The Alliance for American Manufacturing is also turning up the pressure to block Chinese EVs and parts imports from Mexico to protect U.S. industry from "extinction-level" threats.

Chinese vehicles, benefiting from strong government subsidies, could exploit a N.A. free trade agreements, potentially causing significant job losses in the U.S. which is why he group pressed U.S. Trade Rep Katherine Tai to increase the 27.5% tariff on Chinese vehicles

China's BYD is the largest target as they are  setting up an EV factory in Mexico, as U.S. lawmakers call for increased tariffs and strategic restrictions on imports.

"The commercial backdoor left open to Chinese auto imports should be shut before it causes mass plant closures and job losses in the United States," warns the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

Before its arrival, an unknown Lexus dealership (or maybe just rogue employee) in Dallas posted a marked up 2024 GX at $27,250 over MSRP on Craigslist

The 2024 GX 550 Luxury's starting price is $77,250; with the markup, it's listed at $105,000.

The listing's ambiguity is causing speculation on whether a rogue salesperson or sales manager is to blame.

With the high demand for this new addition to the Lexus lineup, this isn’t likely to be the last markup attempt we see

The writer of the Jalopnik article Lawrence Hodge urges "Don’t indulge this. Don’t even pay a $1 over sticker. Wait, or don’t buy one at all," advises against encouraging dealer markups.

Krispy Kreme offered free Original Glazed® doughnuts during a major AT&T. cell phone outage with no purchase necessary

The promotion, announced on Facebook, aimed to provide comfort amidst the inconvenience, inviting customers to "Look for the Hot Light!".

Q4 losses deepened by 3.4% quarter-on-quarter, totaling $650.1 million, signaling a 1.3% increase from Q4 2022.

Aiming to triple its sales to 100,000 units in 2024, despite missing its 50,000 target in 2023 due to slow EV adoption and pricing pressures.

Expanding globally, including plans for new factories in North Carolina, India, and Indonesia, targeting major markets with a novel battery leasing scheme.

"This year, we expand globally... So we are confident that we are going to achieve the guidance," states chairwoman Le Thi Thu Thuy.

The offer, exclusive to California, includes $15,000 in complimentary fuel and zero percent financing for qualifying buyers of the 2023 Mirai Limited models.

Inventory is showing challenges with just about two dozen Limited models remaining, highlighting the niche appeal amid infrastructure constraints.

Toyota is also including a $15,000 hydrogen fuel card with the Mirai, amid growing concerns over the dwindling number of available hydrogen refueling stations in California.

There is also a 0% financing incentive that could be valued at over $6500…making the total incentives on the deal worth around $60k

Sticker price is $67,095

Chris Miller, owning multiple dealerships across states, is running for Governor of West Virginia, aiming to leverage his business acumen for state governance.

Miller's personal journey from battling addiction to becoming a successful business owner and now a gubernatorial candidate highlights his resilience and dedication to change.

"At the end of the day, if I ran my businesses the way the government spends our tax dollars, I'd be broke," Miller shares, underlining his motive to enter politics.

Chris Miller owns the Dutch Miller Auto Group, which he operates with his family. The group has 13 dealerships, including one in the Southwest Virginia town of Wytheville, along with dealerships in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kansas.

This initiative comes as a response to growing organizing activities among auto and battery workers currently outside of union membership.

With the electric-vehicle battery sector expected to add tens of thousands of jobs, the UAW is acting to secure workers' interests sooner than later

"Through a massive new organizing effort, workers are fighting to maintain and raise the standard in the emerging battery industry," the UAW states.

The company is experiencing a net loss improvement, reporting $1.52 billion in Q4, down from $1.72 billion the previous year, despite a full-year loss of $5.43 billion.

CEO RJ Scaringe cited consumer reluctance due to high interest rates causing an impact on demand as he announced production shutdowns for efficiency improvements.

"Our business is not immune to existing economic and geopolitical uncertainties," Scaringe acknowledges, pointing to the high interest rates affecting demand.

Despite these challenges, Rivian is optimistic about its future, particularly with the upcoming R2 platform aimed at the midsize SUV market, promising a price below $50,000.

Rivian employees were left in suspense last night when they were told about the 10% reduction and informed they'd have to wait until the next morning to learn if their roles were affected by layoffs, creating a night of uncertainty

The service is part of Delta's continuous efforts to maintain its status as North America's most punctual airline, utilizing its fleet of Porsche vehicles for the benefit of elite passengers.

Aimed more at marketing than speed due to regulatory limitations, the presence of a bright-red Porsche on the tarmac is designed to capture attention and generate social media interest.

"Perhaps this is Delta's secret weapon to remain the most on-time airline in North America," underlines the strategic partnership between Delta and Porsche for delivering exceptional customer experiences.

It's appropriate that our Charlotte, NC based guest Todd is our guest host today to celebrate on this day in 1948, NASCAR was founded by William "Bill" France Sr. Bill was a race-loving mechanic who moved to Daytona Beach, and saw much corruption amongst disjointed race promoters who would run off with prize money so he initiated NASCAR to standardize racing rules and ensure fair competition, serving as its first president and significantly influencing its growth to become a major American spectator sport and a multi-billion-dollar industry.

The price reduction is coupled with attractive financing offers, including 0% financing for 72 months for qualified buyers and a $7,500 cash incentive on leased vehicles, aiming to clear the path for the 2024 model

The Mustang Mach-E is second to the Tesla Model Y in US sales. Despite not qualifying for the $7,500 federal tax credit,

Ford CEO Jim Farley emphasized the need for affordable electric vehicles in the competitive market, with Ford developing a smaller, more affordable electric vehicle. "We are adjusting pricing," said Ford spokesperson Marty Gunsberg, highlighting the company's strategy to adapt to market dynamics and prioritize customer value.

The industry has seen a shift from ecommerce platforms like Vroom, Shift, Carlotz, and Carvana to physical used-car outlets, emphasizing the resilience and adaptability of these business models to market dynamics.

Sonic Automotive and other major players, such as AutoNation and Penske, have integrated additional services like F&I and repair to create synergies with their used-car operations, enhancing customer value and operational efficiency.

"Reducing our store footprint...allowed us to better allocate inventory across the platform," noted David Smith, Sonic's CEO, illustrating a strategic pivot towards a more focused and efficient operational model to weather the fluctuating used-car market.

The EPA will reduce the speed of proposed yearly emissions requirements through 2030, making EVs less than 60% of total production as opposed to the initial higher target of 67% by 2032

Automakers, Dealers, and even the UAW argue that EV technology costs and infrastructure development need more time, prompting a reevaluation of the original aggressive targets.

John Bozzella of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation emphasizes the importance of allowing the market, supply chains, and public charging infrastructure to develop to support the EV shift, proposing a 40-50% target is more realistic  

Current production sits at around 8%

New EV incentives have tripled in many cases

Even California EV sales dropped substantially in Q4...for the first time in a decade

Consumers accustomed to the convenience of home-trial shopping face new charges for returns and stricter policies, affecting even habitual returners.

Retail giants like H&M, Zara, and Amazon are leading the charge, introducing fees for returns, setting shorter return deadlines, and eliminating some return options altogether.

With retail margins becoming tighter,  investors want to see actual profits instead of lofty promises. environmental impact of careless consumption.

Some dealers successfully use the IRS Energy Credits Online portal, enabling immediate tax credit applications at sale, but others report frustrating glitches.

After nearly two months, Andrew Tang's glitch was resolved, allowing his dealership to finally recover the $7,500 credit it fronted on nine Bolt sale

Gary Pretzfeld, co-owner of AutoTrustUSA, encountered a "known error" that prevented offering instant tax credits,"The whole thing, it sucks and it's unfair," Gary Pretzfeld expressed his frustration over portal issues that initially hindered his dealership's ability to compete by offering instant EV tax credits

The company allegedly told dealers at their NADA make meeting that  2024 will be the year when they focus on lower-priced cars to drive sales. According to a dealer who attended the meeting, an exec stated: "Last year was about profitability; this year is about sales growth."

Mercedes plans to introduce 25 new products in 2024, focusing on both core and high-end segments, including the anticipated S63e, G-Class, and AMG GT models.

Despite rumors, Mercedes maintains its "Economics of Desire" strategy, directing over 75% of R&D to lucrative segments, with a future aim for an all-electric lineup.

"Our long-term strategy is to go all electric in the future where market conditions allow," a Mercedes-Benz spokesperson clarified, highlighting tactical flexibility in their vehicle portfolio.

Despite a recycling campaign by the industry, the U.S. plastic recycling rate stands at a dismal 5%-6%, with the report citing over 50 years of misleading practices by Big Oil and the plastics industry.

The plastics industry defends its efforts, arguing that modern recycling technologies are overlooked, and emphasizes plastics' role in achieving sustainability and lower carbon goals.

Shift to a buyer's market: The automotive industry is seeing a potential shift toward a buyer's market as of 2024, driven by a combination of lower prices, a 36% year-over-year increase in new car inventory and vehicles staying on dealer lots for longer periods — ultimately enhancing negotiation leverage for shoppers. 

New-car prices dipped again, but total vehicle cost is still elevated: As new-car inventory returns, prices are softening. However, Cars Commerce’s just-launched New Car Pricing Index (NCPI) reveals the total cost to purchase and finance a vehicle is still 32.7% above MSRP.

Increased options for budget-conscious consumers: There's a notable uptick in the availability of new vehicles priced under $30K, with a 63% year-over-year increase, indicating a broadening of options within an accessible price range for budget-conscious buyers – however, the market is still below average, down 79% when compared to pre-pandemic Jan. 2019 levels. 

Used-car scarcity increasing: Despite a slight decrease in average prices, an 800,000-vehicle drop in availability exacerbates the scarcity of used cars, indicating increased volatility in the market this year and highlighting the need for monitoring lease returns to project future inventory.

Growing EV inventory and market adjustments: The EV market is fluctuating, with a 136.7% increase in dealer inventory allowing more consumers to test-drive vehicles previously limited by supply issues, while the used-EV market is experiencing an uptick in demand bolstered by increased supply and lower prices.

The company is conducting a feasibility study and negotiating with Mexican officials about the factory's location and other terms.

This move is part of BYD's global expansion strategy, complementing its dominant presence in the Chinese market.

Last month, Elon Musk said that Chinese automakers will "demolish" global rivals without trade barriers.

Prior to 2024, EV credits were claimed on tax returns the following year. From Jan. 1, these can now be transferred to dealers at the sale time, reducing purchase prices.

The IRS reported over 25,000 sale time reports, with 78% involving advance payment requests, totaling around $135 million paid to dealers.

New EVs account for 17,500 of the advance payment requests, with used vehicles making up 2,000. Over 11,000 U.S. auto dealers are now registered for the program.

Most complaints are primarily about comfort issues like headaches and motion sickness due to the headset's design.

Parker Ortolani from The Verge reported a burst blood vessel in his eye after using the headset, highlighting health concerns associated with its use.

Apart from physical discomfort, users also cite the headset's limited productivity and entertainment applications as reasons for their dissatisfaction.

Concerns around file compatibility and multitasking inefficiencies further dampen the user experience, as noted by Google's senior manager Carter Gibson.