Drew Dowdell

We we're 3 blocks away from the shooting at a different synagogue. We're safe, still on lockdown at the moment.

Same thing for people who aren't as affluent.

I'll try to adjust the logo. It's one of those things that looks right on a computer and then squished on a phone or tablet.

I'm sure it's class leading over the GLA and X2. It's still too small for you.

No mention that I saw skimming the document

Me either. I thought they would run out of cash over the summer, but they seem to have just squeezed through to a profitable quarter. If they can maintain the momentum on the Model 3, they could actually make it.

The XT4 is a little vehicle inside.... cozy is the best word for it. It is not a family truckster.

Tesla reported Q3 2018 Earnings on Wednesday with revenue of $6.82 billion and a profit $417 million or $2.90 per share. Tesla's earnings per share widely out-paces analyst estimates of losses of 15 to 19 cents per share. Revenue on automotive production increased 158% year over year with a dramatic increase in sales during the summer of 2018 due to increased sales of the Model 3 sedan. Tesla also cites increased gross margins on the Model S and Model X due to increased efficiencies. The Model 3's margin grew to above 20% while production rate increased and manufacturing costs dropped. Telsa is now moving an average of 4,300 Model 3s off the assembly line per week. Tesla did not change their overall guidance for the year and production goals remain at 100,000 Model S and Model X units for 2018. Tesla Report attached (PDF) - TSLA 3Q18 Update Letter View full article

Because people who can't afford an XT4 or XT5 are then lost customers. GM still makes a lot of profit on the Trax. Think about it, it is a Sonic based vehicle that costs very marginally more to construct than the Sonic. Sonic starts at $15k. The Trax is basically the same vehicle and starts at $21k and can be optioned all the way up to $29k. There is money to be made there. Now, I'm not saying that Smart should be building Duramax 2500 competitors, but a family brand that has the typical lineup of crossovers and maybe 1 sedan would cover a market that MB is not participating in. Maybe someone like Subaru would be a good lineup to pursue.

Name brand dilution. By using Smart for the mainstream stuff it protects the "mystique" of the MB brand. It's why Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, Audi, Lincoln, etc all exist and aren't just sold as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, VW, and Ford.

Family crossovers are still highly profitable and that is a market segment they don't play in at all. They are literally leaving money on the table. Smart has no baggage. No one outside of enthusiasts know what they are, or care.

That's level 2. The self-driving Volvos in Pittsburgh are higher than that and development is by Uber, not Volvo.

Price point. SMART can be the consumer brand for Benz just like VW is to Audi or Chevy is to Cadillac.

That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying make Smart Equinox competitor.... Same size and all. Benz should follow GM here.

They need to stop holding SMART back as only a micro-car. Make it a full-line brand. Let it compete with Ford and Chevrolet and Nissan, etc.

Their surveys are suspect, yes. I haven't been able to try the Tesla AutoPilot... but yes, the Cadillac SuperCruise is super easy to use and I tried it before the update. I'm not sure how much easier it can be made than what they've got now.

It is false that most fast food workers are teens. 83% are 30 years old or older. Only 17% are 29 or younger. From the NYT

For @smk4565 and I, self-driving seems a lot closer to reality than most of the rest of you. Here in Pittsburgh we see self-driving cars so often that they are no longer a novelty. It used to be a big deal to see the self-driving Volvos in downtown.... now we have vehicles from 2 different fleets testing here (Uber has suspended theirs after the fatality in another city). It's just not a big deal to us anymore to see a self-driving car.... oh... there goes another one.

I found a simple but silly typo on the new GMC Sierra AT4 specs. Wonder if you can find it before they update it. I did alert them to it just now.

have it done. I don't have time to eff with it myself