OEM Dips, Lots of Summer Trips, and the Art of Haptic EV Motorcycles

The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

We can’t believe we didn’t work on a ‘May the 4th be with you’ story as we’re talking about the consumer mindset today. Despite inflation and record-low OEM production, consumers are planning a big summer according to indicators, and we think Retail Auto should have something to do with making it happen!

• Several OEMs report double-digit drops in deliveries for April YoY. Each company pointed to ongoing supply chain issues pulling down day supply, leading to lower delivery volumes year-over-year.

  • Kia - 16%

  • Hyundai - 20%

  • Toyota - 23%

  • Honda - 40%

  • Genesis + 45% (5k v 3200)

  • Experts watching the situation hold to a return to normal inventory levels in 2023, but admit the balance between inventory and customer-facing inflation is delicate and can lead to unpredictable blips in the business.

  • Take away for Auto Dealers: This is why focusing on the things you CAN control separates the winners from the losers. Process, company culture, and brand deployment lead to increased market-share.

• AirBnB showing very strong Summer demand w bookings at higher than usual prices
  • “...said it expects to post its first (ever since its founding in 2008) full-year net profit this year after its revenue climbed 70% last quarter as people continued to book suburban rentals despite hosts raising prices.”
  • “Revenue was helped by customers booking a record number of nights and so-called experiences during the quarter and hosts raising nightly rates because of inflation. Airbnb’s gross bookings—the value of bookings made on its platform—grew 67% to $17.2 billion, a record.”
  • Take away for Auto Dealers: The consumer mindset is all about having a great, post-pandemic Summer. Help them do it.

• Harley Davidson’s EV Brand “Livewire” is about to release the Del Mar, a middleweight motorcycle built around LiveWire’s Arrow platform, which includes a battery pack, electronics, and motor, in a single unit that the company can then build various bikes around

  • Expected to be much cheaper than the Live Wire 1 which MSRPs over $21k
    • 0-60 3 seconds 146-195 miles per charge
    • 80 mins full charge
    • Haptic pulse
  • Take away for Auto Dealers: Even though you don’t sell bikes, buy one and put it in your showroom as a conversation starter around EVs. All the motorcyclists will come see it…and their other car is a car.

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Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
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