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https://ca.yahoo.com/finance/news/chinese-carmakers-target-more-european-000000060.html Several interesting things to come out of this article. Chinese EV OEMs want to sell tons of EVs in Europe and they are focusing on 3 things to impress European would be owners. 1. Affordable EVs 2. Lots if tech and gadgets 3. 5 star rated crash test EVs. GM and Hertz made a deal for 175 000 EVs a month or two ago. It would seem that BYD and Sixt view this business deal as It seems #3 looks to be a struggle though, but it looks like Chinese EV OEMs how found that recipe for quality car making and their products to be safe for European and American crash safety standards. Chinese OEMs will put many Japanese, European AND American EV makers out to pasture and THAT is why GM and VW and others have commited to be full on EV full swing. The thing that peaked my interest, and the reason why I posted this article here is this reason: Fleet sales make up about half of all car sales in major markets including Germany, France and the United Kingdom, and many corporate buyers put a premium on safety. "Fleet sales are very important and a lot of fleets have a mandatory five-star rating for buying cars," Avery said. CAR RENTAL COMPANIES What's more, many fleets want to switch to EVs fast to meet sustainability goals. But corporate fleets have struggled to get enough EVs in Europe as supply chain issues have pushed waiting times for some models to more than 12 months. High demand for electric cars amid supply chain shortages has allowed European carmakers to raise EV prices and focus more on retail clients, rather than customers such as car rental firms that have traditionally been less profitable for them. That has created a window of opportunity for Chinese EV makers that have already stolen a march on most foreign rivals in China, by far the world's biggest market for EVs. In October, for instance, German car rental company Sixt said it would buy about 100,000 EVs from BYD , starting with its Atto 3 SUV which received the coveted Euro NCAP five-star rating the same month. GM and Hertz made a deal for 175 000 EVs a month or two ago. It would seem that BYD and Sixt viewed that business deal as a way forward. As a smart move.

Survey says: https://morningconsult.com/2022/10/20/fall-seasons-ranking/

Happy Sunday . . . alert: troglodyte on the loose

Clean and sophomoric one ... Q: What did one ocean say to the other? A: Nothing. They just waved.

Last night I was invited to our local Brotherton Cadillac Dealership Grand Re-Opening. They tore down the 1950's building which it used to be a Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile and Pontiac dealership. They saves the etched glass of the auto company logos but the dealership is a new EV compliant Cadillac only dealership now. Was able to sit in the Cadillac LYRIQ and I have to say, they have a Home Run Hit on their hands. If Cadillac executes all EVs this way, they will be the standard of the world again. I have to say that while I can fit in the drivers seat comfortably and then get out and get behind the front seat and had a fingers width between my knees and the back of the seat. Short drives for me would be fine, but long distances would be a bit tough. Yet most people are not my size and as such, plenty of people will find it very roomy and comfortable. Fit n Finish is amazing, everything was so solid, quiet and just said luxury. I did find some comments by others to be funny. One person who has a Tesla Y was there and checking it out as his wife liked the looks over the Tesla. He complained that it was busy and too much plastic surfaces. I did point out that this was a base RWD model and that the surfaces he was pointing too are the Piano finish glossy black surface that is supposed to be that way as many people like that finish/look. His wife pointed out that unlike his Tesla that she can never find anything till the auto is on and has to hunt through the menu screen, she could at least find the basic switches for stuff on the dash which to her was far easier and she liked the piano black finish inside. I have to say that the steering wheel is logically laid out so was easy to make things happen. Interesting observation is that like the videos on the web, when you touch the Cadillac logo on the power panel, the door opens about 3/4 of the way smoothly, pauses or glitches and then finishes going down. Thought it was weird at first till I talked with the GM engineers who were there to answer questions. To deal with cold weather places where Ice and Snow builds up much more, GM has a sensor in that door swing that test for obstruction. If it senses it, it actually stops. If it does not it finishes opening. A safety built in. Makes sense now. Love the new Dealership and the experience. There was a 1906 Cadillac for sale, asking price of $72,000 and then one of their customers actually drove their old Cadillac to the grand Re-opening. Talk about a sweet Yellow ride. Food and a variety of drinks. Had a guy who brought in a variety of Single Malt Scotches for people to try including from the Scottish society that is not available to the public. WOW talk about smooth. Over all a Great night.

When it comes to German cars having greater reliability and lower maintenance costs, call me highly skeptical.

We'll not like many here have not said what goes up must come down. Mercedes is now at the bottom of the reliability ranking by Consumer Reports. @smk4565 will not be happy that his perfect little company makes the least reliable autos now on the planet. 2022 Consumer Reports Auto Reliability: Hybrids Come Out on Top, While Mercedes Hits Bottom | GearJunkie