Drew Dowdell

Google Maps and Waze are both accessible from CarPlay and Android Auto

Unless they're doing something to the suspension, the Armada/QX80 will continue to have handling issues. They are too floaty even for this guy.

They say they're not going to use it for monetization.

It is okay for me to not like either?

Such a complicated system.

Yeah, they did a major update about 2 years ago starting with the Equinox and Terrain. It's substantially better than the prior version

One of only two six-cylinder mid-sizers left.

That's a slight understatement. It was their best month of sales ever in the history of the company.

Almost 50k a month of those things... and they aren't even that great.

GM's most recent infotainment system runs on Android now, but doesn't use any of the Google Assistant stuff.

The current generation of Nissan Armada came out in 2016 for model year 2017. As we're already into the 2020 model year it seems it was about time for a refresh. Someone in Saudi Arabia snapped shots of a Nissan Patrol, the same vehicle as the Armada, and leaked them out on Facebook. Nissan's big body-on-frame SUV gets some updated headlights and updated grille. It could just be the angle, but the hood looks more horizontal and the lower side air inlets are a different shape. Around back the bumper gets smaller and more integrated into the body and new tail lamps show up that remind one of an Expedition. On the inside, the shape of the interior looks familiar, though the center stack is now flat rather than having a bulge in the middle. There also appear to be two screens as in many Infiniti models. Red quilted leather seats and the badge on the back indicate that this is a Platinum model. Under the facelift, expect the hardware to remain the same with a 390 horsepower, 5.6-liter V8 and a 7-speed automatic. We expect to see the 2020 Nissan Armada at the Los Angeles International Auto Show in November. View full article

They'll get you on the vehicle registration side of things rather than your electric rates.

General Motors will be using Google Software for its embedded infotainment systems starting in 2021. This is in contrast to the Amazon Alexa capability found in some new Ford vehicles starting this year. The systems from GM will offer Google assistant, Google Maps, and certain other applications that are available in the Google Play app store in all of its brands except those in China. GM and other automakers have resisted demands by consumers for this type of software built in out of a fear of losing control of data and the possibility that the Silicon Valley brands eclipse their own. Consumer demand has forced the manufacturers’ hands however. Google will not have access to any of the data regarding driving style or vehicle maintenance needs, so consumers need not fear tracking or monetization by Google based on vehicular data. Through Google Assistant, GM hopes to offer additional services such as scheduling service appointments. Some of the services Google Assistant supplies are duplicates of offerings by GM’s own OnStar service. However, OnStar still is able to respond to an accident whereas Google Assistant cannot. Furthermore, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will continue to be offered. Expect the Google Assistant packages to be an additional cost item, and prices will be released closer to launch date. The agreement with Google allows for the installation in up to 3.6 million vehicles annually, the number of vehicles sold outside of China last year. Other manufacturers using Google’s systems are Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Volvo. View full article

Doesn't mean that. The pie could have just been bigger all around. It isn't a static number.

It would have been nice to know how the domestics are doing.

I work a full time job and I also do consulting for private clients. I know what my hourly rate is and I keep that in mind for tasks that I don't like doing. I even keep it in mind for laying on the couch doing nothing, as relaxation has a value to me also. The savings has got to be a lot higher than $10 an hour for me to go out of my way to Supercharge for free.

Quarterly: Ford Motor Company - Not Reported General Motors Co. - Not Reported Tesla - Not Reported FCA US LLC - Not Reported Monthly: Audi of America - Up 3.0% for the month, Down 3.9 for the year BMW of North America - Up 6.6% for the month, Down 0.3% for the year Genesis Motor America - Not Reported Honda Motor Co. - Up 17.6% for the month, Up 1.2% for the year Hyundai Motor America - Up 12.0% for the month, Up 4.3% for the year Infiniti USA - Down 14.9% for the month, Down 12.7% for the year Jaguar Land Rover North America - Not Reported Kia Motors America - Up 12.7% for the month, Up 4.6% for the year Mazda North American Operations - Up 6.5% for the month, Down 11.5% for the year Mercedes-Benz USA - 24.9% for the month, Down 0.9% for the year Mitsubishi Motors North America - Down 3.3% for the month, Up 2.5% for the year Nissan Group - Up 13.2% for the month, Down 5.9% for the year Porsche Cars North America Inc. - Up 13.5% for the month, Up 6.2% for the year Subaru of America, Inc. - Up 9.3% for the month, Up 6.1% for the year Toyota Motor North America - Up 11.3% for the month, Down 0.7% for the year Volkswagen of America - Up 9.8% for the month, Up 6.6% for the year Volvo Cars of North America, LLC - Up 2.5% for the month, Up 4.4% for the year Brands (Quarterly): Alfa Romeo - Not Reported Buick - Not Reported Cadillac - Not Reported Chevrolet - Not Reported Chrysler - Not Reported Dodge - Not Reported Ford - Not Reported Fiat - Not Reported GMC - Not Reported Jeep - Not Reported Lincoln - Not Reported Ram Trucks - Not Reported Tesla - Not Reported Brands (Monthly): Acura - Up 0.8% - 15,189 MTD / 101,715 YTD Audi - Up 3.0% - 21,531 MTD / 142,341 YTD BMW - Up 7.2% - 25,505 MTD / 204,960 YTD Genesis - Not reported Honda - Up 19.6% - 158,804 MTD / 990,569 YTD Hyundai - Up 12.0% - 63,737 MTD / 454,405 YTD Infiniti - Down 14.9% - 9,185 MTD / 80,903 YTD Jaguar - Not Reported Kia - Up 12.7% - 60,730 MTD / 418,979 YTD Land Rover - Not Reported Lexus - Up 4.6% - 29,931 MTD / 190,691 YTD Mazda - Up 6.5% - 27,482 MTD / 189,329 YTD Mercedes-Benz - Up 21.8% - 24,771 MTD / 196,779 YTD Mercedes-Benz Vans - UP 43.5% 5,373 MTD / 24,276 YTD MINI - Up 1.0% - 3,838 MTD / 24,248 YTD Mitsubishi - Down 3.3% - 8,139 MTD / 85,693 YTD Nissan - Up 16.2% - 118,045 MTD / 862,243 YTD Porsche - Up 13.5% - 4,636 MTD / 39,849 YTD Smart - Down 31.5% - 74 MTD / 626 YTD Subaru - Up 9.3% - 70,039 MTD / 473,670 YTD Toyota - Up 12.3% - 248,334 MTD / 1,609,646 YTD Volkswagen - Up 9.8% - 35,412 MTD / 251,208 YTD Volvo - Up 2.2% - 8,970 MTD / 65,214 YTD View full article

Volvo Cars reported a solid sales performance in August, with global volumes up 10.2 per cent compared with the same period last year. Total sales during the month reached 47,796 cars, as all regions of US, China and Europe reported a volume growth in August. In the January to August period, Volvo Cars’ total sales reached 443,168 cars, up 7.6 per cent compared with the same period last year. Strong demand for Volvo’s award winning SUVs led by the XC60, and followed by the XC40 and the XC90, supported the sales performance in August. The company’s latest models like the US-built S60 sedan, V60 estate and V60 Cross Country also contributed to the increased volumes. European sales during the month reached 16,639 cars, up 11.5 per cent compared with the same period last year. Volvo’s top three markets in the region, Sweden, United Kingdom and Germany reported growth of 29.4 per cent, 30.8 per cent and 8.6 per cent respectively in August, compared with the same period last year. The XC60 and the XC40 were the highest selling models in the region during the month. US sales in August stood at 9,194 cars, up 2.5 per cent compared with the same period last year. XC90 was the top selling model in the region during the month, followed by the XC60. Sales in China last month reached 14,212 cars, up 24.8 per cent, compared with the same period last year. The strong performance came on the back of continued high demand for the locally produced XC60 and the S90.

Volkswagen of America August 2019 Sales August. 19 August. 18 Yr/Yr% change August. 19 YTD August. 18 YTD Yr/Yr% change Golf 370 567 -35% 4,278 5,172 -17% GTI 936 1,525 -39% 8,762 11,873 -26% Golf R 693 321 116% 2,602 2,893 -10% e-Golf 689 32 2053% 3,042 826 268% Golf SportWagen 1,120 1,148 -2.4% 7,412 10,256 -28% Total Golf Family 3,808 3,593 6% 26,096 31,020 -16% Jetta Sedan 9,592 10,596 -9.5% 66,651 50,488 32% Jetta SportWagen (now Golf SportWagen) - 1 N/A - 70 N/A Total Jetta 9,592 10,597 -9.5% 66,651 50,558 32% Beetle Coupe 766 631 21% 6,071 6,777 -10% Beetle Convertible 1,150 768 50% 7,467 4,374 71% Total Beetle 1,916 1,399 37% 13,538 11,151 21% Passat 572 3,873 -85% 12,656 30,232 -58% CC 3 62 -95% 47 388 -88% Arteon 329 - N/A 1,179 - N/A Tiguan Limited 3 1,276 -100% 330 11,890 -97% Tiguan 10,955 7,281 50% 76,927 60,019 28% Total Tiguan 10,958 8,557 28% 77,257 71,909 7.4% Touareg 7 120 -94% 143 1,704 -92% Atlas 8,227 4,054 103% 53,641 38,711 39% Total Car 16,220 19,524 -17% 120,167 123,349 -2.6% Total SUV 19,192 12,731 51% 131,041 112,324 17% TOTAL 35,412 32,255 9.8% 251,208 235,673 6.6% About Volkswagen of America, Inc.

And that's fine. But I'm talking about the people who hog up superchargers to avoid charging at home. It's a documented problem that Telsa has actually taken steps to mitigate.

Well, I know if I was a Tesla owner, I wouldn't be doing that. It's a waste of time. Time is money. It's a waste of money.