Is Tesla The New DeLorean?

Issue #122

Happy Tuesday!

Are you a Tesla fan? Today, we’re discussing the highs and lows of the company’s recent turbulent times and whether it's eerily similar to another troubled brand.

Market News

• Toyota's CEO dropped a big bomb on EVs and emissions, but is he right? Here's what he said.

• Seventy years ago, Volvo revolutionized car safety with the seatbelt. Now, it has done it again. Here's how.

• Car dealers in California now face a 488% spike in this fee, and people are angry.

• Cars shipped to the US have plummeted by an astounding amount. Here's how much.

• Ford reports a 16% sales increase thanks to these strategies.

• BMW will start hiking prices in July. You can find out how much here.

• Chevy quietly discontinued the RWD version of this popular EV, and here's why.

• Cadillac has produced a Tesla killer with awesome performance. What do you think of it?

• We write about how the BMW electric X-Series is coming to the USA and why it's a big deal.

• Used car prices have gone up this year. Here's how much.

Safety and Recalls

• Mazda recalls this sports car because of a flaw in the traction control system.

• Another Mazda recall involves 172,000 vehicles with a peculiar airbag fault.

• Ford (yet again) recalls 64,000 Mavericks over this airbag issue.

Car Culture

• Readers voted on the worst cars on sale today. Here they are. Do you agree?

• This is one of the world’s worst brands ever but it’s trying to make a comeback. Would you buy one?

• This Ferrari supercar drove 1,400 miles and it lost a depressing amount of money.

• This Chevy C20 hides a secret that makes me want to buy it.

• The manual BMW Z4 won’t die, because of this lovely reason.

• Why do some truckers thump their tires? It’s all about science and safety.

• This woman doesn’t want to get taken advantage of at the mechanic. So, she came up with an ingenious solution.

• These are the cheapest trucks you can buy, and their size is surprising.

• RAM is making a NASCAR comeback, and we love the idea!

• This 2026 Ford Mustang package is a tribute to one of the coolest Mustangs ever.

Video Of The Week

The real story behind the search for the Victoria’s Secret Lamborghini.

Save On Car Shipping!

I’ve used UShip twice to take delivery of a Jeep from Idaho and a boat from Florida. Both were great experiences, so I wanted to bring this service to your attention.

👉 Check out UShip here (or click the image)

Yes, that’s an affiliate link. No, it doesn’t cost you anything extra. But every click helps support this newsletter and keeps the content coming. Win-win.

In The Know

Is Tesla the new DeLorean?

I’ll be the first to admit it: I don’t love writing about Tesla. I don’t hate EVs (but I don’t love them), so my disliking is not because of that.

It’s that we don’t like meddling with politics, but with Tesla, we have to (kind of). 

Lo and behold, the editorial idea of the week: Is Tesla the new DeLorean?

This topic spiked my interest. It makes sense to ask this question.

When the Cybertruck came out, it was the talk of the town. Now, two years later, it’s an entirely different story.

Not only that, but the future seems bleaker with each passing day. The government has made clear efforts to roll back EV and emission standards, as this article explains.

One move was to end the $7,500 tax rebate for EVs that Elon Musk said should go away. Now, this article explains that the tax is crucial for Musk, as it could help motivate the few who wanted an EV to go for a Tesla.

The move is critical for all EV manufacturers as this happens in a country that has never really loved EVs, so the decision will only motivate people to buy more ICE cars.

The problem is that Tesla doesn’t make any ICE vehicles to make up for losses. 

As a result, Tesla’s sales are dropping. Demand for the brand has dropped monthly for eight straight months, not only in the US, but globally. You can read more on that here.

There’s no denying that Elon Musk’s relationship with President Trump has directly impacted the brand.

One would’ve guessed that after Musk’s departure from the cabinet, the company could free itself of the controversy. But the reality, as this article says, is that his return to Tesla is more conflicting than positive. 

How does this affect the company?

In short, it needs to sell more, and it’s becoming slightly desperate. Do you remember the hundreds of unsold Cybertrucks stored at an abandoned mall? Now, it’s becoming an issue.

 Of course, that’s not a bad deal if you want to buy a Cybertruck, as the company has offered a couple of sweet discounts. However, they come with a catch, and it could throw buyers off, so if you’re interested, read this article first.

Plus, we recommend that you don’t buy those left in the parking lot.

Now, many experts, such as this one, consider the Cybertruck a flop. Depreciation is around 45% after only one year. 

Plus, it’s not as though the vehicle is entirely reliable. Just ask this chicken.

Jokes aside, the Cybertruck is one of the most recalled vehicles in the US, mostly for build quality issues, but also for other, more critical aspects.  

It’s not all bad.

After all, the bad news didn’t stop the Mexican government from buying plenty of Cybertrucks as part of the force to help control security in this massive event.

Is that enough to save Tesla?

Not really, but the current chaos might not be enough to kill the company either. The reality is that Tesla is a brand that will forever be linked with controversy, for better or worse. Dare we say, even if Musk leaves (which he probably won’t)?

Few brands have so many weird stories, such as these.

That’s why the DeLorean comparisons keep showing up. After all, it has happened before, as this article shows.

But hey, 45 years later, around 6,500 DeLoreans are still driving. I wonder how many Cybertrucks will remain in 2060. What are your thoughts?