The styling of the Ford Maverick Lobo pickup derives from the street-custom culture of Southern California, writes Dan Neil https://t.co/8Zw1IELnpB ...

Industry Overview - The North American automotive and shared mobility industry remains resilient, with no signs of deterioration except for electric vehicles. Investors are debating whether the strong SAAR (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate) from 2025 onwards is driven by tariffs and its sustainability in 2026, with current Q4 and 2026 positioning being conservative and requiring data validation [1] - Investors hold a pessimistic view on the electric vehicle sector for Q4 2025 and FY 2026, questioning whether R2 models can bridge profitability for electric vehicles. Traditional automakers are expected to reduce high incentives for clearing electric vehicle inventory before September 30, benefiting profitability [1][2] Company Dynamics - Carvana and Carmax are experiencing competitive differentiation, with Carvana showing optimism despite facing potential challenges from ABS market fluctuations and changing consumer demand. Carmax focuses on a multi-channel model and operational efficiency amid concerns over Triclor's bankruptcy affecting subprime ABS [2] - Several companies are leveraging AI and automation as key drivers for enhancing production efficiency and customer value. Lear plans to enhance competitiveness in the Chinese market through automation and AI, while Avis is applying AI in pricing algorithms and supply-demand management [2] Company Strategies - Avis is focusing on travel demand and autonomous driving, planning to expand partnerships in autonomous vehicle cities while strengthening its financial position and stock buybacks [3] - Carmax is driving sales through multi-channel capabilities and adjusting inventory to meet consumer purchasing power challenges, implementing a three-pillar capital allocation strategy [3] - Ford's Pro division is promoting growth through a diversified customer base, enhancing aftermarket profit contributions via software, and advancing BlueCruise autonomous driving [3] - Group 1 Automotive is flexibly allocating capital and disposing of underperforming stores, supported by parts and used car businesses, with strong consumer market performance and minimal tariff cost transfer [3] - Lear has exceeded performance expectations from 2025 onwards, with revenue nearing guidance limits, and is collaborating with Palantir to enhance automation while deepening partnerships with local Chinese automakers [3] - Lucid is clarifying its profitability path with the Gravity model as a key market expansion tool, positioning itself as a luxury brand to avoid competition from Chinese automakers while advancing autonomous driving technology [3] - Phinia is diversifying into aerospace, focusing on free cash flow generation and shareholder returns starting Q4 2025 [3] - Quantumscape is collaborating with Volkswagen's PowerCo to advance battery technology commercialization and plans to transition into a technology licensing company [3] - Rivian is set to host an autonomous driving and AI day, with Gen2 hardware and platform debuting soon, leveraging the R2 model to address demand fluctuations and deepening partnerships with Volkswagen while exploring collaborations with other automakers [3]

Core Insights - VML has received multiple prestigious awards, including being named No. 3 on Fast Company's 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators, APAC Network of the Year by Campaign Brief, and Global Network of the Year at the Gerety Awards [2][3][6] Group 1: Awards and Recognition - VML was recognized as No. 3 on Fast Company's 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators, highlighting its culture of innovation and employee empowerment [2] - The agency climbed to No. 1 as APAC Network of the Year in Campaign Brief's The Work 2025, improving from No. 3 in 2024 with 148 Acceptances [3][4] - For the second consecutive year, VML was named Global Network of the Year at the Gerety Awards, collecting 50 honors including nine Gold and 14 Silver [6][7] Group 2: Market Performance - VML's strong presence in the APAC region is evidenced by its top rankings in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, and a No. 2 ranking in Thailand [4] - VML Australia and VML Thailand ranked No. 4 and No. 5 respectively in the APAC agency table, contributing significantly to the agency's overall success [5] Group 3: Innovative Projects - VML developed the SupportBelt with Ford, which sold out within 36 hours and received a 96% positive sentiment on social media [8] - The agency repurposed outdated copper cables into protective garments for children with Butterfly Skin disease, improving mobility by 70% [8] - A children's book designed for Fruittella achieved over 300 million impressions and 257% higher engagement than benchmarks [8] Group 4: Leadership and Vision - VML's CEO Jon Cook emphasized the agency's commitment to creativity and technology integration, which drives growth and meaningful connections [9] - WPP's CEO Cindy Rose praised VML for its world-class creativity and ability to connect with audiences effectively [10] Group 5: Company Overview - VML is a leading creative agency that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce, recognized for its innovative work with major clients [10] - The agency operates with 26,000 employees across 55 markets, with principal offices in key global cities [10]

Market Overview - Crypto majors experienced an overnight selloff, with BTC down 1% at $115,000, ETH down 2% at $4,520, XRP down 2% at $2.99, and SOL down 4% at $236 [1] - Total3 (total crypto market cap minus BTC and ETH) reached a new all-time high of $1.12 trillion over the weekend [1] - The overall AI x Crypto market cap decreased by 6% to $13.6 billion [2] ETF and Treasury Investments - BTC ETFs saw net inflows of $642.4 million on Friday, totaling $2.32 billion in the past week [1] - ETH ETFs experienced their biggest day in weeks with $405 million in net inflows on Friday [1] - Galaxy Digital facilitated Forward Industries' treasury push by purchasing over $700 million in SOL [1] Memecoin and NFT Trends - Memecoin leaders were significantly down, including DOGE (-8%), Shiba (-6%), PEPE (-8%), PENGU (-6%), BONK (-10%), TRUMP (-4%), SPX (-8%), and FARTCOIN (-10%) [1] - ETH NFT leaders showed mixed performance; Punks increased by 3% to 48.3 ETH, while Pudgy decreased by 2% to 10.2 ETH, and BAYC decreased by 3% to 8.9 ETH [2] - A grail Pokemon card was sold for $4 million over the weekend [2] Token and Protocol Developments - Polkadot DAO approved a referendum to cap DOT tokens at 2.1 billion to reduce emissions and increase scarcity [1] - Punk Strategy bought 6 Punks, causing the PNKSTR token to soar to $30 million (now $15 million) [1]

My Ride: Raymond Beniquez discusses his 1939 Ford Deluxe Station Wagon and the history of wood-bodied vehicles in Puerto Rico https://t.co/4IDxzCKeGV ...

Job Cuts - Ford plans to cut more than 470 jobs at two plants in South Africa [1] Import Trends - Imports of cars from India and China are jumping [1]

Core Insights - The industry's brand loyalty rate declined to 51.1% in the first half of 2025, down 1.4 percentage points from the same period in 2024, indicating ongoing volatility in loyalty trends post-pandemic [2][3]. Brand Loyalty Trends - More than half of all brands tracked experienced year-over-year loyalty declines of one percentage point or more, affecting both mainstream and luxury brands [3]. - The shift in loyalty rates reflects a balance between returning market volume and strong competition among brands, with households more open to cross-shopping compared to pre-pandemic levels [4]. Conquest Activity - Conquest volume increased by 7.6% among mainstream brands and 6.2% among luxury brands in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, indicating brands that executed competitive strategies were able to capture households more effectively [4][5]. Market Dynamics - The number of households returning to the market rose by 4.2% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, marking the third consecutive year of improvement, which created more opportunities for defections as brands competed for returning customers [5]. Manufacturer Performance - General Motors led multi-brand manufacturers with a loyalty rate of 68.1%, while Ford topped all brands at 58.9%. Mini showed the highest loyalty growth, improving its rate by 4.6 percentage points year-over-year, and the Chevrolet Equinox ranked as the model loyalty leader at 42.7% [9].

Core Insights - The automotive industry's transition to electrification is ongoing, with electric vehicles (EVs) being recognized as the future of transportation [1][3] - Mercury Insurance has released a list of the most affordable EVs to insure, aimed at helping budget-conscious consumers maximize insurance savings [1][2] Industry Overview - The list includes vehicles from the 2025 and 2026 model years, marking the 10th year of publication by Mercury Insurance [2] - Factors influencing insurance costs include claims on similar vehicles, repair costs, and vehicle safety records [2] Consumer Guidance - With federal EV tax credits nearing expiration, consumers are encouraged to consider purchasing an EV now [3] - The list provides options for consumers looking to reduce the total cost of car ownership, including insurance costs [4] Featured Vehicles - The top 10 most affordable EVs to insure include: - Chevrolet Blazer EV - Chevrolet Equinox EV - Nissan Leaf - Kia Niro EV - Ford F-150 Lightning - Hyundai Kona EV - MINI Cooper SE - Hyundai IONIQ EV (all models) - Fiat 500e - Subaru Solterra/Toyota BZ4X [8]

Core Insights - Lear Corporation achieved seven top-four finishes in the J.D. Power 2025 U.S. Seat Quality and Satisfaction Study, outperforming all other seating competitors for the third consecutive year [1][3] - The study surveyed 92,694 vehicle purchasers and lessees of new 2025 model-year vehicles, conducted from June 2024 through May 2025 [1] Company Performance - Lear's President and CEO, Ray Scott, emphasized the company's commitment to advanced innovations and operational excellence, which contributed to their industry-leading performance [1] - The company swept the top three vehicle spots in the Mass Market Truck/Van category with the GMC Canyon, Hyundai Santa Cruz, and Chevrolet Silverado HD [3] - Lear achieved the best in-segment score in the Small/Compact SUV category with the Ford Bronco Sport [3] - The company earned three top-four finishes across two Premium segments (Car and SUV), including the Porsche 911, Porsche Taycan, and Jaguar F-Pace [3] Company Overview - Lear Corporation is a global leader in automotive Seating and E-Systems, headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and is the largest U.S.-based automotive supplier [2] - The company has over 100 years of heritage and focuses on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainability to enhance comfort, safety, and efficiency in mobility solutions [2]

Rare Earths & Critical Minerals Supply Chain - Establishing a domestic rare earth magnet manufacturing business is possible but faces challenges [1] - Building the infrastructure for harvesting and refining rare earths takes considerable time, impacting EV production [2] - Government intervention is warranted in cases of market failure or negative externalities related to public goods like climate [4][5] - Ford and other U S manufacturers have experienced production pauses due to rare earth supply shortages [6] - The U S refining infrastructure for rare earths is estimated to be up to speed within 5 to 10 years [7] Electric Vehicle (EV) Market & Policy - The transition to EVs accelerated after 2010, reaching approximately 10% market share [8] - IRS tax credits have significantly influenced EV sales, with potential slowdowns anticipated without them [8][9] - Domestic sourcing of critical minerals is crucial for climate and national security reasons [9] - The Trump administration invested in private industry, such as MP Materials, to advance domestic rare earth production [3]