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Members of the rescue teams from the Egyptian army carry a dead body as they walk in the mud between the destroyed buildings, after a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Libya, in Derna, Libya September 13, 2023. 

Ahmed Elumami | Reuters

Storm Daniel has left Libya, a country grappling with conflict and economic crisis for over a decade, in catastrophe. With little resource for search and rescue, experts warn that humanitarian partners will need tens of millions of dollars to respond to the needs of those impacted on the ground. 

According to the UN Development Programme, “humanitarian partners are requesting $71.4 million to respond to the most urgent needs of 250,000 people targeted out of the 884,000 people estimated to be in need, over the next three months.” Roula Abubaker, a spokesperson for UNDP, told CNBC the organization is still gathering data from the mission on the ground to determine the full cost of the damage.

Over 3,000 people have been killed and more than 9,000 remain missing with the toll expected to rise, according to the World Health Organization, but numbers have been difficult to verify.  Meanwhile the International Organization for Migration estimates 40,000 people have been internally displaced following the storm. Medical centers are struggling to treat civilians and morgues are running out of space for the deceased.

Maxar satellite imagery of streets amd neighborhoods after the catastrophic flooding that struck the Libyan coastal city of Derna. 

Maxar Technologies | Getty Images

“No matter how many pictures you see about Derna, you did not see anything. We don’t need water or food. We need specialized and experienced rescue teams,” Mohamed Elkwafi, a volunteer with the Eastern Libyan National Army Security Units in Derna, told CNBC. 

The rare Mediterranean hurricane tore through dams in Libya’s eastern port city of Derna, Soussa, Benghazi, Albayda and several other cities, leaving a grim aftermath. The storm moved over land, resulting in severe flash floods and extreme rainfall that collapsed infrastructure and homes. Storm Daniel developed in early September over Greece causing fatalities before migrating to Turkey and Bulgaria and through North Africa.

Libya’s political challenge

Libya’s government has been marred by conflict since 2011 after the fall of dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who ruled the oil-rich North African country for four decades. The government was split into two administrations after renewed tensions from the rise of militias in 2014. One administration is based in the country’s east and the other in the capital Tripoli. A ceasefire was brokered in 2020 but Libya remains deeply fragmented after the Government of National Unity was formed in Tripoli in 2021.

A man sits on a damaged car, after a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Libya, in Derna, Libya September 12, 2023.

Esam Omran Al-Fetori | Reuters

Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh rules as the internationally recognized prime minister in Benghazi. Another rival government was formed in 2022 in the east called the Government of National Stability, leaving two parties vying for control.

Despite the deep divisions between the east and the west, when it comes to search and rescue, Mohamed Elkwafi told CNBC he has been working “with all the security units, medical teams, and rescue teams as one team.”

Libya’s reconstruction

The Central Bank of Libya convened an emergency meeting last Thursday to discuss support for the impacted areas. The bank shared the outcome on X, formerly known as Twitter: “The committee reached a number of recommendations, the most important of which is opening a bank account with the Central Bank of Libya, specifically dedicated to collecting donations from commercial banks.” The financial institution was previously split in two entities in 2014 for nearly a decade but reunified in August.

Libya’s economy has struggled since the fall of Gadhafi with decentralization, but the country’s vast oil and gas reserves, which are the biggest in Africa, remain its dominant source of revenue. While terminals initially closed, the storm has not impacted Libya’s output, which is around 1.2 million barrels per day. The World Bank projected this year a potential uptick in economic growth with help from monetary contributions if conflict ceases.

The International Monetary Fund has yet to announce financial aid but Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva tweeted: “The IMF stands ready to provide the Libyan authorities any assistance they may need.” The IMF began re-surveilling Libya in June after a decade-long hiatus.

General view of flood water covering the area as a powerful storm and heavy rainfall hit Al-Mukhaili, Libya September 11, 2023, in this handout picture.

Libya Al-Hadath | via Reuters

Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya specialist and fellow at the London-based think tank Royal United Services Institute says that Derna’s road to recovery will be an expensive one. 

“The 2.5 billion dinars ($51M) carved out by the Tripoli authorities is a big amount to mobilize out of budget for rebuilding, but it’s still nothing compared to the damage that was experienced,” he told CNBC.

“I think you would have to multiply this number by probably 10 or 20 to rebuild all the other municipalities.”

Last week UN Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths announced a $10 million emergency financial aid package for Libya.  Other countries that pledged support include the EU, U.S., UK, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Tunisia, Kuwait, Turkey, Italy, and the United Arab Emirates.

But Harchaoui is skeptical it will be enough, adding “I think if we don’t reach $5 billion dinars then it means that there’s no real possibility of dignified reconstruction efforts.”

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The electric Jeep Compass may be a pipe dream after all

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The electric Jeep Compass may be a pipe dream after all

Jeep is reconsidering plans to launch an electric Compass in North America. The next-gen Jeep Compass is officially on pause after Stellantis temporarily halted operations at its Brampton Assembly Plant, where the current SUV is built, to take a closer look at its strategy in North America.

Is Jeep canceling the electric Compass in the US?

Stellantis froze all activities at the Brampton plant on Thursday, including work on the next-gen Jeep Compass. The company said the sudden halt was over “today’s dynamic environment.”

In an email to Ontario newspaper Windsor Star, Stellantis’s head of communications for Canada, Lou Ann Gosselin, said, “As we navigate today’s dynamic environment, Stellantis continues to reassess its product strategy in North America.”

Gosselin added that Stellantis’s decision is “to ensure it is offering customers a range of vehicles with flexible powertrain options to best meet their needs.”

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The pause is temporary, and the decision will not impact operations at the Windsor facility. The Brampton plant has been down since December 2023 for retooling as part of Stellantis plans to build EVs, including an electric Jeep Compass.

Stellantis confirmed in October that the next-gen Jeep Compass will be available with electric, hybrid, and gas-powered powertrains as part of its “Freedom of Choice” strategy.

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Jeep teases the electric Compass for the first time (Source: Stellantis)

The Compass is Jeep’s “most globally available model,” according to Gosselin. Later this year, the next-gen model will still debut in Europe, with production slated to begin in Melfi, Italy. Stellantis previously said production would expand to North America and around the world.

Jeep-electric-SUV
Jeep Wagoneer S (Source: Stellantis)

Stellantis initially planned to begin building the next-gen Jeep Compass, including an electric version for North America, in the fourth quarter of 2025. Mass production was slated for 2026.

Lana Payne, Unfor national president, the union behind workers at the plant, said the “timing of this announcement raises very serious concerns.” Payne added:

The chaos and uncertainty plaguing the North American auto industry, which is under the constant threat of tariffs and a dismantling of EV regulations from the United States, are having real-time impacts on workers and corporate decisions.

Although Stellantis didn’t mention US President Trump or tariffs as a factor, Unifor Local 444 president James Stewart told the Windsor Star, “There’s no doubt the Trump administration’s EV policies are having an effect.”

Stewart explained the pause comes as Stellantis reassesses what powertrain options to offer for the next-gen Compass.

Jeep-Recon-EV-launch
Jeep Recon EV (Source: Stellantis)

Stellantis still plans to return to a three-shift operation, aiming to start operations early next year. The plant was once home to iconic models, like the Dodge Challenger, Charger, and Chrysler 300, all of which are now discontinued. The electric Dodge Charger Daytona is made at its Windsor plant.

Jeep launched its first electric SUV in North America, the Wagoneer S, last year and will introduce the more rugged, Wrangler-like Recon EV later this year. As for an electric Jeep Compass, those of us in the US and Canada will have to wait to hear more.

Electrek’s Take

Stellantis is already struggling in North America. Sales fell another 15% last year to just over 1.3 million, with every brand, except for Fiat, selling significantly fewer vehicles.

Jeep brand sales fell 9% in the US, Ram sales fell 19%, Dodge sales fell 29%, Alfa Romeo sales fell 19%, and Chrysler sales were down 7% in 2024.

Although Trump’s tariffs threats are likely one of the biggest reasons behind Stellantis’s decision, it will likely only put it back further in the long run. The industry will still progress toward electric vehicles, while automakers stalling now will get left behind with more advanced, software-driven models from China, South Korea, etc.

Behind the Cherokee and Wrangler, the Compass was Jeep’s third best-selling vehicle in the US last year. Sales were up 16% to nearly 111,700, but Jeep will need an answer soon with new electric options hitting the market over the next few years.

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Tesla deliveries expected to go down to levels not seen in more than 2 years

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Tesla deliveries expected to go down to levels not seen in more than 2 years

Tesla deliveries are expected to decrease this quarter to levels not seen in more than two years. We have to go back to 2022 to see the delivery volume the automaker is expected to deliver.

Time to worry for Tesla shareholders?

Prediction markets are entering the game of setting expectations for Tesla’s quarterly deliveries.

These markets use financial incentives, similar to betting, to predict specific outcomes. They became extremely popular during the latest US elections and have since expanded to predict a lot more outcomes ranging from sports to business to virtually anything.

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Kalshi, one of the biggest prediction markets, has been running markets to predict Tesla’s quarterly deliveries that already gathered half a million in volumes.

It currently predicts that Tesla will deliver 359,000 vehicles in Q1 2025:

This would be down 7% year-over-year and a massive 27% down quarter-over-quarter.

In fact, you have to go back more than two years, Q3 2022, to get a quarter when Tesla delivered fewer vehicles than what is expected this quarter:

As we previously reported, Tesla’s sales are crashing in Europe this quarter – down by as much as 50%.

In China, Tesla’s most important market, sales are down slightly year-over-year.

The US is the most opaque market, and it will be the difference maker this quarter.

Electrek’s Take

This quarter would finally be the time to prove to Tesla shareholders that Elon is bad for Tesla. Unfortunately, they will blame the poor performance on the Model Y changeover, which will definitely impact Tesla negatively, but nowhere near that level.

I think it’s clear that the Elon effect is also working its magic here.

We know it since it’s not the first time Tesla has done a changeover. Now, it’s true that it’s the first time for a Model Y, which is Tesla’s best-selling vehicle, but the impact is more significant than when Tesla had factory shutdowns and supply chain issues last year.

The earnings are going to be even worse, but they will blame that on the new Model Y too.

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Rivian is recalling over 17,000 R1S and R1T vehicles due to faulty headlights

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Rivian is recalling over 17,000 R1S and R1T vehicles due to faulty headlights

Rivian issued a recall for over 17,000 vehicles on Friday due to a headlight issue that only occurs in cold weather. The recall impacts certain 2025 R1S SUV and R1T electric pickup models. Luckily, it should be an easy fix.

Rivian issues a recall for 2025 R1S and R1T vehicles

In a letter sent to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Rivian said it planned to recall 17,260 R1S and R1T vehicles.

The safety notice comes after the company found the headlights on certain 2025 models did not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, “Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.”

In cold weather, the headlight low beams might not illuminate once the vehicle is started. A message on the driver display will pop up, saying, “Low beam lights not working.” The issue only occurred in colder climates.

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Rivian said it’s unaware of any crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to the recall. The 2025 R1S and R1T models were built with incorrectly figured parts from its supplier between April 29, 2024, and February 03, 2025.

Rivian-recall-R1S-R1T
Rivian R1T (left) and R1S (right) electric vehicles (Source: Rivian)

For those impacted, Rivian will replace the headlight control module free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on March 28, 2025.

If you have questions, you can contact Rivian’s customer service at 1-888-748-4261. Rivian’s recall number is FSAM-1612. You can also contact the NHTSA hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit NHTSA.gov for more information.

Rivian-recall-R1S-R1T
Production at Rivian’s Normal, IL plant (Source: Rivian)

The recall comes after Rivian posted its first positive gross profit in the fourth quarter, a big milestone as the EV maker aims to hit its next growth stage.

Rivian delivered 51,579 vehicles in 2024, but as it prepares to introduce its mass-market R2 electric SUV, the company expects a slight dip in 2025, forecasting between 46,000 and 51,000. A big part of this is due to plans to retool its Normal, IL manufacturing plant to prepare for the R2, which will launch in the first half of 2026. The midsize electric SUV will start at around $45,000, or almost half the R1S ($77,700) and R1T ($71,700).

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