G. David Felt

Gym is filled with Nautilus equipment and free weights, looks out over First Ave and Jackson street.

I suspect change over to new ICE and EV models could have something to play with the build up as January and February are usual change over times in the factory. On top of this, I suspect EV inventory will take a drop as Sales with the instant rebate take affect starting in only a few days.

E450, S500 all terrible names as it is alphabetized soup and no warmth, meaning, etc. as real names, at least Cadillac has returned to names. FAILURE MERCEDES, FAILURE YOU trying to bad mouth New Cadillac Names over alphabetized mess of naming from Mercedes your favorite brand versus GM, what some have said is my favorite brand. Mercedes is now just catching up with untested new 800V technology. GM Ultium was built as an 800V architecture and GM has already stated they are moving to updated versions as they start to ramp up EV production for 2025. No old tech, but ahead of the Germans. Also to quote @surreal1272 who hit the nail on the Head!!!! He is right, no matter GM, Mercedes, Tesla, they are all heavy compared to ICE, the density of Solid state batteries is where weight savings will come into play as well as moving to lite weight materials that is starting to play a bigger role in the auto making process along with 3D printing.

Mercedes is worse, stupid naming system rather than actual names, EVs are too bloody heavy, slow and not competitive with what others are building. Only badge snobs are buying, and I see a ton of Mercedes EVs and vans sitting on the lots here compared to Hyundai, Kia and Genesis is selling everything they make. Maybe the Germans and Americans need to look at the way Koreans are building as the Japanese are falling behind both Germans and Americans.

My Boss is from China and was here last week and all she did was complain about how terrible her BYD EV was and that American Auto's were so much better. She rode in Escalade and my son's new Telluride and said that Chinese auto's have nothing on Korean or American auto's. If your a badge snob then your buying the German Luxury Brands. BYD is about 30 years out from whenever they actually get a dealership here in getting where the Hyundai/Kia were 10 years ago. This is coming from a woman who lives in China.

The Hyundai Motor Group (Hyundai, Kia, Genesis) has raced ahead of GM taking #2 spot for Q3 in EV registrations and now leads for all of 2023 EV registrations behind Tesla. How much more can GM screw this up with now a 9 month delay on EV Power Train production that would bring mass production! On top of killing off Android Auto and Apple CarPlay in the weak ass excuse of safety. The Real Reason GM Is Dropping Apple CarPlay, Android Auto (gmauthority.com) This just makes it harder and harder to ever buy from GM again. I might have just bought my last GM with my SS. 1 Ford, 1 Toyota, 2 Dodge, 2 Jeep and 5 GM auto's in my household till this week when my son traded in his Jeep for a Telluride. Now my daughter is considering trading in her Dodge Durango for a Kia Sportage Hybrid. I really like what I saw in the Rivian when I checked it out, but need to test drive it and the Kia EV9 will be on dealer lots come January 2024, even without the IRA on these EVs, they could still win my money as GM continues to screw up and cave into big oil and other interest groups. Pathetic.

Sad as GM will now fall farther behind Hyundai Motors trilogy of auto brands and Tesla as they delay even more production of EVs. Seems a delay of 9 months will now happen before EV Power Train production begins. GM is delaying another major EV initiative (electrek.co)

This is Great News for EV battery production. Seems the Geothermal plant near Salton Sea in Calipatria, CA has proven to hold major lithium deposits. The site will now move forward to produce Lithium for North America allowing it to no longer rely on South America or Chinese Lithium sources according to the news story and government report. Study: Salton Sea has enough lithium to make more than 375 million EV batteries – Press Enterprise Long-awaited analysis shows this desert holds a gold mine of lithium: 'It’s pretty exciting how much is there' (thecooldown.com)

OUCH, this is going to hurt GM for sure and I now would not want to buy a 2024 GM truck. GM Stops Sales Of Some 2024 Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra Trucks Over Splitting Roofs | Carscoops

Even with the infotainment guy giving his reason to not support Apple CarPlay or Android auto, I still do not buy his excuses. https://gmauthority.com/blog/2023/12/heres-the-real-reason-that-gm-is-dropping-apple-carplay-android-auto/

It will definitely be a hit for the Lexus faithful and anyone moving from Toyota to Lexus. Glad to see they have de-emphasized the Predator or as they call it Spindel grill. To me this does not say Luxury, but an odd duck in a luxury space. Will be interesting to see just how well it does. It is playing in a space that is clearly dominated by others and the Engine Specifications are on the low end what some luxury buyers will be expecting.

My understanding from hearing Cadillac is you would pronounce it Visssss Teak "Vistiq"

Another interesting read More expensive with less power: Cybertruck reservation holders reveal why they're reconsidering their purchases (msn.com)

Nice compliment to a solid styling EV lineup.

FYI: GM Says It's Ditching Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for Your Safety (motortrend.com) If you're going to lie, at least try to be halfway convincing, In my experience, Carplay is extremely reliable. I've used it in multiple vehicles (rentals, my trailblazer SS, Escalade which have 3rd party head units), and have experienced literally no issues. If there are issues using it in GM vehicles, ISTM that is on GM and is a massive self-own. They just admitted they want to develop the entire software stack themselves and, at the same time, have said they're not even competent enough to produce a reliable CarPlay/Android Auto interface when most of the work has already been done for them. End result is that GM could have seen the last of my money based on other OEMs that continue to support Android Auto / Apple CarPlay. Very cool read. Shady Car Dealers Are Going To Hate The FTC's New CARS Rule (msn.com)

Rivian, Kia, Hyundai and Genesis. Yes, I know they are working to start in Q2 U.S. Production, but I really think the GOV should have included everyone with a sliding scale over the next 18 to 24 months that if they did not start on U.S. production then they would lose every quarter a % of the rebate on their EVs till it was zero and at least it would allow instant rebates to get folks into EVs.

WOW, just when they could have really set off EV sales with the instant rebate starting January 1st 2024, come to find out the details bring this to only 10 EVs that qualify. Very Sad as what I am interested in is not on the list yet. I know both Kia/Hyundai/Genesis are planning to meet it with production later in 2024 as is Rivian, but it sucks that this will not help sales sooner. Just as they will require every year higher U.S. built components, I feel there should be a 100% credit to start and it phases out if you do not bring manufacturing online in the U.S. over the next 18 or 24 months. Only 10 Electric Car Models Will Qualify For Full Federal EV Tax Credit On January 1, 2024 - CleanTechnica

? And a service Nightmare. Mercedes has always pushed tech to the cutting edge and I love the color and the tech, but I suspect this could be a service nightmare in reliability as they really do not have much of a track record for hybirds.

In the Seattle office for the first time since pandemic started in 2020. Wow, they are really trying to get folks back in as the landlord built a very nice gym that is free, a juice bar that is free and updated the whole building. My last day back in February 2020 we had 2 EV charging parking spots and they were always full with people slacking each other to move EVs around to get charged. Today there is 12 dedicated stalls now.

?I wonder how many they will really sell; will it even be enough to justify the R&D that went into the manual tranny. I just do not see many people really wanting a manual.

Very cool that the spring hill battery plant is finally in production. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ultium-cells_oneultiumteam-activity-7138602727139377153-FoIx

Not totally in agreement with CR on this. I feel there is some bias in their reporting.

Jeeps lie about a reliable V6 when there are so many issues with the engine when hitting 100,000 miles has soured our family on Jeep. My son is negotiating right now to trade his in after spending over $5K to fix the blown head gaskets and leaking water pump into the engine so it at least runs right on a new SUV, and it WILL NOT be a Jeep. Rather than fix all the engine problems for the V6 that is used in far more than just Jeep by Stellantis, they are now facing many lawsuits and have dumped it for a straight 6. Stellantis brands are off the purchase list for good in my household. Right now, I would take a Hyundai/Kia/Genesis over Jeep/Ram/Dodge/Chrysler and all the European name plates that Stellantis owns.

Same here, for me going from Seattle WA to the greater LA area to visit relatives/family. I am totally covered in all the spots I usually stop to eat, refuel, take a break, etc. The next few years will be great for the EV road trip getting easier and easier.

Have to say that this is AWESOME. Pointing out the fact that many folks who are against EVs always point out slow charging. Public charging needs to always be the fastest possible IMHO. The fact that these companies are coming together to have 350kW fast charging for road trips is a great start to add to the NACS Supercharging stations and others. I am very hopeful that this will drive EV adoption as with the new year the instant rebate credit will help folks reduce costs immediately at the dealership.