G. David Felt

Tesla blew past analysts estimates of 177,000 EV Deliveries for Q1 of 2021. Tesla had 180,338 EVs produced and delivered 184,800 EVs representing a 110% year over year increase in auto production. Only a few Model S & X of the old model were delivered during this time as the production line was shut down for Q1 to tool for the new Model S & X models that will start production soon. Model 3 & Y production grew by 10% and deliveries by 14% during this quarter. Charged EVs | Tesla Q1 deliveries blow past forecasts, set new record - Charged EVs Volkswagen and BP have announced a partnership that will see 70,000 Fast chargepoint charging stations to be installed across Europe between now and 2030. Charged EVs | Volkswagen Group and bp partner to expand ultra-fast charging across Europe - Charged EVs

Science constantly evolves and without testing, vaccination, etc. we would still have today Polio, Chicken Pox, Measles, Mumps, etc., etc., etc.. Common sense tells me that as more and more data comes in that the leaders of smart medical groups including our own CDC will adjust recommendations and guidance on how we approach and deal with this. 1918 Influenza, AKA Flu killed many before vaccination started to come out and history shows yearly updates of vaccination happened well into the following decades before the planet reached herd immunity and deaths started to decline to a more controllable level. History shows how we have dealt with pandemics and medicine is on our side for keeping the bulk of society healthy and alive. Past Pandemics | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC 1918 Pandemic (H1N1 virus) | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC 1957-1958 Pandemic (H2N2 virus) | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC 1968 Pandemic (H3N2 virus) | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC 2009 H1N1 Pandemic (H1N1pdm09 virus) | Pandemic Influenza (Flu) | CDC Nothing is perfect, but I for one believe that the Good of the Many outweigh the Good of the Few. Vaccination is a choice, but I would rather have everyone vaccinated keeping us with a delightful multi-cultural world than one that destroys humans with certain blood types or medical conditions just cause someone is uncomfortable with vaccination.

This is so true!!!

Hummer EV SUV reveal in less than 22hrs!

Better Safe than sick! Have a healthy safe weekend my friend.

Hot We happily Multi-Cultural here!

Yes it was for the Q1, but the ID.4 only started shipping mid March, so that figure was for a single month only. Bigger yet is looking at the global picture rather than just the US which this is about and for that VW is on track to sell 1 million EVs by the end of 2023 per their own info. 2019 (Full Year) Global: Volkswagen Electric Car Sales Worldwide - Car Sales Statistics (best-selling-cars.com) For 2020 only, VW was almost equal to half of Tesla in EV sales. 231,600 sold and delivered in 2020 globally. VW Group sold almost half as many EVs as Tesla in 2020, and it's just getting warmed up (motorauthority.com) Both Audi and VW have more models coming which will only help to increase those sales as to why they believe by the end of 2023 they will have 1 million in EV sales and 1.5 million in EV sales by the end of 2025. VW Executive mgmt. has stated they expect global auto sales of between 6% to 8% for 2021 being equal to Tesla in EV sales a big increase from the 3% they had in 2020. As per the Bloomberg story, VW sold 9.3 million auto's globally in 2020 and if they remain flat in sales but have 8% of the 9.3 million auto's sold be EV that is 745,000 EVs. Tesla sold almost 500,000 EVs in 2020 and is projecting a 50% increase in EV sales for 2021 or 750,000 EVs sold. As you have stated, a company can only sell at a loss for so long before they get pinched by the Legacy OEMs and this year could be a bit of hurt on Tesla by VW. VW sold more EV's in 2020 in Europe than Tesla, so VW is positioned to truly make a big change in the auto industry. The next 3 quarters of ID sales will be telling here in the US and especially as Ford and GM ramp up their EV production. VW’s EV Sales Target Suggests Tesla Gap Could Close This Year - Bloomberg While the US is slow to catch up compared to the rest of the world EVs are catching on as more and more countries support the change over to EVs. 2020 had 3.2 million EVs sold globally. EV-Volumes - The Electric Vehicle World Sales Database (ev-volumes.com) The US is no longer the Leader in Auto tech / auto production / sales. We need to get production of critical parts back in the US and then move forward with the auto tech revolution.

I am interested to see what @balthazar digs up as I found 1967 was the last year of green Buick Motors. 1961-67 Buick Green Engine Paint? - Buick - General - Antique Automobile Club of America - Discussion Forums (aaca.org) Here is a 55 that is undergoing restoration according to the link above that I posted.

BBQ

WOW, Amazing how @oldshurst442 is able to give two votes to the same person. Guess he wanted double the laugh on your comment.

Happy April Fools Day Everyone!

Pfizer says they are looking at a combined Flu / Covid shot.

Saw while I was in line to get my Taco Time order a First Edition Defender and while I was not thrilled in the press release pictures, in real life I like it and the color. Love that it is a two door full size SUV.

List your auto finds here, from New Auto Releases to Oldies but Goldie's!

Overall sales is up 21% over 2020 and the ID.4 delivered 474 EVs in their first month of production to customers. Thought it was clear, but my bad. Excited that it is out and on sale. You can now play I SPY ID.4

Due to taking care of both side of parents and grandparents, my wife and I qualified for the multi-generational household. So we got our Pfizer Shots and booster. I had no side affects from either shot, wife was fine with the first shot, but the second shot, but the time we got home was really out of it and slept the rest of the day and night and the next day was fine. Our family doctor said due to her not having a thyroid, she was slower to respond but over all should be fine. Like @Robert Hall we are not eating out, going anywhere other than local road trips. I make once a week trips for shopping for everyone, delivery to the doors of the parents / grand parents and then back home. Wife shop's via online and has stuff delivered, she makes 1 or 2 trips a month to Kohls to return stuff for Amazon returns and to Macy's for returns always early when they first open up to avoid crowds. Pretty much will stay this way for the year while the world gets vaccinated. Work with CDC, John Hopkins and Oxford in support of the storage they use for their Covid-19 research. Seems lots of research is going on with the focus of another booster shot in about 6 months to address Covid-19 variants. Rather get vaccinated than deal with Covid-19 sickness. https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-testing-3rd-booster-shot-for-covid-19-vaccine-variants-2021-2

21% overall sales increase is nothing to ignore and while the sales numbers for themselves are impressive across the whole VW family as is shown by this chart, the focus is on VW moving forward into an EV world of sales as they delivered 474 during the Month of March to customers. The VW ID.4 is an all new electric SUV for 2021 and kicks off the start of the EV onslaught for North America. Already the ID.4 is getting critical praise from the press. The ID.4 made Autotrader's 10 Best Car Interiors under $50,000 for 2021. The ID.4 delivers on the following: MSRP starts at $39,995 for ID.4 Pro before potential $7,500 Federal tax credit Compact SUV will launch with rear-wheel drive 201-hp 82 kWh models; all-wheel-drive 82 kWh configuration available later this year EPA-estimated 250 miles of range on Pro S and 1st Edition RWD models Three years of fast charging with Electrify America at no additional cost Modern design pairs with high-tech features, like IQ.DRIVE® advanced driver assistance technology and a smart infotainment system, using voice and touch The ID.4 1st Edition model which has sold out was priced at $43,995 before Federal tax credit. There are additional models coming from the base RWD Pro starting at $39.995 to the Pro S @ $44,995 and the AWD Pro S starting at $48,175 available later this year. VW is offering a lease option on the ID.4 EV @ $379.00 a month with 10,000 miles a year for 36 months with an EPA certified range of 250 miles. This gives you 104 MPGe city, 89 MPGe highway, combined 97 MPGe. The ID.4 has a .28 drag coefficient, sits squarely in the middle of the Compact SUV segment with all types of tech features from the Dash to the rear seats with modern USB-C ports for charging portable electric devices including a 30 color ambient lighting system with pre-set mood lighting. Warranty is 4yrs / 50,000 miles bumper to bumper with a 8 years / 100,000 mile battery warranty and includes a 2yr / 20,000 mile scheduled maintenance and a 3yr / 36,000 mile roadside assistance program. VW has stated this will compete against the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4. Additional details of the ID.4 can be read at the Volkswagen US Media Site, link below. Volkswagen of America reports Q1 2021 sales results - Volkswagen US Media Site (vw.com) Volkswagen US Media Site (vw.com) Volkswagen ID.4 EV named to Autotrader list of 10 Best Car Interiors under $50,000 for 2021 - Volkswagen US Media Site (vw.com) View full article

Breaking News: DHL has gone from a 10 EV last mile delivery using Electric Ford Transit Vans 350HD converted by Lightening Electric out of Colorado and has since placed additional orders to have 100 deployed by the end of 2021 in New York and Los Angeles. These Lightning Electric Vans get 61 MPGe compared to their Diesel versions at 13 MPG. DHL Express Deploys Nearly 100 New Electric Delivery Vans in U.S. | DHL | United States of America DHL Express Deploys Nearly 100 New Lightning Electric Delivery Vans in U.S. - Lightning eMotors Additional news from Lightning is that they secured a major order of 100 for their Class 6 & 8 trucks from Pride Group Enterprises who leases the trucks to various companies in Canada and the US. These as they are delivered will be incorporated into their fleet and leased out. Charged EVs | Lion Electric secures order for 100 Class 6 and 8 electric trucks - Charged EVs Pride Group Enterprises | Canada and the USA | Mississauga, ON

My son got this one and it is very nice, solid and just works. Amazon.com: Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT-BK Fully Automatic Wireless Belt-Drive Turntable (Black) (ATLP60XBTBK): AUDIO-TECHNICA: Electronics Denon makes sweet Gear!

Wife and I are fully vaccinated now, got our second shot of Pfizer last week. No side affects for me, but by the time I got home the day of the booster shot, the wife said everything was fuzzy and she was tired. Slept like crazy the rest of that day and till the next morning then she was fine. Very crazy on how it reacts to each person. Wishing you all the best @Robert Hall for the booster shot.

Lots of cool stuff coming with all the various changes due to the EV world growing. Technology is going to change the Auto world big time, we have to look at things even if we do not like it and discuss those changes as the Auto Industry is not going to change the move away from ICE to EV's. As such, hopefully by the end of this year we will have more exciting stuff to discuss. GMC Hummer SUV comes out on 4-3-21. That should be interesting to at least some of us that see the EV future.

Ford has announced additional production shutdowns due to the chip production shortage. Seems we will see 6 plants shut down multiple times between now and June affecting their Truck and SUV production as well as cars. Ford is Expecting Billions in losses due to the production shutdown. Ford Says Chip Shortage Forcing Production Halt at Several Plants - WSJ

I remember that mess as it really screwed up the PNW and I was having to go around and pick up family and get everyone home, longest day I ever drove.

I am going to also step out and say that dealerships will be gone in 50 years as technology is showing us that people do not want to deal with the dealership nightmare. Like @balthazar and a few others here that have posted that they never have any problems at dealerships. I also have never had a problem. I do my research for myself or who ever it may be that asks for my help be it family, friends, etc. I then go to the dealership where they have the product the person is interested in and set the ground rules with the sales person up front. I control the experience and while the stupid long hours is still inexcusable, I at least make it pleasant as the person buying is not dealing with the manipulation of the sales process at the dealership. Yes I get that process that Costco uses, but even that has many happy customers that accept the prices emailed to them, finish up all the paperwork over the net and then stop by to pick up the auto and sing the last few things making time at the dealership very short. The future is changing just as Amazon has massively changed the way people shop and even Hotels and Airlines have changed to smartphone check in, dealing with people is very rare now and as the Pandemic continues on, while people will start to vacation again, masks, social distance and self check-in are the new norms. Buying via the internet, minimal actual human interaction is becoming the new norm and while I love to test drive an auto before buying and test fit my large ass in the auto, many people are not needing that. Had my oil change and some service at the Caddy Dealership and I noticed that the wall of Sales people was only 1/3rd of what it was. Asked the sales manager who was still the same, he informed me that when the pandemic started and the owner required everyone to wear masks, all the retirement eligible sales folks retired as they refused to wear masks. The whole sales staff is all new and under 35. The manager told me that 50% of their sales are now done online and the people come in sign and are gone in under 30 min. A very different buying experience than what older folks are used too and he expects it to become the new norm rather than going back to the way dealerships used to be. Scary is I went by the dealership today as I had to run an errand and the lot was only 1/3 full of auto's, so much empty asphalt due to production cuts due to the chip shortage. Just weird as I also noticed this at the Hyundai, Kia, Mazda and Ford dealerships near me too.