BP CEO Bernard Looney photographed in Texas on March 8, 2022. During a panel discussion on Oct. 31, 2022, Looney said his firm’s strategy was to “to invest in hydrocarbons today, because today’s energy system is a hydrocarbon system.”
F. Carter Smith | Bloomberg | Getty Images
BP’s strategy is centered around investing in hydrocarbons whilst simultaneously putting money into the planned energy transition, the oil and gas supermajor’s CEO said Monday.
“What the world needs, more than ever right now, is a conversation and a series of actions that are involved in the practicalities and realities of today and tomorrow,” Bernard Looney, who was appearing on a panel discussion moderated by CNBC’s Hadley Gamble, said.
“And by that I mean, our strategy as BP — which we’re executing in the U.K., we’re working on here in the Middle East and we’re doing it in the United States and across the world — is to invest in hydrocarbons today, because today’s energy system is a hydrocarbon system,” he added.
Speaking at the Adipec conference in Abu Dhabi, Looney said his company was “obviously trying to produce those hydrocarbons with the lowest possible emissions” whilst at the same time investing in “accelerating the energy transition.”
“And we’re doing that in Britain, we’re doing that in the United States, we’re doing it here,” he said, namechecking carbon capture, electric vehicle charging, hydrogen and offshore wind.
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A major producer of oil and gas, BP says it’s aiming to become a net-zero company by the year 2050 or before. It’s one of many major firms to have made a net-zero pledge in recent years.
While such commitments draw attention, actually achieving them is a huge task with significant financial and logistical hurdles. The devil is in the detail and goals can often be light on the latter.
Looney’s comments on investing in hydrocarbons come at a time when high profile figures such as U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres are making their feelings on fossil fuels known.
Fossil fuels’ effect on the environment is considerable. The United Nations says that, since the 19th century, “human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.”
More from CNBC Climate:
Back in Abu Dhabi, BP’s Looney referenced the war in Ukraine as he sought to make the case for developing a system focused on a range of sources and priorities.
“There is a saying that wars do two things: wars reveal, and wars accelerate,” he said.
“And one of the things that it has revealed is that whenever we focus on just one thing, it can end up being a problem,” he went on to say.
Expanding on his point, Looney said that if he’d “asked anybody in Europe two or three years ago what they wanted from energy they would almost exclusively have said net-zero.”
“If I ask them today what they want from energy, they will inevitably tell you they want an energy system that works.”
An energy system that worked, he argued, was “an energy system that provides the world — Europe in this example — with secure energy, affordable energy and cleaner energy.”
What the planet needed, he later added, was a plan that didn’t solely address lowering emissions but security and affordability too.
“We should be very optimistic here,” he added, going on to note that “many of the things that will help energy security, help a cleaner energy system.”
“Offshore wind is local, hydrogen can be local, EV charging, electrifying transport, is local, bioenergy is local — so the things that contribute to a lower carbon economy also contribute to energy security.”
“And if we have a more diversified system, over time, we should have a more affordable system.”
2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Hyundai)
Time’s ticking for snagging a great EV lease deal. With the 25% tariff on imported EVs already in place and the federal tax credit disappearing on September 30, automakers are rolling out serious deals. If you’re thinking about going electric, now’s the moment. Here are some of the best August EV lease deals our friends at CarsDirect found.
2025 Honda Prologue at a Tesla Supercharger (Source: Honda)
2025 Honda Prologue lease from $159/month
Honda’s throwing down a wild lease deal on the 2025 Prologue if you’re in the right state. For a limited time, you can drive off in the all-electric SUV for the equivalent of just $200/month, but there’s a twist. Instead of monthly payments, Honda’s offering a rare One Pay Lease: you drop $4,800 upfront for a 24-month lease. That’s it. No monthly bills, and you save nearly 2% compared to standard rates.
If paying all at once isn’t in the cards, there’s still an option to pay $159/month for 24 months with $1,099 due at signing. Either way, the Prologue ranks among the cheapest new electric SUVs to lease right now.
There are some strings, though. These ultra-low prices are only available in California and other CARB states, and they include a $3,500 loyalty or conquest bonus, so you’ll need to be coming from a Honda lease or ready to ditch another brand.
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These deals rely on the EV lease loophole to pass through the $7,500 tax credit. Once that disappears on September 30, expect prices to jump. At that point, buying might make more sense than leasing.
Volkswagen just slashed the ID.4 lease – and it’s a big one. Right now, you can lease the 2025 ID.4 Pro RWD for just $129/month for 24 months with 10,000 miles a year. That works out to an effective cost of only $233/month, making it $264 less than it was before.
This isn’t just a good deal – it’s practically interest-free. The previous lease rate hovered around 1%, but now it’s basically 0%. On top of that, VW is stacking up to $9,250 in lease cash depending on which trim you pick. Even the base Pro RWD gets $7,500 in incentives. This deal only runs through August 31.
Hyundai just dropped one of the best EV lease deals of the summer. The refreshed 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 SE Standard Range is going for $149/month for 36 months (10,000 miles a year) with $3,999 due at signing. That brings the effective monthly cost to just $260 – a nearly $100 drop from July’s offer. This deal is available through September 2.
If you’ve got little wiggle room in your budget, the SE Long Range might be worth the upgrade at $189/month with the same upfront cost – only $40 more a month for a lot more range.
The 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 6 SE Standard Range is going for $169/month for 24 months (12,000 miles a year) with $3,999 due at signing. That pencils out to an effective cost of $336/month, and with the current lease cash, it’s a solid bargain.
Hyundai is offering up to $11,750 in lease cash on the IONIQ 6, plus an extra $1,000 Inventory Coupon if you lease a car that’s been sitting on the lot for 180+ days. That’s even more than July’s offer.
These offers are good through September 2, so if sleek, efficient, and affordable is your vibe, the IONIQ 6 is a solid choice.
The 2025 Subaru Solterra just became one of the most affordable EVs to lease. It’s going for $279/month for 36 months with just $279 due at signing. That brings the effective monthly cost to just $287, an incredible deal for an all-electric SUV with an MSRP pushing $40,000.
To put it in perspective: the 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid has an effective monthly cost of $486. So yeah, the Solterra wins this round. This offer’s available through September 2.
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It wasn’t just the best sales month so far for the Chevy Equinox EV. It was the best for a non-Tesla EV in the US. The electric SUV is selling like hotcakes, driving GM’s EV sales up more than 115% in July.
Chevy Equinox EV marks a first for a non-Tesla
GM sold over 19,000 electric vehicles in the US last month, more than doubling year-over-year and its best July sales month yet. The surge was led by “America’s most affordable 315+ range EV,” the Chevy Equinox EV.
After launching the lower-priced LT model in late 2024, starting under $35,000, Chevy Equinox EV sales have surged.
In the first quarter, the electric Equinox drove Chevy to become the fastest-growing EV brand in the US. It’s now expected to be among the top three selling EVs in the US this year, behind the Tesla Model Y and 3.
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As sales continued surging last month, the electric Equinox hit another significant milestone. With 8,500 models sold, the Chevy Equinox EV notched its best sales month so far, but it was also the best for any non-Tesla EV in the US.
2025 Chevy Equinox EV LT (Source: GM)
GM sold over 8,500 Chevy Equinox EVs in July, nearly half of the roughly 19,000 electric vehicle sales for the month.
Just to compare, last month Honda sold 6,318 Prologues, Hyundai sold 5,818 IONIQ 5s, and Ford sold 5,308 Mustang Mach-Es.
The electric SUV is flying off the lot, boasting more than enough driving range, fast charging capabilities, and an affordable price.
Chevy Equinox EV interior (Source: GM)
“The first thing for Equinox is the look and design. And once they get behind the wheel, they fall in love,” according to Isidro Bomnin, who owns two of Chevy’s highest-selling EV dealerships in South Florida. Bomnin said the electric SUV is “seeing a lot of conquest buyers from other brands,” including younger buyers.
Earlier this summer, a dealer from California reached out to Electrek, saying it could have sold even more Equinox EVs, but some buyers were waiting over 30 days for their vehicles.
Electric Vehicle
July 2025 Sales
Year-to-Date 2025 Sales (January to July 2025)
Chevy Equinox EV
8,500
36,000 (est)
Honda Prologue
6,318
22,635
Ford Mustang Mach-E
5,308
27,093
Hyundai IONIQ 5
5,818
24,910
Chevy Equinox EV vs Honda Prologue, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and Hyundai IONIQ 5 US sales through July 2025
GM has now sold around 36,000 Chevy Equinox EV models through July. In comparison, Ford has sold 27,093 Mustang Mach-Es, Hyundai has sold 24,910 IONIQ 5s, and Honda has sold 22,635 Prologues so far this year.
The company admits that the $7,500 federal EV tax credit is helping boost industry-wide demand. However, that’s set to expire at the end of September. Until then, GM is offering generous discounts to push inventory.
We will learn more when GM reports third-quarter US sales on October 1. Check back for a full breakdown of the report.
With leases starting as low as $289 per month, the 2025 Chevy Equinox EV remains one of the best deals on the market. Hyundai, Honda, and Ford are also offering significant savings ahead of the incentive cutoff. Ready to try one out for yourself? you can use our links below to view models in your area.
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Tesla’s brand loyalty levels dropped from the best in the industry to fairly middling results, according to new data from S&P Global Mobility, and it’s all because of the company’s CEO, Elon Musk.
S&P Global Mobility tracks sales data across the automotive industry, and its new customer loyalty numbers are out, shared with Reuters this morning.
The numbers show a troubling trend for Tesla, and a historic drop in customer loyalty for the brand that long held the #1 title in that space.
According to the Reuters story, S&P’s numbers show that Tesla customer loyalty peaked at 73% in June 2024, but took a “nosedive” in the next month, and ended up bottoming out in March at 49.9%. That means about a third of Tesla owners who would have bought another Tesla decided to buy another brand as well.
S&P’s data is not based on surveys, but rather household-level data of which cars each household is buying.
Tesla’s loyalty since recovered to 57.4% in May, the most recent month included in the S&P data, still far less than its previous peak.
As can be seen in the graph above, Tesla was in a league of its own consistently. There were only single months where any other brand might have matched Tesla’s brand loyalty numbers over the course of the last several years – and this held true consistently in the period before S&P’s chart as well, as we at Electrek have coveredmanytimesinthepast.
The drop from 73% to 49.9% even put Tesla briefly below the industry average, something which the company has never seen before. Even after recovery, Tesla is no longer in its first-place-by-a-long-shot position, and now behind Chevy and Ford and about the same level as Toyota.
Tom Libby, an analyst with S&P, was quoted by Reuters as saying he’s “never seen this rapid of a decline in such a short period of time.”
Another metric, customer defections, also showed trouble for Tesla. Customer defections show how many more households are switching from another brand to buy your brand, compared to the number of households switching from your brand to another.
Tesla’s customer defection numbers were “in a different stratosphere” to the rest of the industry for a long period of time. From 2020-2024, Tesla on average acquired five times more customers than it lost to other brands. The next-highest performers were Genesis at 2.8 and Kia/Hyundai at 1.5/1.4.
It makes sense that Tesla would gain more customers than it loses, given that it was and is a relatively new and growing brand. If people are switching to an EV, there’s a good chance they’ll switch to a Tesla since that’s the most well-known EV brand and is widely available. But Tesla’s numbers were really high.
But since July 2024, the defections have dropped significantly. Now, Tesla is below 2, a more than 60% drop in its defection rate, and putting it back in touch with the rest of the industry.
Further, it has been eclipsed by other brands – and not just startup EV brands who have the advantage of being new and thus naturally having a high conquest rate. Rivian, Polestar, Porsche and Cadillac all now exceed Tesla’s defection rate.
These poor results track alongside Tesla’s recent sales results, which have been dropping in just about every territory, even doing damage to the entire EV market as a result.
Today’s results, and Tesla’s recent poorearnings, spell trouble for Tesla, showing how Musk’s influence are damaging the high-flying company, which has always been treated as an exception in the industry (and in the stock market) due to its exceptional results across several customer and growth metrics.
Now, Tesla’s results are no longer exceptional – or rather, they’re exceptional in the opposite direction, with Tesla being one of few EV brands with falling sales in a rising global EV market.
But despite the trouble all of this spells for Tesla, it seems like it’s not spelling trouble for Musk himself. Even though he’s the reason that Tesla is crashing in the first place, the Tesla board just rewarded him with $26 billion today – a payday with more money for a single bad employee than Tesla has made in any year over its entire history, even as Tesla’s profits have been drastically declining this year as a result of Musk’s actions.
Electrek’s Take
We’ve previously covered how embarrassed owners have been modifying their cars with bumper stickers or badges to separate themselves from the image that Musk has built for the company. But now we have data showing just how many of them have stopped buying Teslas.
And it’s not just affecting prospective customers, but the customers who know how good the company’s cars are, and who had previously returned to buying Teslas in industry-leading numbers, and yet can’t stomach coming back because Musk is just so comically bad.
It would be interesting to see more from the graph above. We’re betting the numbers before Jan 2022 might have been even higher, as Musk’s public advocacy had already taken a turn towards the bizarre as he fell deeper into his twitter addiction.
But it’s clear what the biggest catalyst is – Musk’s ill-considered idea to give hundreds of millions of dollars to one of the dumbest people on the planet – someone who Musk himself had previously correctly said was “not good for America or the world.”
To be clear, Musk has always been relatively outspoken. But there were times where he was able to limit his advocacy to some more reasonable positions, stay somewhat more on message about the importance of fighting climate change (not anymore…), and stay out of the more obviously partisan political nonsense.
General wisdom does state that CEOs shouldn’t be too divisive, because dividing your customer base will only lead to a smaller addressable market. Surprise, it turns out that general wisdom is right.
And I would contend that supporting white supremacists is stupid in itself, but doing so publicly when you lead a company that relies on a good public perception, all while supporting someone whose stated goal is to destroy your industry, is particularly stupid. But his stupidity hasn’t just been limited to politics, but also to purely business decisions. And we can see how stupid it all is with the effect it has all had on Tesla’s sales results.
It would be interesting to see what happened in the intervening months, given the public breakup between Musk and Mr. Trump – though Musk has since apologized for his outburst (even though what he said was true), and Musk has continued to spread racist nonsense in the meantime. Protests are still ongoing and sales are still dropping, so the public seems to have a memory of Musk’s ridiculousness, even if he’s gotten slightly more quiet in recent weeks.
It would also be interesting to see how much different the results would be if there were more great EVs available in the US at good prices. EVs from other brands are getting better, but Tesla still has both great cars and a well-considered ecosystem around them, and $299/mo for a Model 3 is hard to beat. If there were more mass-market EV-focused challengers (like the upcoming Rivian R2/R3, a non-tariff-affected Volvo EX30, any of the myriad Chinese options available overseas, etc.), we think Tesla’s loyalty results might be even less resilient than they are.
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