Inflation, Interest Rates and the Economy for 2025

[aneftp]

The art of the deal.

In all honesty, I don't think most Trump supporters think Trump is a competent individual. They just want to stick to the democrats.

Trump is an idiot.

What makes me smirk is the Dems almost lost to trump 3x despite outspending him by billions.

Like I can’t believe this dude won two elections being severely underfunded.

It makes the Dems look horrible unable to bring viable candidates.

And the anti trump audience here tries to turn it around on those who voted for trump. When it’s was the democrats who failed to bring candidates who the American people could vibe with

The American people vibed with Obama over McCain and Romney. Two white dudes. Why? Because Obama has some charisma. That’s what sells candidates.

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Members don't see this ad.

 

[Splenda88]

Are we going back to welfare era?

Trump backs $5K ‘baby bonus’ for new moms in bid to reverse declining birthrate: ‘Sounds like a good idea’

Birth rates in the US have long been slipping, hitting a new low in 2023

nypost.com

 

[Splenda88]

Trump is an idiot.

What makes me smirk is the Dems almost lost to trump 3x despite outspending him by billions.

Like I can’t believe this dude won two elections being severely underfunded.

It makes the Dems look horrible unable to bring viable candidates.

And the anti trump audience here tries to turn it around on those who voted for trump. When it’s was the democrats who failed to bring candidates who the American people could vibe with

The American people vibed with Obama over McCain and Romney. Two white dudes. Why? Because Obama has some charisma. That’s what sells candidates.

He was definitely underfunded in the 1st election. But he had X and youtube (right wing podcasters) in 2nd election. These 2 were probably more two billions $$$ advertisement

 

[GravelRider]

Nah. The big selling point for most people who buy Tesla is the FSD. 3 people this week at my work picked up their model y. Everyone was waiting for the new model y.

The model y is tesla money maker and people stopped buying model y the last 6-7 months who were in the market for new EVs.

You buy Tesla for the software.

Their software is years ahead of other competitors.

All the knobs and buttons their competitors still have in their ev is outdated.

I like knobs and buttons. In fact, I prefer them over touchscreens.

 

[GravelRider]

Tesla will go out of business or won't sell cars in 10 years. They will only have the US market to sell. Musk is already alienated 1/2 of the US market and ironically, these are the people (crazy liberals) who usually buy his car. Elon Musk is just an idiot.

Tesla was always a meme stock company that happened to sell cars. It wasn’t crazy liberals who bought them either. It was status-seeking wealthy suburbanites. Tesla is/was the Rolex of cars. That hype has worn off for multiple reasons and people realize that EVs can be pretty annoying when needed beyond a daily commute. The infrastructure for EVs is just not there.

The hype for Tesla was always going to fade. It was just sped up by the CEOs antics.

 

[nimbus]

You buy Tesla for the software.

Their software is years ahead of other competitors.

Xiaomi, BYD, NIO, Huawei, and Xpeng would like a word. Wonder why they’re banned in the USA 🤔

 

[nimbus]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-misses-on-q1-results-but-stock-jumps-after-musk-says-time-at-doge-will-drop-significantly-214802096.html

“The company blamed trade uncertainty as a reason behind slumping sales.

"Uncertainty in the automotive and energy markets continues to increase as rapidly evolving trade policy adversely impacts the global supply chain and cost structure of Tesla and our peers," the company said in a statement. "This dynamic, along with changing political sentiment, could have a meaningful impact on demand for our products in the near-term."

Weird how other EV sales are growing while Tesla sales are shrinking. Aren’t they also vulnerable to the same trade uncertainty?

And what is a ”stripped down” model Y? No fart mode?

 

[maxxor]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-misses-on-q1-results-but-stock-jumps-after-musk-says-time-at-doge-will-drop-significantly-214802096.html

“The company blamed trade uncertainty as a reason behind slumping sales.

"Uncertainty in the automotive and energy markets continues to increase as rapidly evolving trade policy adversely impacts the global supply chain and cost structure of Tesla and our peers," the company said in a statement. "This dynamic, along with changing political sentiment, could have a meaningful impact on demand for our products in the near-term."

Weird how other EV sales are growing while Tesla sales are shrinking. Aren’t they also vulnerable to the same trade uncertainty?

And what is a ”stripped down” model Y? No fart mode?

They’ve done this before

Single motor
Smaller, cheaper battery

 

[aneftp]

Xiaomi, BYD, NIO, Huawei, and Xpeng would like a word. Wonder why they’re banned in the USA 🤔

Same reason American products are severely restricted in china.

China wants control over products that enter china space.

It’s called censorship by the china government. China calls it protecting Chinese national security for banning or severely restricting products that enter the Chinese market.

 

[finalpsychyear]

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-misses-on-q1-results-but-stock-jumps-after-musk-says-time-at-doge-will-drop-significantly-214802096.html

“The company blamed trade uncertainty as a reason behind slumping sales.

"Uncertainty in the automotive and energy markets continues to increase as rapidly evolving trade policy adversely impacts the global supply chain and cost structure of Tesla and our peers," the company said in a statement. "This dynamic, along with changing political sentiment, could have a meaningful impact on demand for our products in the near-term."

Weird how other EV sales are growing while Tesla sales are shrinking. Aren’t they also vulnerable to the same trade uncertainty?

And what is a ”stripped down” model Y? No fart mode?

yet somehow the stock is up 4.5% yesterday and 6 percent after hours on q1 earnings call. elon leaving doge more or less in 1 month and Robotaxis is a go for june in austin so lets see how it goes.

Can you imagine if they actually meet or beat on an earnings call this year the stock will rocket if its going up based on q1 and elon news.

 

[aneftp]

yet somehow the stock is up 4.5% yesterday and 6 percent after hours on q1 earnings call. elon leaving doge more or less in 1 month and Robotaxis is a go for june in austin so lets see how it goes.

Can you imagine if they actually meet or beat on an earnings call this year the stock will rocket if it’s going up based on q1 and elon news.

Model y is gonna to sell a lot this quarter

Anyways. Does anyone on here own a pure electric vehicle (not hybrid) that’s isn’t a tesla?

You can find some outstanding ev used 2024 like Acura pure ev for dirt cheap

If you think Tesla used priced have tanked. Check other ev used prices

 

[BLADEMDA]

Tesla stock trades on the future prospects as well: Driverless Taxis and Robots. Tesla becomes an "Uber" as well as a car company. While other CEOs are not looked as credible in terms of innovation Musk is the Edison of our era. I look forward to rides in a Tesla taxi and my home robot made by Tesla. The stock reflects the future and once it becomes reality Tesla will surpass Nvidia. I don't own any Tesla but I am keenly interested in buying stock in the company.

 

[BLADEMDA]

 

[BLADEMDA]

When will Tesla robotaxis be available outside Austin?​

Musk didn't provide an exact timeline for Tesla's expansion plans. But the CEO gave some pretty ambitious numbers.

On top of predicting "millions" of robotaxis on the road by the second half of next year, Musk said he predicts Tesla will take "90-something percent" of the rideshare market.

Musk is so bullish on these numbers because, in theory, any Tesla on the road should be able to function as a robotaxi through a software update.

This is different from a company like Waymo, which not only relies on sensors and cameras for its autonomous vehicle but also needs to map out a city before its robotaxis can be deployed to the public.

 

[maxxor]

Model y is gonna to sell a lot this quarter

Anyways. Does anyone on here own a pure electric vehicle (not hybrid) that’s isn’t a tesla?

You can find some outstanding ev used 2024 like Acura pure ev for dirt cheap

If you think Tesla used priced have tanked. Check other ev used prices

R1T and ModelY.

R1T is better than modelY in every area except automated driver assistance. Tesla has a definite edge there. When I got both, the price difference wasn’t as much as now. Model Ys were much more expensive in 2023…

But literally YMMV with autopilot…mine lately has started ignoring stop signs which is a problem.

 

[MirrorTodd]

It’s pretty hilarious how easily Trump folded to the stock market. Wonder how long it will last before he tries some other harebrained scheme?

 

[GravelRider]

It’s pretty hilarious how easily Trump folded to the stock market. Wonder how long it will last before he tries some other harebrained scheme?

It’s actually pretty genius politics. He makes a lot of noise for a few weeks and creates a ton of press. He then backtracks, but says he made all sorts of secret deals during that time. The economy resumes its growth trajectory it had been on previously and he claims credit for it.

 

[maxxor]

It’s pretty hilarious how easily Trump folded to the stock market. Wonder how long it will last before he tries some other harebrained scheme?

bruh. This was stock market manipulation to literally buy loyalty for free. Look at MTGs trades. She’s leaving Nancy Pelosi in the dust.

 

[nimbus]

Model y is gonna to sell a lot this quarter

Anyways. Does anyone on here own a pure electric vehicle (not hybrid) that’s isn’t a tesla?

You can find some outstanding ev used 2024 like Acura pure ev for dirt cheap

If you think Tesla used priced have tanked. Check other ev used prices

Teslas have been the most popular car in my state for a while. But one of my partners drives an ID4 and one of our ENTs just bought a Hyundai Ionic 5. He would have bought a Tesla if it wasn’t for Musk.

 

[MirrorTodd]

bruh. This was stock market manipulation to literally buy loyalty for free. Look at MTGs trades. She’s leaving Nancy Pelosi in the dust.

He already had MTG loyalty on account of her being trailer trash though.

 

[UscGhost]

It’s actually pretty genius politics. He makes a lot of noise for a few weeks and creates a ton of press. He then backtracks, but says he made all sorts of secret deals during that time. The economy resumes its growth trajectory it had been on previously and he claims credit for it.

Well, given that Republicans have mistakenly believed that the economy has done better under GOP leadership before, I'm sure they will fall for it again.

It's like anti vaxxers and flat earthera...can't convince them no matter how blatantly obvious

 

[nimbus]

Same reason American products are severely restricted in china.

China wants control over products that enter china space.

It’s called censorship by the china government. China calls it protecting Chinese national security for banning or severely restricting products that enter the Chinese market.

To stay on topic, I mention those Chinese brands because Tesla software is not years ahead of them. In some ways, the Chinese brands are ahead.

 

[nimbus]

We could have subsidized our own industrial base and invested in automation but we are the nation of small government and big business. In areas where we are still leading like biomedical research, we are pulling back.

An Army of Robots Is China’s Weapon in Trump’s Tariff War

Enormous investments in factory equipment and artificial intelligence are giving China an edge in car manufacturing and other industries.

www.nytimes.com

 

[aneftp]

To stay on topic, I mention those Chinese brands because Tesla software is not years ahead of them. In some ways, the Chinese brands are ahead.

Perhaps.

Depends on software licensing laws

The Chinese keeps their cars in their marker because if they went to the USA. They would be imposed to USA laws.

So each country companies must play by the countries laws they want to enter.

Remember companies like huawei violate intellectual properties all the time. That’s why China protects them by saying if someone wants to sue them. They gotta sue them in china (where laws are more favorable to the Chinese company)

 

[UscGhost]

So, just to keep score so far..

DOGE - significantly disruptive, with a very small fraction of actual savings achieved

Economy - stock market tanked

Tariffs- no deals made, or even any possible deals articulated

Border? Deporting legal and illegals. No tangible benefits for 99% of US citizens. But I guess it's closed, so yay?

Rock bottom yet or still room to go?

 

[chessknt]

So, just to keep score so far..

DOGE - significantly disruptive, with a very small fraction of actual savings achieved

Economy - stock market tanked

Tariffs- no deals made, or even any possible deals articulated

Border? Deporting legal and illegals. No tangible benefits for 99% of US citizens. But I guess it's closed, so yay?

Rock bottom yet or still room to go?

DOGE also leaked massive amounts of information to Russian intelligence. Our DoD secretary probably compromised the military extensively and the intelligence leadership has been gutted. We also destroyed the IRS so our government revenues are guaranteed to tank in the coming years as unenforceable tax fraud explodes. NIH/FDA have been cored out and will takes decades to restore, if ever with untold damage to delicate research pipelines.

Like most American adults the right voters wont admit having made a mistake and we don't need them to. We just need them to stop voting like the democrats did last election and if we aren't allowed to have another election then we will need them to actually speak up and do something.

 

[UscGhost]

DOGE also leaked massive amounts of information to Russian intelligence. Our DoD secretary probably compromised the military extensively and the intelligence leadership has been gutted. We also destroyed the IRS so our government revenues are guaranteed to tank in the coming years as unenforceable tax fraud explodes. NIH/FDA have been cored out and will takes decades to restore, if ever with untold damage to delicate research pipelines.

Like most American adults the right voters wont admit having made a mistake and we don't need them to. We just need them to stop voting like the democrats did last election and if we aren't allowed to have another election then we will need them to actually speak up and do something.

Yea,

And just imagine the stuff we don't know about.

 

[Arch Guillotti]

So, just to keep score so far..

DOGE - significantly disruptive, with a very small fraction of actual savings achieved

Economy - stock market tanked

Tariffs- no deals made, or even any possible deals articulated

Border? Deporting legal and illegals. No tangible benefits for 99% of US citizens. But I guess it's closed, so yay?

Rock bottom yet or still room to go?

Don't forget Hegseth and RFK Jr, both leading the pack for the most disgraceful cabinet member ever.

 

[Direct Laryngoscopy]

$TNX might be telling us the world isn’t buying our BS.

$GOLD looks like it’s topped out.

Seems like this administration got ahead of themselves rolling out the Tariffs and the fallout looks like a loss of control of the US treasury market. The 10Y staying above 4% is concerning and if I think the deflationary forces we’ve been seeing over the last few months (oil, egg prices etc), could persist into I bit more of a drag on the global economy. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[DoctwoB]

Model y is gonna to sell a lot this quarter

Anyways. Does anyone on here own a pure electric vehicle (not hybrid) that’s isn’t a tesla?

You can find some outstanding ev used 2024 like Acura pure ev for dirt cheap

If you think Tesla used priced have tanked. Check other ev used prices

I just paid 54k for a loaded Mercedes EQS 580. 2 years old, 9k miles. MSRP was around 140k. Still has full warranty for 2 years, Battery warranty for 8 years.

Man is it a sweet car. Dead silent on the highway. 0-60 in 3.7. Handles amazingly. 340 miles range. Excellent driver assist that is less capable then FSD, but better then autopilot at highway cruising. Amazing sound system, massaging seats, you name it.

So you're absolutely right that a lot of other EVs depreciate like a rock. But many of them are amazing cars. So lease one if you're going new, or let someone else take the depreciation hit and buy it used.

 

[aneftp]

I just paid 54k for a loaded Mercedes EQS 580. 2 years old, 9k miles. MSRP was around 140k. Still has full warranty for 2 years, Battery warranty for 8 years.

Man is it a sweet car. Dead silent on the highway. 0-60 in 3.7. Handles amazingly. 340 miles range. Excellent driver assist that is less capable then FSD, but better then autopilot at highway cruising. Amazing sound system, massaging seats, you name it.

So you're absolutely right that a lot of other EVs depreciate like a rock. But many of them are amazing cars. So lease one if you're going new, or let someone else take the depreciation hit and buy it used.

Most 6000 pound ev buyers are affluent business owners with massive business write off including section 179 deduction and business $7500 ev tax credit (not income limited).

So they got either a 80-100-% bonus deprecation and the $7500 business ev credit m
Or they were lease ev

Those are the main people dumping off those expensive EVs

 

[Ezekiel2517]

It’s pretty hilarious how easily Trump folded to the stock market. Wonder how long it will last before he tries some other harebrained scheme?

It didn't even last a day. Market went back down today as soon as they changed course and said they wouldn't be reducing tariffs on China after all. When the market crashes, trump backs down and retreats. When it goes back up, he restarts the tariff rhetoric all over again. Rinse and repeat. There won't be any sense of stability/confidence until there is a complete capitulation from trump.

 

[Splenda88]

Are the EQS 580 sedans or SUV?

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 for sale in Arlington, VA - CARFAX

Make a more informed buying decision at CARFAX by first viewing vehicle history on this 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580.

www.carfax.com

 

[chessknt]

It didn't even last a day. Market went back down today as soon as they changed course and said they wouldn't be reducing tariffs on China after all. When the market crashes, trump backs down and retreats. When it goes back up, he restarts the tariff rhetoric all over again. Rinse and repeat. There won't be any sense of stability/confidence until there is a complete capitulation from trump.

He is obviously using this to cheat the stock markets and juice massive gains. He'll be richer than Musk in a year at this rate after robbing the 401k of every American.

 

[Ezekiel2517]

SF bay area region has the highest concentration of EV's in the country. I'm seeing much more non-Tesla EV's on the road. Rivian, BMW, Audi, MB, Lexus, Kia, Hyundai, Ford, GM, Lucid, Polestar, etc. Still a lot of folks w/ their old Tesla's but I'm not seeing many new Tesla's. I personally chose an Audi EV over a model S. So many non-Tesla EV's in both my neighborhood and the doctor's parking lot.

 

[MirrorTodd]

It didn't even last a day. Market went back down today as soon as they changed course and said they wouldn't be reducing tariffs on China after all. When the market crashes, trump backs down and retreats. When it goes back up, he restarts the tariff rhetoric all over again. Rinse and repeat. There won't be any sense of stability/confidence until there is a complete capitulation from trump.

Also just said more car tariffs on Canada. Lol

 

[pgg]

Tesla will go out of business or won't sell cars in 10 years. They will only have the US market to sell. Musk is already alienated 1/2 of the US market and ironically, these are the people (crazy liberals) who usually buy his car. Elon Musk is just an idiot.

I laughed today when I saw that TSLA was up about 5% on the news that Musk is going to spend less time DOGE'ing and more time CEO'ing over at Tesla.

I mean, he's the reason Tesla's sales cratered. I don't really follow how him being more involved with the company is going to help salvage their image and sell their cars.

 

[Splenda88]

I laughed today when I saw that TSLA was up about 5% on the news that Musk is going to spend less time DOGE'ing and more time CEO'ing over at Tesla.

I mean, he's the reason Tesla's sales cratered. I don't really follow how him being more involved with the company is going to help salvage their image and sell their cars.

Both Tesla car and stock have their fanboys. I was kind of like that regarding the stock, but after looking at it with a clear head, I sold for a small profit.

 

[pgg]

Both Tesla car and stock have their fanboys. I was kind of like that regarding the stock, but after looking at it with a clear head, I sold for a small profit.

EVs are a bit of a conundrum to me. Apart from the environmentalist/green appeal, there's absolutely a big element of want-it-for-the-coolness when it comes to electric vehicles, and I don't have either.

I'm more or less convinced that they're the future, eventually. When we remodeled our house a couple years ago, we had them run a 240V 50A line to the garage. I know eventually we'll buy some kind of EV and install a car charger there. I'm going to guess we're still quite a few years away from that day, however.

I've been kinda sorta in the market for a new car the last couple years, and I just can't identify any EV that I actually want. I have a 2017 ICE SUV and a 2006 BMW M3 that simply can't be replaced by anything remotely as good for less than 5x its price. Little things are breaking on that 2006 car, and the nickel and dime repairs are starting to annoy me. I can't make the math work to replace it though.

Financially, plain old ICE wins on everything. Performance, ICE wins on everything ... except 0-60 times. (No one speaks of driving Teslas the way they speak of driving a BMW M or more exotic sports cars.) While I like flooring it on freeway onramps, there's so, so much more to a good driving experience than raw acceleration.

I keep expecting to see an EV that I want, but I'm still waiting.

 

[Dr. Rude]

EVs are a bit of a conundrum to me. Apart from the environmentalist/green appeal, there's absolutely a big element of want-it-for-the-coolness when it comes to electric vehicles, and I don't have either.

I'm more or less convinced that they're the future, eventually. When we remodeled our house a couple years ago, we had them run a 240V 50A line to the garage. I know eventually we'll buy some kind of EV and install a car charger there. I'm going to guess we're still quite a few years away from that day, however.

I've been kinda sorta in the market for a new car the last couple years, and I just can't identify any EV that I actually want. I have a 2017 ICE SUV and a 2006 BMW M3 that simply can't be replaced by anything remotely as good for less than 5x its price. Little things are breaking on that 2006 car, and the nickel and dime repairs are starting to annoy me. I can't make the math work to replace it though.

Financially, plain old ICE wins on everything. Performance, ICE wins on everything ... except 0-60 times. (No one speaks of driving Teslas the way they speak of driving a BMW M or more exotic sports cars.) While I like flooring it on freeway onramps, there's so, so much more to a good driving experience than raw acceleration.

I keep expecting to see an EV that I want, but I'm still waiting.

There is a limited financial case for EV. The person that puts about 100 miles per day on their commuter car. Doesn’t do long distance trips and plugs it in every night.

 

[Splenda88]

EVs are a bit of a conundrum to me. Apart from the environmentalist/green appeal, there's absolutely a big element of want-it-for-the-coolness when it comes to electric vehicles, and I don't have either.

I'm more or less convinced that they're the future, eventually. When we remodeled our house a couple years ago, we had them run a 240V 50A line to the garage. I know eventually we'll buy some kind of EV and install a car charger there. I'm going to guess we're still quite a few years away from that day, however.

I've been kinda sorta in the market for a new car the last couple years, and I just can't identify any EV that I actually want. I have a 2017 ICE SUV and a 2006 BMW M3 that simply can't be replaced by anything remotely as good for less than 5x its price. Little things are breaking on that 2006 car, and the nickel and dime repairs are starting to annoy me. I can't make the math work to replace it though.

Financially, plain old ICE wins on everything. Performance, ICE wins on everything ... except 0-60 times. (No one speaks of driving Teslas the way they speak of driving a BMW M or more exotic sports cars.) While I like flooring it on freeway onramps, there's so, so much more to a good driving experience than raw acceleration.

I keep expecting to see an EV that I want, but I'm still waiting.

I have only own two brand new cars in my life so far. A 2009 MDX (still driving it) and that Tesla model Y, and I can say that the model Y is a lot of more fun to drive than the MDX when it was brand new.

 

[MirrorTodd]

I have only own two brand new cars in my life so far. A 2009 MDX (still driving it) and that Tesla model Y, and I can say that the model Y is a lot of more fun to drive than the MDX when it was brand new.

What year was the model Y? Those are both SUV’s correct?

 

[GoBeers]

bought new cars because of growing family. have an MDX type s advance 2024 and model x 2024.
i'm a huge fan of tesla now.

 

[Splenda88]

What year was the model Y? Those are both SUV’s correct?

2024. I have had it for 9 months. Both are somewhat midsize SUV.

 

[nimbus]

Interesting post about how heavily EVs are incentivized in China. Will never happen here because of the oil and gas lobby.




“When I was walking around in my hometown, Tianjin, I noticed almost half the vehicles had green license plates, rather than the usual blue ones. My mom told me that these green number plates indicate they are new energy vehicles, which distinguish themselves from conventional ones. I was astonished that there were so many green number plates, so I looked into the stats. Apparently, in 2022, China was the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market, with 59% of global sales. One in four cars sold in China last year was an EV.

I believe the rollout of this Green License Plate scheme has partially reduced air pollution. Only PEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs (which stand for plug-in electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles, respectively) can register for these green number plates, whereas HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) and other conventional cars cannot. If people want a green license plate, they don’t need to enter the vehicle license lottery pool (which is mandatory for conventional car buyers, and the average waiting time in the pool is about 3.5 years). Thus, this Green License Plate policy has encouraged more people to choose eco-friendly cars as they don’t need to wait long before getting a license plate. I was happy to breathe some not-polluted fresh air during my trip this time, which would have been an excessive ask several years ago.“

 

[UscGhost]

Interesting post about how heavily EVs are incentivized in China. Will never happen here because of the oil and gas lobby.




“When I was walking around in my hometown, Tianjin, I noticed almost half the vehicles had green license plates, rather than the usual blue ones. My mom told me that these green number plates indicate they are new energy vehicles, which distinguish themselves from conventional ones. I was astonished that there were so many green number plates, so I looked into the stats. Apparently, in 2022, China was the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) market, with 59% of global sales. One in four cars sold in China last year was an EV.

I believe the rollout of this Green License Plate scheme has partially reduced air pollution. Only PEVs, PHEVs, and FCEVs (which stand for plug-in electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles, respectively) can register for these green number plates, whereas HEVs (hybrid electric vehicles) and other conventional cars cannot. If people want a green license plate, they don’t need to enter the vehicle license lottery pool (which is mandatory for conventional car buyers, and the average waiting time in the pool is about 3.5 years). Thus, this Green License Plate policy has encouraged more people to choose eco-friendly cars as they don’t need to wait long before getting a license plate. I was happy to breathe some not-polluted fresh air during my trip this time, which would have been an excessive ask several years ago.“

Yea. Smart governments will incentivize products and services that may cost more initially but will prove to be beneficial and cost effective in the long run.

Norway heavily incentivizes green energy cars as well...Norway has a comprehensive program of green car incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), primarily designed to encourage the shift towards zero-emission transport. These incentives include exemptions from various taxes, reduced tolls and parking fees, and access to bus lanes, as well as reduced company car taxes. While some incentives have been adjusted or removed over time, Norway still offers a significant package of benefits for EV owners.
Specific Incentives:
Tax Exemptions: EVs are typically exempt from VAT (Value Added Tax) and purchase tax.
Reduced Tolls and Parking Fees: EVs are often exempt or receive reduced tolls on roads and ferries, as well as discounted or free public parking.
Access to Bus Lanes: EVs are generally allowed to use bus lanes, which can reduce traffic congestion.
Reduced Company Car Tax: Owners of company EVs can receive reduced tax benefits.
Charging Rights: EV owners in apartment buildings have "charging rights," allowing them to access and use charging infrastructure.

The US, primarily democratic administrations, heavily incentivized renewables (which are now cheaper than fossil fuels without subsidies) and EVs and created entire industries. Meanwhile GOP leadership is stuck on fossil fuels and coal mining.

 

[amyl]

I guess I’m old school…. I love my Merc amg and will drive it until it until it dies.

Trump didn’t win this last election - the democrats lost- they should’ve managed Biden better - he never should’ve run again and they should have spent his 4 years grooming the next generation of dem candidates. They never should’ve shoved Kamala down everyone’s throats. They’re in really bad shape - they don’t have any answers or options. Trump is terrible for this country…. And dems don’t have an answer or a candidate- sad.

 

[UscGhost]

I guess I’m old school…. I love my Merc amg and will drive it until it until it dies.

Trump didn’t win this last election - the democrats lost- they should’ve managed Biden better - he never should’ve run again and they should have spent his 4 years grooming the next generation of dem candidates. They never should’ve shoved Kamala down everyone’s throats. They’re in really bad shape - they don’t have any answers or options. Trump is terrible for this country…. And dems don’t have an answer or a candidate- sad.

It will be Shapiro.

No point in running a candidate now..it's way too early. Midterms should be the focus and Trump is helping immensely

 

[pgg]

There is a limited financial case for EV. The person that puts about 100 miles per day on their commuter car. Doesn’t do long distance trips and plugs it in every night.

Even so, the huge cost premium for EVs buys an awful lot of gas, and while my 2006 ICE M3 gets a measly 23-24 mpg there are plenty of ICE cars that get close to double that.

A $20K premium is a good 5000 gallons at $4/gallon. Even at 30 mpg that's 150,000 miles, or 1500 hundred-mile commutes. 6-7 years to merely break even on gas isn't much of a financial case for EVs. A lot of these EVs have a premium far higher than $20K. If you buy used, there's the spectre of a battery replacement looming out there for tens of thousands of dollars.

Maybe if we compare EVs to dumb $80K commuter pickup trucks there's a case.

I have only own two brand new cars in my life so far. A 2009 MDX (still driving it) and that Tesla model Y, and I can say that the model Y is a lot of more fun to drive than the MDX when it was brand new.

Well, they're SUVs. 🙂

My other car is a 2017 X3 with the bigger engine and M trim (BMW will slap the M badge on just about anything these days). 300 hp and 300 ft-lb of torque makes it perform nicely ... but it's still a SUV. I don't push it on corners the way I do with the M3.

Cars that drive and handle well are just in another category.

BMW makes an i4 M50 which is an EV targeted at their ICE M coupe buyers, and even that suffers criticism from drivers that the feel is too removed from the road, very unlike previous generations of M cars.

Feel is subjective of course. Someday someone will make an EV I want.

 

[GassYous]

EVs are a bit of a conundrum to me. Apart from the environmentalist/green appeal, there's absolutely a big element of want-it-for-the-coolness when it comes to electric vehicles, and I don't have either.

I'm more or less convinced that they're the future, eventually. When we remodeled our house a couple years ago, we had them run a 240V 50A line to the garage. I know eventually we'll buy some kind of EV and install a car charger there. I'm going to guess we're still quite a few years away from that day, however.

I've been kinda sorta in the market for a new car the last couple years, and I just can't identify any EV that I actually want. I have a 2017 ICE SUV and a 2006 BMW M3 that simply can't be replaced by anything remotely as good for less than 5x its price. Little things are breaking on that 2006 car, and the nickel and dime repairs are starting to annoy me. I can't make the math work to replace it though.

Financially, plain old ICE wins on everything. Performance, ICE wins on everything ... except 0-60 times. (No one speaks of driving Teslas the way they speak of driving a BMW M or more exotic sports cars.) While I like flooring it on freeway onramps, there's so, so much more to a good driving experience than raw acceleration.

I keep expecting to see an EV that I want, but I'm still waiting.

What about the ix m60? It's a nice car with air suspension.