All-electric Jeep Avenger, Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Nikola founder found guilty of fraud

Inside Automotive:

How GM Patrick Abad revamped sales engagement with one powerful change
In recent years dealerships have accelerated their technology to better deliver the best possible sales and service experiences. Today on Inside Automotive, we’re joined by Patrick Abad, the General Manager of Beaver Toyota of Cumming, to learn more about a game-changing switch he made within his operation this year. Watch the complete segment here.

Headlines:

Recently, at the Paris Motor Show, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares told CNBC that the company would begin using its own sites to generate 50% of the energy it needs for manufacturing by 2025. Tavares’s comments come just ahead of the debut of its new all-electric Jeep Avenger, which the CEO called the “first pure EV-Jeep,” with a range of just under 249 miles. Stellantis said its goal is to have all passenger sales in Europe to be battery-electric by 2030 and wants a 50% passenger car and light-duty truck BEV sales mix in the US within the same timeframe. Read More

Mercedes-Benz made a series of announcements offering a closer look at the upcoming EQE SUV. Reportedly, the standard version of the electric luxury SUV will be slightly more compact than its sedan counterpart but still more spacious inside and will offer a range of over 550 km, or 342 miles. The SUV will feature a lithium-ion battery consisting of ten modules and the ability for over-the-air updates. The brand’s high-performance AMG version of the EQE SUV offers drivers a shorter range but higher performance. According to a press release, the AMG will include ‘two powerful motors and fully variable all-wheel drive.” The standard version is expected to begin production by the end of the year, and official pricing for either model is still unknown. Read More

Used car retailer Carvana has accused Michigan’s Secretary of State, Jocelyn Benson, of violating state laws after she suspended Carvana’s dealer license in Novi last week. Following allegations of multiple violations and complaints from customers, Benson decided to step in. However, Carvana filed injunction motions late last week asking for an immediate stop to the “illegal and irresponsible attempt to shut down a growing Michigan business with tens and thousands of customers over what amounts to technical paperwork violations involving title and transfer issues,” according to an email from Carvana spokesperson Kristin Thwaites. Read More

Trevor Milton, the founder and former CEO of Nikola, has been found guilty of three counts of fraud after a jury ruled he lied to investors to increase the price of the startup’s stock. Milton also faced accusations that he misled investors about the source of the batteries in its vehicles, the development process for its pickup truck, and progress on overall vehicle development. His attorneys said he would appeal the verdict. Milton stepped down as Nikola’s CEO in 2020, and the case doesn’t involve the company in any capacity. According to a statement from the company’s publicist, Nikola said it is “pleased to close this chapter” so it can focus on business. Read More

News & Opinion

8 upcoming cars we’re most excited to see in 2023
2023 looks to be a challenging time for automakers and dealers as the EV onslaught continues, along with the never-ending game of one-upmanship. At the same time, the debut of all-new models injects enthusiasm into the market. With this in mind, let’s check out some examples of what’s hitting showrooms now and soon (hint: they’re not all EVs). Read More

Data analytics in F&I – Remember, humans are behind the numbers
When dealerships use data to take a more granular look at how the different departments are performing, it can uncover a lot – positive and negative. How much of a margin is held in sales? What is the average RO in service? Are parts personnel pricing for proper margins vs. local suppliers? Data is critical to getting a snapshot of what’s working and what’s not. But there is one department where you must temper the objective and cold effect of data with the real-world expectations of human behavior…F&I. Read More

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