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AUTOMOTIVE
Ford’s Certification Deadline Passes
Nearly 2000 Ford dealers, roughly two-thirds, have entered the brand's electric certification program. Of those, 1,600+ went with the "Certified Elite" option, which requires investments of up to $1.2M by the dealership.
All Aboard? The deadline to sign up and be eligible to sell EVs beyond 2023 was last week. Ford's CEO Jim Farley says the future of the franchise system is at risk if the Tesla model overtakes Ford's version of OEM + Dealer cooperation.
You have the floor - We would love to investigate this topic more. Send us your thoughts or questions about electrification certification, Ford or otherwise. Let's dive in and be heard.
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AUTOMOTIVE
VW’s Wake-Up Call And More
VW Group's new CEO, Oliver Blume, is preparing to wake up the company from the dreams of his predecessor. Sounds uncomfortable? We will add more news and pro-wrestling GIFs to make it fun AND educational. Enjoy.
Delay... Previously announced level 4 driving assistance software (Full-Robo) is expected to be pushed from 2026 to 2030 or later.
Canceled? With rising energy costs in Europe, VW is worried new EV battery plants could be financially unfeasible. Calling its battery subsidiary, PowerCo's goal of 6 battery plants in Europe by 2030 into question.
Resume. Earlier this week, VW's plants in Chengdu, China, resumed production. Resolving a parts shortage and easing covid restrictions have both plants returned to normal.
Begin! In addition to restarting Jetta and VW production in China, the company will compete with Tesla, BMW, and Renault by exporting Chinese-built vehicles for sale in Europe. The Cupra Tavascan will be the first and, according to current plans, the only model to follow this production path.
Telling it like it is - We try to keep these OEM check up’s interesting, but even we are not sure how VW and pro-wrestling came together for this one…
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QUICK HITS
- Uber will pay $10M to settle deceptive practice claims in Chicago.
- “Goblin Mode” was chosen as Oxford word of the year for 2022. Basically, it means giving up on kindness, cleanliness, and going outside.
- Swifties sue Ticketmaster for ticket buying chaos. (Swifties are Taylor Swift fans)
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TOGETHER WITH TRUECAR
Informed Flexibility
The same storm that tears an oak tree up by the roots teaches the bamboo how to dance.
The used car market is changing. Will you endure or thrive?
TrueCar knows what makes used car shoppers tick. With millions of monthly visitors and used cars making up over half of the platform's transactions, they have the data to turn any storm into an opportunity for your dealership.
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AUTOMOTIVE
Polestar 2 Wireless Speed Up
🔋💰 If you are somebody who likes to buy the whole car when you buy a car, the subscription model must sound like a box of tangled Christmas lights you aren't even sure you want to hang up.
🤝😉 Well, Polestar is meeting people in the (sort of) middle.
⏫🐴 The Polestar 2 will have a 68 horsepower upgrade available to customers as an over-the-air update for a one-time payment of nearly $1,200.
🏃♀️🐇 Before the upgrade, the EV has 408hp with a 0 - 60 time of 4.5 seconds. After the upgrade, that time is cut to 4.2 seconds.
⏳⌛️ Imagine what you'll do with all the time you'll save!
Telling it like it is - This is not like software updates as we know them. Those exist to continually improve performance for people who have already trusted your brand. This seems more like cutting the sleeves off somebody’s coat and offering to upgrade their vest for a fee. 🦺🧥
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MARKETS
EV Deals: Ford, GM (Kinda), and Tesla
Protecting Big Foot The US Forest Service is testing 3 Ford F-150 Lightning pickups to see if they can keep up with the rugged demands of forest ranger work. Following the White House orders for government agencies to lower emissions, the department started with the Lightning as a benchmark for battery-powered options.
Canadian Cousins. DHL Express Canada has become a client of GM's EV delivery van cousin, BrightDrop. The first of the Zevo vans will enter Canadian service early next year. BrightDrop says they have more than 25K EVs reserved or intended spread over 30 customer accounts.
Unrequited Homecoming. The California Department of Transportation is converting its fleet to electric. An order for 399 Tesla Model 3s will put their goal at around 43% complete. The Teslas will join 100 other zero-emission vehicles in the department's 1,200-vehicle fleet. So while Tesla moved its headquarters to Texas, some Californians still claim them as their own.
TL; DR - Forest rangers, Canadian delivery, and California DOT folks are going electric.
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