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Working oil pumps against a sunset sky.
Imaginima | E+ | Getty Images

Oil prices tumbled to the lowest level in more than two months Friday as the new Covid-19 strain sparked fears about a demand slowdown just as supply increases.

The leg lower came amid a broad sell-off in the market with Dow futures dropping more than 800 points. The World Health Organization warned Thursday of a new Covid variant detected in South Africa. It could potentially be more resistance to vaccines thanks to its mutations, although the WHO said further investigation is needed.

U.S. oil declined 5%, or $4.27, to $74.12 per barrel. International benchmark Brent crude futures slid 5.6% to $77.64 per barrel.

A decrease in travel and potential new lockdowns, both of which could hit demand, come just as supply is about to increase.

“It appears that the discovery a COVID-19 variant in southern Africa is spooking markets across-the-board. Germany is already limiting travel from several nations in the affected region,” said John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital. “The last thing that the oil complex needs is another threat to the air travel recovery,” he added.

On Tuesday the Biden Administration announced plans to release 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The move is part of a global effort by energy-consuming nations to calm 2021′s rapid rise in fuel prices. India, China, Japan, South Korea and the U.K. will also release some of their reserves.

“This [the sell-off] is attributable to concerns about a sizeable oversupply in early 2022 that is set to be brought about by the upcoming release of strategic oil reserves in the US and other major consumer countries, plus the ongoing steep rise in new coronavirus cases,” noted analysts at Commerzbank. “Furthermore, an even more transmissible variant of the virus has been discovered in South Africa, prompting a noticeable increase in risk aversion on the financial markets today.”

OPEC and its oil-producing allies are set to meet on Dec. 2 to discuss production policy for January and beyond. The group’s slowly eased the historic output cuts it agreed to in April 2020 as the coronavirus sapped demand for petroleum products, restoring 400,000 barrels per day of oil to the market each month.

The group has maintained its gradual taper despite calls from the White House and others to hike output as oil prices surged to multi-year highs. West Texas Intermediate crude futures hit a seven-year high in October, while Brent rose to a three-year high.

U.S. oil is now down more than $10 since its October high of $85.41.

“The coordinated SPR release is getting a second look, as well, especially with OPEC decrying it and asserting that the release will tip the global market back into surplus. The release is much more than just a drop in the bucket,” added Kilduff.

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Tesla (TSLA) delivery estimates are all over the place

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Tesla (TSLA) delivery estimates are all over the place

Tesla (TSLA) is about to finish its quarter, and it is a confusing one for Wall Street. Delivery estimates are all over the place.

We reported earlier this month on Tesla analysts falling over themselves to downgrade their delivery estimates for the quarter.

Tesla has been growing deliveries at a roughly 50% rate per year until last year, when it started to slow down. Unlike other companies, Tesla doesn’t give clear guidelines, and therefore, analysts are left to try to figure out themselves with the available data.

Over the last few weeks, there’s one thing that analysts do agree on when it comes to Tesla: deliveries are going down.

In comparison, Tesla had record deliveries of 484,507 vehicles last quarter for a 20% year-over-year growth rate, and it delivered 422,875 in Q1 2023.

For Q1 2024, delivery estimates on Wall Street have been consistently reduced over the last few weeks.

Yesterday, Wedbush was the latest firm to update its estimate to 425,000 deliveries – down from 475,000. But the numbers are all over the place. Electrek has found estimates between 420,000 and 480,000 deliveries during the quarter.

Troy Teslike, one of the analysts with the most data-driven estimates, has been consistently downgrading his estimates as more data has been coming in. He is now down to an estimate of 420,000 deliveries:

The overall Wall Street consensus has come down quite a bit since this report, and it is now closer to 458,500 deliveries. However, as you can see, some suspect that it could be way lower.

Tesla is expected to release its Q1 2024 delivery and production numbers early next week.

Electrek’s Take

I think anything below 450,000 would be pretty bad for Tesla, but 420,000 would be awful. It would not only be way down from last quarter but even down year-over-year after an entire year of Tesla adding production capacity.

It’s also Cybertruck’s first full quarter of deliveries, but we shouldn’t expect it to contribute significantly.

420,000 would likely mean Tesla inventory growing, which would be difficult for Tesla’s financial results at the end of next month.

Now, Tesla does have a few excuses, especially the arson attack on Gigafactory Berlin, but at this point, I think it’s clear that demand is the problem.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Tesla ends up using the excuse of Elon’s request to perform FSD Beta test drives before each delivery, which is undoubtedly going to increase the delivery workload at the end of the quarter.

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Ford drastically cuts workforce at F-150 Lightning EV plant amid ‘much slower’ demand

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Ford drastically cuts workforce at F-150 Lightning EV plant amid 'much slower' demand

Starting April 1, one-third of the workforce will remain on-site at Ford’s Rouge EV plant in Michigan. Ford is drastically cutting its workforce at the facility where the F-150 Lightning is built, with demand “much slower” than expected.

Ford cutting F-150 Lightning workforce

Ford initially announced the reduction in January, citing “slower than expected” demand. Although Ford’s Lightning was the best-selling electric pickup last year, topping Rivian’s R1T, the EV truck faces new competition in a challenging market.

According to Ford spokeswoman Jessica Enoch, one-third of the 2,100 workers will remain at the plant starting April 1, 2024.

Enoch told The Detroit Free Press that 700 workers will be transferred to its Michigan Assembly plant to help build the Bronco and Ranger. Meanwhile, the remaining 700 can either take the $50,000 retirement package from the 2023 contract negotiations, or be reassigned to is Michigan Assembly plant.

Ford’s workforce reduction at the F-150 Lightning plant will not include job losses. Instead, workers are being reassigned or offered retirement.

In January, Spokesperson Martin Gunsberg told Electrek that the facility had been running with three crews working two shifts. Starting next week, it will go down to one crew working one shift.

Ford-cutting-Lightning
Ford F-150 Lightning production (Source: Ford)

“Their intentions were to build 180,000-plus units. Right now, we’re looking at 55,000 units they’re gonna build,” according to Todd Dunn, president of UAW Local 862.

The move comes after Ford said it would ramp up Lightning production just a year ago. However, the automaker has been rotating shifts at the facility since October.

Enoch said new vehicles have been held for quality review since early February. Shipments are expected to begin in April.

Ford introduced significant incentives on the 2023 F-150 Lightning to make room for new models. The 2023 Lightning Lariat, XLT, and Pro trims are eligible for a $7,500 retail credit.


2024 Ford F-150 Lightning trim
Price Range
(EPA-est miles)
Pro $54,995 240
XLT $64,995 240
Flash $73,495 320
Lariat $79,495 320
Platinum $84,995 300
Platinum Black $92,995 300
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning price and range by trim

Ford also made several adjustments to 2024MY Lightning prices. The base Pro trim, starts at $54,995 with 240 miles range. The lineup also gained a “Flash” trim in 2024 with a tech-focused interior, Ford’s Tow Tech package, and up to 320 miles range. It starts at $73,495.

Ford-affordable-EV-pickup
2024 Ford F-150 Flash (Source: Ford)

Electrek’s Take

The workforce reduction comes as Ford shifts plans from larger EVs to smaller, more affordable ones.

CEO Jim Farley revealed Ford was developing a low-cost EV platform. Led by Alan Clarke, a top engineer for Tesla’s Model Y and 3, Farley said it has “some of the best EV engineers in the world” developing the platform.

Ford’s CFO, John Lawler, reiterated these plans at the BofA Auto Summit Tuesday. Lawler said, “The game will not be fought and won with larger vehicles.” Smaller, more affordable ones will win in the long run.

The new EV platform will have multiple “top hats,” enabling new electric SUVs, trucks, sedans, and vans.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, a smaller, cheaper electric pickup and SUV will be the first to launch on the platform. The first model is expected to be available in 2026, with starting prices around $25,000.

Lawler said the ultimate competition will be low-cost EVs from China, like BYD, and Tesla, which is planning a $25,000 EV of its own.

Ford’s CFO said Ford is matching capacity with demand. He added “demand is much slower than the industry expected.”

Meanwhile, Ford faces stiff competition in both the electric pickup and mid-size electric SUV market. New electric pickups like the Tesla Cybertruck and Chevy Silverado EV are rolling out while Rivian continues building R1T capacity.

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E is among the most popular EV segments, along with Tesla’s Model Y, the Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Volkswagen ID.4, and the Kia EV6. New electric SUVs like the Honda Prologue and Acura ZDX are joining the market.

Have you been eyeing Ford’s all-electric models? Now may be the perfect time to start shopping with significant savings. You can use our links below to find great deals on Ford’s EVs at a dealer near you.

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XPeng (XPEV) launches two EVs in Germany with plans to enter more EU nations later this year

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XPeng (XPEV) launches two EVs in Germany with plans to enter more EU nations later this year

Chinese EV automaker XPeng Motors is making good on its vow to enter new European markets this year, beginning with Germany. Beginning today, two all-electric XPeng models are available to German customers as the automaker targets an ambitious market share in a land home to several huge names in legacy OEMs and shows no signs of slowing down in its expansion through Europe.

Following a relatively quick rise to fame in its native China in a few short years, XPeng Motors ($XPEV) set its sights on global expansion in hopes of becoming a global EV brand. Part of that globalization process began in Europe, particularly in Norway with its P7 sedan, commencing deliveries in the summer of 2021.

As an encore, XPeng also shared plans to send its G9 SUV overseas. We got to drive the P7 and the G9 during two separate trips to the Netherlands, another EU territory XPeng has entered.

That 2022 market entry was part of multiple retail agreements in new markets in addition to Norway and the NL, including Sweden and Denmark. During IAA Mobility held in Germany last fall, XPeng vice chairman and president Brian Gu shared some insight about where the Chinese automaker will go next, citing three additional European markets.

One of those new markets included Germany, and beginning today, the two XPeng EVs mentioned above are available to those local consumers.

XPeng Germany
The G9 SUV, now available in Germany / Source: XPeng Motors / Weibo

XPeng G9 and P7 EVs now available in Germany

Per its Weibo page, XPeng Motors has officially launched its first two BEVs in Germany – acknowledged by the Chinese automaker as “the world’s most competitive automotive market.” By entering Germany to compete against the likes of BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Volkswagen, XPeng hopes to make an impact in the market.

Per the post, it is targeting a 3% market share in Germany by the end of 2024. The G9 SUV launches in three trims: A rear-wheel drive standard range model for 57,600 euros ($62,300), a rear-wheel drive long-range version for 61,600 euros ($66,600), and an AWD drive long-range trim starting at 69,600 euros ($75,275).

The XPeng P7 sedan, which recently saw a 2023 refresh, also launches in Germany in three separate trims: A rear-wheel drive long-range EV for 49,600 euros ($53,650), an AWD drive performance version for 58,600 euros ($63,350), and the AWD Wing Edition, starting at 69,600 euros ($75,275).

In addition to a beautiful launch video showcasing the G9 around the Alps, XPeng’s recent Weibo post reiterated its following plans for Europe. Beyond Germany, XPeng said it will soon begin selling its EVs in France, Italy, and the UK. Per previous comments from Brian Gu, XPeng’s G6 SUV will specifically debut in the UK as the automaker’s first right-side driving EV to compete with the Tesla Model Y.

XPeng’s continued expansions through Europe are part of a larger strategy to launch approximately 30 new and refreshed EV models by 2027. That’s a tall order.

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