🎲 November 18: Tesla’s Battery Gamble, U.S. Battery Boom, and Harley’s Pastel Pivot"

The Gist

The auto industry served up bold moves, fierce debates, and unexpected pivots. Tesla’s battery tech is under fire from CATL’s Robin Zeng, who isn’t shy about calling Elon out. Meanwhile, the U.S. is quietly becoming a battery powerhouse, though Trump’s EV subsidy plans could shake things up. Kei truck owners are proving that persistence pays, fighting bureaucratic bans with grassroots savvy. Inventory levels are back up, incentives are climbing, but prices still make you wince.

On the innovation front, Hyundai’s AI-powered EV for China might save its shrinking market share, while its new CEO, Jose Munoz, gears up to globalize the brand. And Harley? They’re going pastel with electric scooters, targeting city commuters and adventurers, not your typical leather-clad crowd.

Fuel For Thought

• 🚗 Tesla's Battery Bet Faces Criticism

  • Tesla's Vision and Challenges:

  • CATL’s Counterpoint:

  • Market Implications:

• 🔋 Is America the New Battery King?

  • Why are we suddenly good at batteries?

  • Is this all thanks to Elon Musk?

  • What happens if Trump axes the IRA?

• 🛻 Kei Truck Owners Fight for Their Rides

  • 🚚 The Little Trucks That Could

  • 📜 Legal Limbo

  • 💡 Lessons in Advocacy

• 📊 New Car Inventory Bounces Back

  • Market Snapshot:

  • Incentives Drive Sales:

  • What’s Next for Dealers:

• 🚛 4 Gen Logistics Leads EV Freight Revolution

  • ⚡ Halfway to Zero

  • 🔌 Overcoming Challenges

  • 🌍 Cleaner, Quieter, Better

• 🤖 Hyundai’s AI-Powered EV for China

  • Multi-Paragraph Summary

  • 🎯 A Targeted Strategy for China

  • 📉 Fighting Declining Market Share

  • 🤝 Tech Partnerships Fuel Ambition

• 🛠️ New Leadership at Hyundai

  • 🚀 A Proven Track Record

  • 🌍 Global Ambitions, Local Roots

  • 📈 What’s Next for Hyundai?

  • 🛑 Trump’s EV Policy Could Spark Buying Frenzy

  • Wait, Trump is boosting EV sales?

  • Will this kill the EV market?

  • What should dealers do?

• 🛵 Harley-Davidson’s Pastel Scooter Gamble

  • Wait, Harley is making pastel scooters?

  • Who’s buying these things?

  • Will these scooters save LiveWire?

BUSINESS

🚗 Tesla's Battery Bet Faces Criticism

The debate between Tesla and CATL's Robin Zeng over battery tech heats up. While Tesla's "4680" cylindrical cells aim for breakthroughs, CATL's Zeng calls the effort doomed. Who’s right in this power struggle?

Tesla's Vision and Challenges:

• Tesla's tabless 4680 battery cells boast "five times" more energy capacity.

• 100 million units produced, yet cost and scalability issues persist.

• Elon Musk's internal deadline: Solve battery woes by year-end.

CATL’s Counterpoint:

• CATL, a giant in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, argues 4680 cells lack feasibility.

• Robin Zeng: Musk overpromises timelines to "push people" but struggles with execution.

• CATL powers vehicles from Ford’s F-150 Lightning to Tesla's Chinese lineup.

Market Implications:

• Tesla's innovation vs. CATL's reliability spotlights different paths to EV dominance.

• Musk’s reputation as a visionary hinges on whether the 4680 gamble pays off.

🔋 Is America the New Battery King?

U.S. lithium-ion battery production is on the rise, driven by policy and geopolitical shifts. But will this surge outlive political volatility?

Why are we suddenly good at batteries?

Because the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) threw money at it. Turns out, tax credits and local incentives are pretty convincing when the competition is literally electrifying.

Is this all thanks to Elon Musk?

Not quite. While Tesla gets credit for popularizing EVs, the IRA encouraged automakers across the spectrum to jump into the battery race. Even red states are hosting battery plants now. Go figure.

What happens if Trump axes the IRA?

Expect some drama. Sure, Trump could nix EV subsidies, but let’s see if Congress wants to sacrifice jobs in their districts. For now, buy your EVs while the tax credits last.

🛻 Kei Truck Owners Fight for Their Rides

Tiny trucks, big battles. Kei truck enthusiasts in states like Texas and Massachusetts are scoring victories against bureaucratic bans.

🚚 The Little Trucks That Could

Kei trucks, Japan's pint-sized workhorses, are making headway in the U.S. despite legal pushback. Advocates in Texas and Massachusetts have won battles to register these quirky vehicles, leveraging grassroots campaigns to sway policymakers.

📜 Legal Limbo

While federal law permits importing 25-year-old vehicles, states often interpret rules differently. Recent wins allow registration in some areas, but without solid legislation, policy reversals loom large.

💡 Lessons in Advocacy

From courtroom drama to public hearings, mini-truck lovers are showing how persistence pays off. Their successes serve as a blueprint for enthusiasts fighting similar battles in other states.

📊 New Car Inventory Bounces Back

After years of shortages, inventory levels are surging. Yet stubbornly high prices and mounting incentives paint a mixed picture for dealers.

Market Snapshot:

• Inventory tops 3 million units for the first time since the pandemic.

• Sales climbed 13% year-over-year in October, signaling consumer confidence.

• Average transaction price (ATP): $48,398—still sky-high but up only 1.7%.

Incentives Drive Sales:

• Incentives reached 7.7% of ATP, up from 4.7% a year ago.

• High-end vehicles ($50K-$80K) see record discounts nearing 10% of ATP.

What’s Next for Dealers:

• Seasonal discounts could drive more foot traffic, but price fatigue may curb demand.

• Balancing inventory growth with profitability remains a tightrope walk for automakers.

🚛 4 Gen Logistics Leads EV Freight Revolution

California's 4 Gen Logistics is electrifying its fleet, proving zero-emission freight is more than a pipe dream—it’s here.

⚡ Halfway to Zero

With 41 Volvo VNR Electric trucks in operation, over half of 4 Gen Logistics' fleet is now electric. Their ambitious goal: 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2025.

🔌 Overcoming Challenges

From installing 90 high-power charging stations to securing state-funded incentives, 4 Gen Logistics tackles hurdles head-on. Partnerships with Volvo and financial backers have smoothed the transition.

🌍 Cleaner, Quieter, Better

Electric trucks don’t just cut emissions; they reduce noise and fuel costs, benefiting both drivers and communities. 4 Gen Logistics’ efforts set the standard for sustainable freight.

🤖 Hyundai’s AI-Powered EV for China

Hyundai is stepping up its EV game with a generative AI-powered car aimed at China's massive market. The automaker is betting on smarter, more localized tech to regain lost ground against domestic players like BYD.

Multi-Paragraph Summary

🎯 A Targeted Strategy for China

Hyundai’s first AI-powered EV is designed specifically for the Chinese market, where EV demand is surging. Partnering with Haomo, a Chinese startup, Hyundai is introducing a generative AI driving system called DriveGPT, capable of learning and adapting to real-time traffic patterns.

📉 Fighting Declining Market Share

Hyundai’s sales in China have plummeted to a 1.2% market share as domestic brands like BYD dominate. By launching five new models by 2026 and opening a digital R&D center, Hyundai hopes to reverse this trend.

🤝 Tech Partnerships Fuel Ambition

Collaborations with local tech companies like Thundersoft enhance Hyundai’s competitive edge. The company aims to bring smarter, more affordable EVs to a market hungry for innovation.

🛠️ New Leadership at Hyundai

Hyundai taps Jose Munoz, a seasoned executive, as its new global CEO, marking a strategic shift to internationalize its leadership and bolster innovation.

🚀 A Proven Track Record

Jose Munoz, currently Hyundai’s North American COO, has driven 16% sales growth since 2019. His promotion to CEO reflects Hyundai’s confidence in his ability to lead during a transformative time for the auto industry.

🌍 Global Ambitions, Local Roots

Munoz will be the first non-Korean CEO of Hyundai, signaling a shift toward international perspectives. With massive investments in U.S. EV manufacturing, his leadership could help bridge the gap between global strategy and regional execution.

📈 What’s Next for Hyundai?

Hyundai is leaning into EVs and AI while expanding its U.S. operations, including a $12.6 billion production facility in Georgia. Munoz’s challenge: maintaining Hyundai’s growth trajectory while navigating fierce global competition.

🛑 Trump’s EV Policy Could Spark Buying Frenzy

With President-elect Trump signaling a rollback on EV subsidies, buyers are rushing to capitalize on current incentives. But what does this mean for the long-term EV market?

Wait, Trump is boosting EV sales?

Well, sort of. His plans to end EV tax credits have ironically pushed fence-sitters to buy now. Nothing motivates like fear of losing $7,500 in free money.

Will this kill the EV market?

Not so fast. EV demand is rising regardless of politics, but cutting subsidies could make life harder for smaller players. Tesla, on the other hand, will keep on Tesling.

What should dealers do?

Lean into the urgency. "Buy now while supplies—and subsidies—last" could be your slogan for the next few months. Just don’t overpromise like someone we know.

🛵 Harley-Davidson’s Pastel Scooter Gamble

Harley-Davidson’s LiveWire brand is veering off the beaten path with electric scooters—one sleek and street-ready, the other rugged and off-road. It’s a bold move for a company rooted in heavyweight bikes.

Wait, Harley is making pastel scooters?

Yep, and they’re adorable. Think less “bad to the bone” and more “bad to the bone china.”

Who’s buying these things?

Probably not die-hard Harley fans. LiveWire is targeting urban commuters and adventurous scooter enthusiasts—two groups who don’t even know what a Fat Boy is.

Will these scooters save LiveWire?

Maybe, but it’s an uphill ride. With Harley’s electric division losing millions, these scooters need to sell big. Let’s hope the S2 platform packs enough punch to turn heads—and wallets.

Sign up for more!