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I'm reminded of the popular nostalgia for small pickups like the old Ford Ranger. There has always been a discrepancy between market demand and central planners

I'm reminded of the popular nostalgia for small pickups like the old Ford Ranger. There has always been a discrepancy between market demand and central planners' "virtuous consumption". From the manufacturer's perspective, perhaps they overestimated the EV trend or how consumers would respond to tax credits. It is easy to imagine how an echochamber would influence the former and bean counting would influence the latter.

nebula8804 1y ago
This is just a hypothesis but I think it was the Tesla stock price shooting to the moon during COVID and shareholders asking all the auto companies why they don't have an EV roadmap. That pressure caused the rushed designs that flopped(Bolt EUV, the later compliance cars, and first attempts like Mache) and then some companies (GM, Hyundai, maybe Toyota in 2026) got their act together and started releasing better platforms. The problem is even though there are better options, prices are still too high and we are in a moment where people are cash poor. Therefore practical vehicles (Prius, Rav4 Hybrid) sell well while cars that might evoke excitement in good times but are poor investments (anything Stellantis makes) are just sitting on dealership lots.
- Alive-in-2025 1y ago
  Bolt was a success in terms of sales and the new ones also looks to sell well.
  - nebula8804 1y ago
    The Bolt was the supposed "Tesla Killer". I'd argue it fell short of those expectation. Especially first Gen which was a car based on their cheapest platform to expedite the speed of which it was released. This was to prove to wall street that they had the expertise to make a product that could meet Tesla's challenge. Given what they have learned over the last 8 or so years, of course the upcoming Bolt will be much better but my point was that the first (and second) gen Bolt was a rush job. In terms of sales I guess it depends on what the expectations were but a Tesla killer it was not.
- ben_w 1y ago
  > Therefore practical vehicles (Prius, Rav4 Hybrid) sell well while cars that might evoke excitement in good times but are poor investments (anything Stellantis makes) are just sitting on dealership lots Stellantis? Surprised they have a bad reputation on cost (or, conversely, a reputation for evoking excitement), but I guess export market is different from domestic. Isn't Dacia part of that group? Seeing a lot with that badge here in Germany these days (even in Brandenburg, which is former DDR and therefore low GDP/capita).
  - nebula8804 1y ago
    >Stellantis? Surprised they have a bad reputation on cost (or, conversely, a reputation for evoking excitement), but I guess export market is different from domestic. Isn't Dacia part of that group? Seeing a lot with that badge here in Germany these days (even in Brandenburg, which is former DDR and therefore low GDP/capita). Oh sorry I was referring to what is sold in the US. When you are not unique in cost, efficiency, reliability, what do you have left? Make something that is cool. If you want to sum up their US lineup in two videos just watch the following lol [1]: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IB4qS9Lv5Mo https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IB4qS9Lv5Mo [2]: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MI_6FrQDrVw https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MI_6FrQDrVw

nebula8804 1y ago

This is just a hypothesis but I think it was the Tesla stock price shooting to the moon during COVID and shareholders asking all the auto companies why they don't have an EV roadmap. That pressure caused the rushed designs that flopped(Bolt EUV, the later compliance cars, and first attempts like Mache) and then some companies (GM, Hyundai, maybe Toyota in 2026) got their act together and started releasing better platforms. The problem is even though there are better options, prices are still too high and we are in a moment where people are cash poor. Therefore practical vehicles (Prius, Rav4 Hybrid) sell well while cars that might evoke excitement in good times but are poor investments (anything Stellantis makes) are just sitting on dealership lots.

Alive-in-2025 1y ago
Bolt was a success in terms of sales and the new ones also looks to sell well.
- nebula8804 1y ago
  The Bolt was the supposed "Tesla Killer". I'd argue it fell short of those expectation. Especially first Gen which was a car based on their cheapest platform to expedite the speed of which it was released. This was to prove to wall street that they had the expertise to make a product that could meet Tesla's challenge. Given what they have learned over the last 8 or so years, of course the upcoming Bolt will be much better but my point was that the first (and second) gen Bolt was a rush job. In terms of sales I guess it depends on what the expectations were but a Tesla killer it was not.
ben_w 1y ago
> Therefore practical vehicles (Prius, Rav4 Hybrid) sell well while cars that might evoke excitement in good times but are poor investments (anything Stellantis makes) are just sitting on dealership lots Stellantis? Surprised they have a bad reputation on cost (or, conversely, a reputation for evoking excitement), but I guess export market is different from domestic. Isn't Dacia part of that group? Seeing a lot with that badge here in Germany these days (even in Brandenburg, which is former DDR and therefore low GDP/capita).
- nebula8804 1y ago
  >Stellantis? Surprised they have a bad reputation on cost (or, conversely, a reputation for evoking excitement), but I guess export market is different from domestic. Isn't Dacia part of that group? Seeing a lot with that badge here in Germany these days (even in Brandenburg, which is former DDR and therefore low GDP/capita). Oh sorry I was referring to what is sold in the US. When you are not unique in cost, efficiency, reliability, what do you have left? Make something that is cool. If you want to sum up their US lineup in two videos just watch the following lol [1]: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IB4qS9Lv5Mo https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IB4qS9Lv5Mo [2]: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MI_6FrQDrVw https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MI_6FrQDrVw