinda respect the confidence.

• Lease Costs: The GMC Sierra Denali EV leases for $1,571/month with no money down, driven by a high interest rate and low residual value. The Hummer EV, by contrast, leases for $999/month.

Lego's Mercedes G-Class Set

Lego is brilliant. No matter what your hobby is, you can find a Lego version of it. They never had to invent anything, just turn everything into Lego version of itself. Truly, the potato of the hobby world.

• Anniversary Set: Lego's new 2,891-piece Technic set celebrates the Mercedes G-Class's 45th anniversary, priced at $250, featuring a functional engine and gearbox. A smaller G63 kit is available for $44.99.