| Here is your Thursday transportation briefing: - 🚗 Ford Motor announced it is increasing prices for its entry-level 2024 F-150 Lightning lineup.
- 🚆 The second section of Mexico's Maya Train has launched.
- ✈️ Delta Airlines claimed the title of the most punctual airline in 2023.
Thanks for reading! Robel
p/Robel-Kelkile | |
| 1 | | General Motors' U.S. vehicle sales surged by 14.1% in 2023, hitting its strongest numbers since 2019 pre-COVID times. The car company sold approximately 2.6 million vehicles. More: - Sales figures were evenly paced in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year, with around 625,176 vehicles sold.
- Buick led the surge with a 61% increase, followed by Chevrolet at 13.1%, while GMC and Cadillac both saw approximately 9% growth.
- However, GM's EV sales were at 75,883 units, accounting for just 2.9% of total sales, mainly from discontinued Chevrolet Bolt models.
- Production hurdles for newer "Ultium" EVs, including battery assembly issues, impacted EV sales negatively.
- To boost EV sales, GM plans to ramp up production, offer $7,500 incentives on ineligible models, and provide equivalent tax credit amounts for these vehicles starting in January.
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| 2 | | Ford Motor announced it is adjusting prices for its 2024 F-150 Lightning lineup, with some models seeing increases. The car company noted the entry-level Pro model will start at $54,995, while the highest-end Platinum Black trim is priced at $92,995. More: - The entry-level F-150 Lightning Pro model sees a price increase of $5,000, while the Platinum and Platinum Black models receive reductions of $5,000 and $7,000, respectively.
- Ford aims to balance consumer demand, profitability, and accessibility to tax benefits, adjusting pricing and production levels accordingly.
- Despite plans to cut F-150 Lightning production in half for the year due to evolving demand, the truck remains one of America's top-selling electric pickups.
- Sales of the F-150 Lightning showed a steady increase in 2023, reaching a monthly record of approximately 4,400 sold in November, totaling 20,365 trucks sold through November, marking a 54% increase from the previous year.
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| 3 | | Israeli aerospace startup AIR advanced its participation in the U.S. Air Force's AFWERX Agility Prime program after completing the third phase. The move aims to establish its American presence, conduct flight testing, and propel the development of its eVTOL aircraft. More: - AIR, part of the Agility Prime program since 2022, has sealed a formal agreement after successfully completing the third phase, gearing up to establish its presence in the U.S. and continue flight tests.
- The partnership with AFWERX will fuel AIR's efforts to certify and develop personal air mobility, aiming to make it a feasible choice for everyday commuting.
- AIR ONE, their electric two-seater aircraft, can take off and land on flat surfaces, carry up to 550 pounds, travel long distances on a single charge, and achieve speeds of up to 155 mph.
- The simplicity of AIR ONE's design, with eight fixed motors, sets it apart from other eVTOLs, making it versatile for applications like pilot training, defense, cargo, and agriculture.
- The aircraft's successful flight tests have garnered over 800 preorders.
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| 4 | | The U.S. Department of Energy and the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the number of electric vehicles qualifying for federal tax credits will decrease from 35 to 14 in 2024. The move could impact the affordability of many popular EV models like the Nissan Leaf and versions of the Tesla Model 3. More: - Only 14 electric vehicle models will qualify for federal tax credits up to $7,500 in 2024.
- Mandates outlined in the proposed rule under the Inflation Reduction Act focus on reducing reliance on foreign entities for EV components and minerals, potentially making it harder for automakers to sell EVs.
- The proposal states that EVs may not contain battery components made or assembled by foreign entities of concern to qualify for tax credits in 2024, and a similar restriction applies to critical minerals in 2025.
- Brands like Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, and Volkswagen will also see their EVs losing eligibility for clean energy tax credits, but there's potential for more models to become eligible as manufacturers submit information on eligible vehicles meeting current requirements.
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| 5 | | The second section of Mexico's Maya Train was launched for public service. The second section covers passenger rail from Cancun to Palenque. More: - Inaugurated by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Cancun-Palenque segment covered 534 miles in 10 hours and 40 minutes, yet significant portions of the route and 12 out of 22 stations remain unfinished.
- A three-tiered fare system was introduced for different categories of passengers: $70.27 for local residents, $124.44 for other Mexican residents, and $167.05 for foreign tourists for the full Cancún-Palenque route.
- Operational challenges included terminating the food provider's contract due to poor service complaints, ongoing efforts to improve internet connectivity, and adding curtains to train windows.
- Although regular rail service was set to resume on Jan. 1 after a brief suspension, online ticket sales had yet to restart by Jan. 2, with reports indicating ticket sales at stations.
- The final part of the Maya Train route, encompassing about 386 miles, is projected to finish at the end of February.
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| 6 | | Cirium's On-Time Performance Review 2023 released its annual airline airport data based on 600+ real-time flight sources. Delta Air led with 84.72% of on-time flights. More: - Cirium's annual review assessed over 32 million scheduled passenger flights in 2023.
- Delta Airlines maintained its top position, with 84.72% of its 1.4 million flights arriving punctually or within 15 minutes of the scheduled time.
- Other top-performing airlines included Alaska Airlines with 82.25% and American Airlines with 80.61% on-time flights in 2023.
- Noteworthy airports, such as Minneapolis-St. Paul, Salt Lake City International, and Ronald Reagan National, were among the world's top 20 airports for on-time departures.
- Globally, the overall on-time departure rate stood at 78.52% in 2023, showcasing the collective performance across airlines and airports.
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- Universal Logistics revealed plans for a $50M expansion of its truck division in Virginia.
- In December, transportation capacity increased once more while prices continued to decline at a faster rate.
- Amtrak announced it is seeking input from the public regarding ideas for improvement for Chicago Union Station.
- France achieved a record-breaking year in electric vehicle sales.
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 | Writer | | Born and raised in the Bay Area, Robel Kelkile is passionate about all things tech, venture, and financial education. He has previously served both universities and state governments in their engagement strategy and tracking legislation. | | This newsletter was edited by Aaron Crutchfield | |
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