Cheers and Jeers for 2024

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2024 was a Presidential election year, with many twists and turns, including assassination attempts and the resultant rare occurrence of a former President getting reelected, let alone one who was impeached twice and had felony convictions.  The CEO of Tesla decided to endorse the former President and made a $250 million investment in the endeavor.  This CEO also supports the end of the $7,500 EV tax credit not for the health of the EV market but because he believes Tesla would have a competitive advantage over other makers.  Despite having obvious conflicts of interest and being the beneficiary of hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies, he is heading an unofficial “Department of Government Efficiency” and is acting like a co-President.

In April, a total solar eclipse brought people out to a swath of the U.S. between Texas and Maine.  In other parts of the world, strife continues in Ukraine and Gaza.  The Notre Dame Cathedral reopened after a five-year restoration after being gutted with a fire.  

Prominent passings included producer Quincy Jones, actor David Soul of Starsky & Hutch fame, reporter Charles Osgood, country singer Toby Keith, disgraced baseball player and manager Pete Rose, actor and voice of Darth Vader James Earl Jones, comedian Richard Lewis, O.J. Simpson, actor Bob Newhart, actor Shannen Doherty, fitness guru Richard Simmons, talk show host Phil Donahue, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and the 39th President, Jimmy Carter, who was the longest-lived President at 100.

In automotive news, Chinese EVs are still being kept at bay due to the 100% tariffs signed in September, though Chinese automakers are looking to manufacture EVs in Mexico.  Honda and Nissan announced a merger amid the pending Chinese onslaught.  GM’s previous partnership with Honda was short-lived, with the proposed affordable EVs canceled.  Volkwagen introduced the pricey ID.Buzz but struggled with an overall lack of demand and high labor costs.  In October VW showed the upcoming EV Scout Traveler SUV and Terra pickup, due in 2028 and having intriguing solid axles.  VW and Rivian announced a joint venture in November giving Rivian some badly needed cash and VW getting software and other technology.

In its first full year on the market, the Tesla Cybertruck had its supposed reservation list of 2 million completely depleted with an estimated 2% take rate on total sales of around 40k, far less than the expected annual rate of 125k to 250k, though the the $61k single motor model may go into production in late 2025.  Tesla began discounting the Cybertruck and offering free Supercharging for life for buyers of the Foundation Series models.  Overall sales for Tesla are flat, despite a major refresh to the Model 3.  The antics of the CEO have soured many on the brand, and competitors are selling viable alternatives, especially since the Supercharger network is being increasingly opened up to competing brands.

Jaguar is reinventing itself into an exclusively EV brand with ultra luxury offerings.  It introduced a new logo, had an ad that was widely derided, and unveiled a cartoonish concept coupe with no rear window.  The Fisker Ocean, an EV SUV originally costing $40k to $70k, went for fire sale prices after the company filed for bankruptcy and started winding down.  Desperate vehicle owners banded together to work on getting parts and continued support for their vehicles.  Henrik Fisker moved on to work on a new venture dealing with food.  Another troubled EV startup, Canoo, is on its deathbed.  It has innovative vehicles, but the company’s executives seemed more interested in having high salaries than producing vehicles.  With EVs overall not quite catching on as expected, automakers are embracing hybrids for upcoming models, though California still plans to ban light duty ICE vehicles in 2035.  Governor Newsom announced that California would reintroduce EV rebates if the federal tax credit is canceled, but they may not apply to Teslas or other automakers that have exceeded a sales volume threshold.

Stellantis was in turmoil with unhappy dealers, a sales drop of almost 20% over the previous year, and a threadbare lineup.  Dodge began sales of the Charger Daytona EV with muscle car sounds, but the car got mixed reviews.  CEO Carlos Tavares resigned near the end of the year.  The Hemi V8 was scheduled to go out of production after getting replaced by the Hurricane twin turbo V6, but it’s getting a brief reprieve, as its availability, including the Hellcat, will be continued for one additional year in the ancient Durango.

Honda finally announced that the Prelude will be reintroduced in the U.S., essentially as a Civic Hybrid Coupe, after earlier announcing its reintroduction in overseas markets.  Meanwhile, Toyota has indicated that the Celica will be brought back to life.

Vehicles not making it into 2025 include the Chevrolet Malibu and Infiniti Q50, making those brands all SUVs or trucks.  The entire Jaguar range except the F-Pace is gone.  Other retired models include the Mitsubishi Mirage, Mini Clubman, Ram Classic, Ford Edge, Toyota Venza, and Nissan GT-R.

Here’s the 23rd annual edition of Cheers and Jeers for the best and worst things automotive in 2024:

Cheers to Chevrolet for the Best New EV with the Equinox EV, which hits a sweet spot of affordability and functionality.  Originally intended to supplant the Bolt as the entry-level EV at GM, the Equinox EV can be purchased for about $30k for a basic model after the $7,500 tax credit until it’s canceled.  The Bolt EV is expected to be reborn later in 2025 using the EUV bodyshell and LFP batteries.

Honorable mention goes to Honda for the GM Ultium-based Prologue, sized between the Equinox EV and Blazer EV.  It has been a surprising sales hit, and unlike the Chevy models, offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

Cheers to Chevrolet for the Best EV Pickup with the Silverado EV, specifically the LT model with Premium Package, which has most of the content of the top-of-the-line RST model, including the midgate and Supercruise, but with 22 inch wheels that should give a better ride than the 24 inchers and a price under $80k that makes it eligible for the $7,500 tax credit.  The Silverado EV is the best all-around EV pickup for hauling, towing, and doing truck things.

Cheers to Cadillac for the Best Concept with the Sollei convertible based on the Celestiq.  The Sollei isn’t particularly remarkable other than it wears the Cadillac EV design language well and has an interesting “Manila cream” color, but there were very few other interesting design concepts, as automakers do fewer of them to save on costs.

Jeers to Kia for the Most Questionable Styling with the Kia K4, which replaces the Forte.  Kia has mostly been on a roll with the styling of their new vehicles, EV or ICE alike, but the looks of the K4 comes across as awkward, particularly at the C-pillar.

Cheers to Rivian for the Best Vehicle Introduction with the R2, which has most of the goodness of the R1S in a smaller size and a much smaller price, estimated to start at $45k when it goes on sale in 2026.  The R2 will also have a smaller R3 sibling with an R3X performance variant.

Jeers to Tesla for the Most Overhyped Vehicle, the Cybercab.  The financial types were hoping for the affordable $25k Tesla, but instead they got a weird two-seater robo-taxi with butterfly doors and no steering wheel and still no confidence that Tesla will deliver on the promise of full self-driving.

More Jeers for Tesla for Worse HR Move by firing almost the entirety of the Supercharger division, which delayed many projects and opening up the Supercharging network to other automakers, and doubtlessly caused stress and hardship for the employees.  This move was made by the CEO because he was angered that the number of layoffs made by the chief of the division were too few.  After a few weeks, several of the fired staff were rehired, but not the previous chief.  

2025 is off to a rough start, but wishing everyone a safe and prosperous New Year.