In Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, one half of a couple elects to remove the too-painful memories of their partner from their mind. All the happy moments. All the sad ones. The triumphs. The fights. The simple quiet hours that provide the foundation of a good life. If you were a Chrysler dealer, would you want to make the last few years disappear, too?
One of my go-to measures for the state of various brands is the chart that shows how long it takes them to sell the cars on dealer lots. Chrysler is the easiest to look at because they have basically one vehicle, which gives deeper insight into the state of that model. The Morning Dump is nothing if not a collection of deep insights and songs featuring women with guitars.
If Chrysler has one model that has too much inventory, Infiniti’s problem is a little different. It only has two models and it keeps changing the names of everything it sells. It’s the job of the new Nissan CEO to fix that.
Is AI going to take his job if he fails? Is it coming for everyone’s job? Certainly not mine. A neural net can gather the news, but can the neural net make Millennial-coded movie references? Oh, it can? Bummer. The head of the UAW and Senator Bernie Sanders got together to warn of the impending AI jobpocalyspse.
Will Polestar make it? The company lost more money, but also earned more money.
Chrysler Is The Brand In The Box
As an Elder Millennial, I’m also qualified to make Gen X references, and what’s more Gen X than an Alice in Chains allusion? This is the chart I love, and it shows Days’ Supply as broken down by brand. This is essentially the number of cars on dealer lots (or in transit to dealer lots) versus how quickly that brand sells those vehicles. So, looking at the green bar, the national average is 79 days, meaning that it would take 79 days to sell all the cars currently on lots or in transit if no new cars were built.
If you’re far to the left of the bar, that means you’ve either got a tight supply, you’re selling fast, or both. In the case of Lexus and Toyota, those are fast-selling brands with production discipline. The same is true for Honda. If you wonder why people pay at or above MSRP for Toyota products, it’s because they’re popular and Toyota doesn’t overbuild. Audi is interesting, because Audi is both in the middle of transitioning to new models and has been one of the biggest victim of tariffs, which indicates to me that the brand has been cutting back on imports. If you’re far to the right of the bar it usually means you either have produced a lot of cars, they’re selling slowly, or some of both.
And then there’s the box. You never want to be in the box. In order to preserve scale, brands that have more than twice the national average go in the box. Right now there’s exactly one major brand in the box and it’s Chrysler.
This makes sense. The brand has just one car after the axing of the Voyager, which is just a slightly cheaper version of the only thing it really makes. Does the brand even have a future? It doesn’t have a second model yet, though it’s getting a redesigned Pacifica (and keeping the old one around as the new budget model).
So far as I can tell, there are few (if any) of the redesigned Pacificas currently for sale. This means that there’s probably an opportunity here for buyers. If you’re in the market for a minivan, the brand is both about to start selling a somewhat new model (it at least looks different) and currently has a ProMaster’s worth of inventory, making it the perfect time to strike.
Just to see if my theory held any water, I went to the Pacifica subreddit and, sure enough, people are reporting great deals:
Given that the base Pacifica retails for $44,000, these self-reported scores are pretty good. I don’t think the Pacifica is the best vehicle in this class, but a non-PHEV one is probably a great way to soak up a lot of miles if you have a family. If the choice is between waiting and paying over MSRP for a Sienna or walking it with a Pacifica that’s thousands of dollars under MSRP and available right now, well, I can’t blame anyone for choosing the Chrysler.
How Is Infiniti Going To Win You Over?
The extraordinarily talented Kristen Lee and I may not always have the same taste in cars, but we have similar taste in car-related press events, so we both excitedly signed up to see Infiniti show off the new QX65 with Rob Gronkowski and that other guy.
The question on one of the cue cards this woman was holding up was “have we won you over yet?” That’s an important question for Infiniti, which is on the left side of the above chart, but probably only because Infiniti only sells two cars, the QX80 and the aging QX60, and has been careful to not import too many.
Nissan’s new CEO Ivan Espinosa talked to Hans Greimel in Yokohama and touched on something that I have long wondered about Infiniti:
Espinosa outlined six pillars of Nissan’s U.S. growth strategy:
1. Dive into body-on-frame SUVs and pickups, starting with new XTerra
2. Roll out more hybrids, including e-Power and a new parallel setup
3. Revitalize the Infiniti lineup with a consistent stable of five nameplates
4. Boost localized U.S. production to 80 percent
5. Concentrate on retail customers over fleet to get 5.7 percent retail share
6. Generate more volume per nameplate with wider powertrain selection
That bolded point is what interests me. Can anyone who isn’t an Infiniti dealer name all the cars Infiniti has made the last few years? It’s hard enough to remember model names when they’re words, but Infiniti has always been an alphanumeric brand. If you want a Lexus ES in 1996 or 2026, you can get a Lexus ES. In 1996, if you walked into an Infiniti dealer, you could get, what, a G20, an I30, or a J30? The next year you could get a QX4 I guess.
Being able to have “consistent” nameplates seems like a big deal.
Senator Bernie Sanders And Shawn Fain Are Worried About AI
As you can see in the video above, Senator Bernie Sanders and a bunch of labor leaders came out to say that, hey, maybe this Artificial Intelligence thing should come with protections for workers. Well, specifically he said that people who wanted to replace American workers with AI should “go to hell.”
The UAW’s Shawn Fain was there, and he had some thoughs, via the Detroit Free Press:
“Workers must have the right to negotiate how AI will impact their jobs,” Fain said.
The union is becoming more and more vocal about the impact of AI on the manufacturing workforce. On April 25, UAW Region 1 Director LaShawn English, who represents UAW workers in Detroit and surrounding areas, will host an “AI workshop” to inform members on the threats and use cases of AI in the manufacturing industry.
Automakers who employ union workers have been eagerly adopting AI technology.
I’m guessing this will be a part of the next round of UAW contract renegotiation.
Is Polestar Doing Better Or Worse?
Are you a glass half empty person or a glass half full person? Are you a Polestar lost more money than ever person, or a Polestar made more money than ever person?
The Swedish company’s net loss widened to $2.36 billion in 2025 from $2.05 billion a year earlier, it said Friday, marking its largest annual deficit since being spun out of Volvo Car AB in 2022 and listing on Nasdaq. A total of $1.05 billion was due to writedowns, mostly on models.
[…]
The wider loss last year came even as revenue jumped 50% to $3.06 billion, with more than 60,000 cars sold as it rolled out new models and thanks to robust demand in countries like the UK.
Polestar reiterated that retail sales volumes are projected to rise at a low double-digit rate this year, driven by a growing share of the Polestar 4 coupe and the introduction of a new Polestar 4 sport utility vehicle variant later this year.
Despite the hefty annual loss, the company’s net loss narrowed to $799 million in the fourth quarter.
I guess I’m the third kind of person: a net loss narrowed.
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What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
It’s Japanese Breakfast with “Picture Window.”
The Big Question
Which brand has had the most chaotic naming conventions?
Top photo: Chrysler
VW naming conventions with ID.xxxx
Alphabet soup names when used by 1 or 2 automakers can work because you know what an S class, C class, 3 series, etc is. When everyone adopts it, it becomes a useless jumble of undifferentiated poo.
A lot of Pacificas with $7,000 off MSRP advertised around here. Pretty good deal, particularly since Siennas are expensive and in short supply. The problem for me, though, is still the Odyssey. It’s old and outdated like the Pacifica, with the handicap of being seriously ugly in comparison. But it’s probably a better V6 minivan with higher resale, and they are also readily available on dealer lots with about $2,000 off MSRP. I’d probably just do that.
Infiniti’s naming convention is a mess, but that’s only a part of the battle. Whatever alphanumeric badge they use is currently affixed to uncompetitive and unappealing vehicles. They need a better naming system but there’s no point until they make better vehicles. They need to release a good product with a good name at the same time.
Was on the Big Island Hawaii last week for spring break, every other car was a white Pacifica, including mine, we walked up to the wrong car many times. The van was perfectly fine, didn’t blow me away one way or another. Throttle was a little touchy off the line, got 25mpg for the week. Driving dynamics wasnt as nice as my 2018 Odyssey, and MPGs aren’t close to the Sienna. Middle of the road van that does well for fleet usage I assume.
My neighbor did have theirs bought back on the lemon law, head gasket blew at around 70k, and battery drain that would disable the car every 6months or so.
There’s a Pacifica Subreddit??? Wow. I almost had the opportunity to drive a Pacifica earlier this week when the rental car place at a smallish airport ran out of sedans. I opted for a Mazda CX-50 instead.
As for chaotic naming conventions? Any brand that uses letter/number combos that don’t represent anything.
The last Infinity that mildly sparked my attention was a Q50 I had as a rental. It was an OK car but I like the BMW 3 or 4 series rentals better.
No, the UAW doesn’t get to negotiate the use of AI in factories. I swear the old guard’s goal is to milk every cent they can get even though it kills those jobs for their kids generation. It has been the same for 50 years where they fight anything and everything that increased productivity.
No opinion on Polestar
I’ll become a member again when you fix the comments.
I have to ask. What’s wrong with the comment section (besides letting me in it.)?
Sorry, is this the oldest/newest thing?
Maybe a perception thing? I dunno. Everyone sees something different when they turn the kaleidoscope.
What else is the UAW good for other than being a leech on companies and screwing over their membership?
I always considered Alice in Chains as Millennial music.
Journey, Van Halen, Duran Duran, Phil Collins are my go to for Gen X music.
Kristen Lee? Didn’t you use to steal her lunch?
2nd—old X’er..anyone up for some Dio?
https://youtu.be/WGRyO3hJ9GM?si=FUuF9tvoQf8aluuK
Awesome, RJD could still pull it off (RIP).
Crue was coming to city near us a few years ago and buddy wanted to go until I pulled up recent live video…
Gen X ended with babies born in 1980 by most accounts I read. I was born in 1980 and AiC came out while I was in high school.
Then there is the ‘Xennial’ sub-generation born roughly between 77 and 83 that grew up analog but adopted technology early. I think Early Millenial is near here too.
TL;DR: I think both are acceptable here.
I like it!
What, no Gary Numan, U2, Depeche Mode, OMD, Joy Division, New Order, Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, Prince, Cyndi Lauper, or Madonna? For shame.
All good choices.
“Given that the base Pacifica retails for $44,000, ”
… it explains why the Pacifica isn’t selling. For $44,000, I’d expect it to be a hybrid… and it isn’t.
To clear the inventory, Stellantis needs to give up on their Covid-shortage fantasy level MSRPs.
And they need to bring back the Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan.
And make a value package version that has just what you need and none of the fluff and sell that for US$25K
“Which brand has had the most chaotic naming conventions?”
These days, I’d say it’s BMW. Going on the BMW Canada site, they have the:
-iX
-iX M model
-iX3
-i7
-i7 M model
-i5
-i5 M model
-i4
-i4 M model
-i3
-7 Series
-5 Series
-4 series Coupe
-4 series M model Coupe
-4 series Gran Coupe
-4 Series M model Gran coupe
-4 series Cabriolet
-4 series Cabriolet M Model
-3 series
-2 series coupe
-2 series gran coupe
-2 series M Model
-M2
-M2 CS
-M3
-M4 Cabriolet
-M4 coupe
-M5
-M5 Touring
-XM
-X7
-X7 M model
-X6
-X6 M model
-X6M
-X5
-X5 M model
-X5M
-X3
-X3 M model
-X2
-X2 M model
-X1
-X1 M model
-Z4
-Z4 M Model
That’s waaaaaaaaaay too many models.
In my view, all the faux-M/”M Models” should be ditched.
And from there, half of the remaining models can probably be ditched as well.
It’s a ridiculous number of names, but there’s meaning in the numbers. I know a something-3 is going to be smaller than an something-7. I know M means performance, X means SUV, Z means roadster, and i means electrified. So while I couldn’t tell you the difference between an M4 coupe and a 4 Series M model Gran coupe, I can definitely tell you the difference between a 4 Series M model Gran coupe and an iX.
All that’s to say, I’d argue it’s a little confusing, but not chaotic.
Counterpoint: IMHO $37K is still way too much.
Toyota offers a base Camry with a hybrid drivetrain for ~$30k. With that in mind I don’t think the ICE only Pacifica, riding on a (facelifted) 10 yo platform is compelling enough to command $37k. And yes I drove one and I liked it but not for $37k.
the better comparison is the Sienna though, which start at 40k and a hybrid, not the camry sedan
BMW has to take the cake here. At one point it was Series + Displacement + a letter or two to designate how cool it was. Easy peasy. Then the displacement number became meaningless once they started using smaller, turbo engines. Then they changed the series meaning like twice with a few years. Then there was the xDrivei35HammerheadFistpunch debacle. Now the “M” moniker only sometimes means its the fast one.
It’s madness.
Yeah, agreed.
Once I discovered my dad’s 1980 320i had a 1.8L engine instead of the 2.0L the car had previously, I realized they’ve been lying for a long time.
I’m actually excited for the Infiniti revival. The new QX65 is genuinely attractive and I’m a sicko who actually likes Infiniti’s design language. I think their current and recent vehicles look good, the main issue IMHO has been the powertrains.
Charging luxury prices for vehicles with the same shitty VC Turbo engine and CVT from a damn Altima is insulting to customers. They’ve also got 0 electrified vehicles. Good fucking luck competing with Lexus….
But they’re apparently putting a V6 in the QX56, we’re apparently getting a rebadged version of the new Skyline with a manual transmission, and with the new Rogue hybrid looking promising as is I’d imagine the bones will be plenty appealing as an entry level luxury car…especially since there aren’t any hybrids in that class outside of Lexus.
Anyway Infiniti is suddenly poised to be pretty interesting again, and at a time when the Germans are flailing and releasing anonymous blobby tech monstrosities that’ll be worth $7 as soon as their warranties are up there’s an opening right now.
Oh and I love Japanese Breakfast. Michelle seems to get better with every album, it’s impressive.
She’s great!
Is it just me or does Bernie Sanders not age anymore? I swear he looks the same since his 2016 Presidential run.
Which leads me to TBQ: Mountain Dew and Doritos (stay with me). Bernie must have been hitting these products that not only stopped aging, but made also made him hip with the all the “youths” he appealed to then. Genius!
But if the answer must be car related: Cadillac’s naming convention changes threw me off many times.
Cadillac is a good call, even just for CTS/CT5.
And by extension, you could include Chevy Volt vs Bolt. Who approved that?
You forgot the Chevy Spark
It’s all the preservatives in the MD and Doritos that froze him in time.
Bernie was just born old and cranky. Once his hair turned white he assumed his final form.
Siennas are rotting on lots here under MSRP, please don’t extrapolate coastal conditions to the entire country.
Here’s 3 under MSRP before negotiating on a local lot (plus several more in production/enroute).
https://www.teamtoyotaon41.com/inventory/new/toyota/sienna?paymenttype=cash&instock=true&intransit=true&inproduction=true
Every dealer locally has at least one on the lot and not a single one is over MSRP.
Honestly, I should start an “import/export” business to transport sorely needed hybrid vans to the underserved California and New York markets.
You’re doing the lord’s work
Embrace Midwestern privilege.
Cheaper houses and cars, and all it will cost you is feeling in your extremities a few months a year.
Midwest born and raised here. The Midwest also offers violent wind vortexes, floods and epic snowstorms, but maybe global warming has taken care of those. Oh, Midwest humidity is a thing. And mosquitos.
The housing prices are pretty sweet, I’ll grant you that, and schools systems used to be good. No shade on the Midwest for those things.
I mean, the only ones not labeled “in production” are high trim versions with a whopping 1k off. They only have… 3? Still impressed they put any money on the hoods of these though. Siennas are basically unobtanium here.
I’ll add, our dealers always have a dozen listed on their websites, but they’re all “in production” or “in transit” and in reality, are all sold. A friend got repeatedly “sorry that actually just sold!” by a local dealer… obviously they’re lying and all of these vans have already been reserved in one way or another. If anything, one on the lot probably means someone backed out.
My point in highlighting these (which are by no means atypical here) is that getting a new Sienna requires neither waiting nor paying over sticker unless one is inclined to.
There are low trim ones at other dealers advertised at MSRP.
But it might require a one-way flight to Chicago and a drive home.
I mean… I suppose that’s sort of doable. Wild effort for a minivan, and I’m a weird van freak. I don’t think my wife would be cool with moving to the Midwest for sweet van inventory access either.
Or I guess paying for it to be transported. You don’t want people on the coasts doing this though, or we’ll bleed the Midwest of Siennas dry.
Another add, my local dealer claims to have 15 Siennas! All are listed as in-production, lol.
That’s crazy. I have 5 Toyota dealers within 50 miles of me and there is only 1 on the lot total. Granted I live next to Toyota’s largest factory so there are an inflated number of Toyota purchasers in the region.
Interesting. I thought maybe that was red/blue area thing, but Asheville has tons available too.
“…looking at the green bar, the national average is 79 days, meaning that it would take 79 days to sell all the cars currently on lots or in transit if no new cars were built.”
That’s not what that means. It would only mean that if all cars were perfectly interchangable and equally desireable. In real life, just because Toyota is out of Grand Highlanders it doesn’t mean that customer would go buy a Dodge charger.
What the average is, is a benchmark that can be used to determine how well you’re keeping your production in line with demand. If you’re far to the right, you need to stimulate demand or cut production. If you’re far to the left, you might want to raise prices.
Tesla’s model naming more or less follows Musks descent into madness:
Roadster: does what it says on the tin.
Model S/X: okay, getting old timey with it, but “sedan” and “X-over”, I see what’s happening…
Model Y/3: …oh, cute, you spelled “Sexy” in faux 1337.
Cybertruck: ….what the actual…
Chrysler’s position is even worse than stated. All you have to do is look at who shares the right edge of that chart with Chrsyler. It’s (unsurprisingly) the full Stellantis set. They have lost consumer trust.
Even more than Ford, the recall masters.
Not only have their sales dropped but they didn’t cut back on production.
They went back to their old pre-2020 playbook – overproduce and then throw cash on the hood to move cars.
They should have an extra bar of “industry average, not including stellantis”, just to see how much they skew the overall average
Naming: I used to be able to tell you what was what from BMW and Audi, but now I have no idea.
I second that vote. Every naming convention makes sense – but it seem like both of them have changed the convention a couple time in the last decade.
How long did Audi’s even numbers are ICE / odd numbers are EV names last?
Ha, last week I was in Vancouver BC and rented a car from National, and when I got to the area of cars available there was only a row of Pacificas left. We ended up with a Chrysler Grand Caravan, which is apparently a make/model combo exclusively in the Canadian market.
That’s what they call Voyagers in Canada
Utter Chaos.
Land Rover Range Rover Autobiography somethin somethin.