Is Maserati dying a slow death? OVERHEARD: “60 of the 86 Maserati dealers in the US have not reported a single sale this month. 13 have 1 sale. Only 4 have sold more than 2.” Mind-boggling numbers.

[NEWS] GM is officially cutting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: CEO Mary Barra confirmed the phase-out, saying GM will move to a single, native in-car system built on a new centralized computing platform. Meaning, by 2028, every GM vehicle will run its own interface. And will be powered by a Google Gemini assistant and custom-built apps. As analyst Andrew Hart explained: “They don't know how you are using their infotainment system…and they lose intelligence that could help them improve their offerings.” Bottom line: As GM doubles down on its software ecosystem, dealers should prep for a post-CarPlay world, where connected services, subscriptions, and in-car AI become the new value drivers. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @DigitalAirStrk : t.co/xTbRcA8JL6 (Data source: The Verge / Motor Trend)

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That V8 engine…. Ugh

[NEWS] New EV demand is already lining up: J.D. Power says nearly 60% of new-vehicle shoppers now plan to consider an EV in the next year, up from 52% in September. And 94% of current EV owners say they’ll buy electric again. That loyalty matters. Because about 243,000 EV leases are set to return in 2026. Which means, even after the sales dip that followed the federal tax-credit cutoff, dealers could see a new wave of repeat customers ready to stay electric for the long haul. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @HaigPartners : t.co/8ukRlZbbaC (Data source: J.D. Power E-Vision Report)

[NEWS] Jeep is steering the Grand Wagoneer back to its roots: Pricing for the 2026 model now starts at $62,145 for the 4x2 and $65,145 for the 4x4. That’s down from roughly $85K on the 2025 model. The brand also dropped the standalone “Wagoneer” badge, folding the lineup fully back under the Jeep name. In the words of Jeep Brand CEO Bob Broderdorf: “Rebadging the SUVs as Jeeps should have been done long ago.” Under the hood, the 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo stays, joined by an extended-range hybrid using a 3.6-liter V6 arriving next year. From what we can tell: These moves mark a shift away from chasing luxury buyers and back toward Jeep’s core, aka approachable, capable, and easier for dealers to sell. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @lotlinx : t.co/JxkTaXPulf (Data sources: Stellantis / Jeep / MotorTrend)

Told you. CarPlay sells cars.

The economy is a lot weaker than most realize… Yesterday we broke the news of the Ally layoffs. Today my DMs are filled with additional lenders undergoing layoffs. Working to confirm these … but they look legit.

EVs are holding their range better than most think: ~97% after 3 years ~95% after 5 years The signal: Worth working into the pitch right now, especially as used EV interest (and sales) pick up. (Source: Recurrent)

BREAKING: R.I.P. Ford F-150 Lightning EV Buried in a pile of broader EV strategy updates, Ford confirmed the Lightning pickup will not make it to 2026. Instead, Ford plans to bring back a next-gen Lightning built as an extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). In the meantime, Ford is diverting workers to support gas-powered and hybrid F-150s. And will take a ~$19.5B write-off. Bottom line: the focus is shifting away from big EV bets and toward hybrids, but consumers and the market deliver the final verdict.

Three retailers now sell 22% of all used EVs in America They move them in half the time (30 days vs. the 59-day avg) And they charge 3% more doing it. Guess who they are.

Carvana is a legitimate contender in the new-car business 998 new vehicles sold in a single month from one store This is no longer an experiment

[NEWS] Ford just joined the growing list of OEMs pushing back on Apple’s CarPlay: Per The Verge, CEO Jim Farley said he’s uneasy about giving Apple that much control inside a vehicle. And in talks with Fortune, he asked: “How far do you want the Apple brand to go? Do you want the Apple brand to start the car?” Still, Ford’s not the only OEM to question CarPlay’s role going forward. GM plans to phase it out by 2028. And so far, Aston Martin is the only brand fully leaning into the new Ultra version. Bottom line: As Apple expands its reach inside the vehicle, and as more OEMs opt out, dealers will be left having to explain to shoppers why their unit doesn’t have certain features, and why other brands do. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @Uber_Business : t.co/uSO3yiE5jd (Data source: Fortune / The Verge / Ford)

[NEWS] Rivian and VW are looking to sell their EV software stack: The two automakers are getting ready to offer the EV architecture they’ve been co-developing, originally meant for future Rivian, Audi, and Porsche models, to other OEMs, per InsideEVs. That system includes the shared computing and “zonal” electrical platform. And it’s all built on top of VW’s $5.8B investment in Rivian, which gave both companies the scale to develop it faster and cheaper. Rivian’s chief software officer is framing the platform as a potential “standard stack” for the industry. And that’s where the strategy becomes clear: VW gets a way to recoup some of its heavy EV spend as demand slows, while Rivian gets a high-margin revenue stream that helps stabilize the business beyond vehicle sales. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @HaigPartners : t.co/L9GArFTjMc (Data source: InsideEVs)