Having gotten into foul trouble early, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson got a long rest in the third quarter of Monday’s Finals game. Without Brunson in the game, it was like the rest of the team ceased to exist. As a bandwagon Knicks fan it was hard to watch. A star player doesn’t do much for you on the sidelines, and it’s long felt like superstar designer Ralph Gilles hasn’t gotten the opportunity to do his best work at Chrysler in years. That’s maybe changing.
Some of the problems are structural, as in literally the platforms that Gilles and team have had to play with were not ideal for making new cars. The Morning Dump is nothing if not a venue to discuss the structures that dictate the cars we love or hate. BYD thinks it may have the bones in place to become the largest automaker by scale in five years. Maybe, but will that include selling cars people want? It’s long been BYD vs. Tesla, but lately it feels like BYD and Tesla vs. Reality, which might be what’s happening with that company’s robotaxis.
Have you ever gotten gas from Costco? If you hadn’t before, you’re statistically more likely to have done that in the last month thanks to the war in Iran.
The New Stellantis Platform Will Be A ‘Star’
If you look at the video above, on the left, is probably the affordable Chrysler Airflow or Airflow Cross (not to be confused with the Citroën C3 Aircross, which is another Stellantis product). That doesn’t look too bad. This is an early render, so I assume a more detailed and revised vehicle is coming, but it seems like it’s a step in the right direction.
Chrysler has been trying to offer a crossover for approximately 30 years, and the big holdup has been that Chrysler gets new guardians like Will Smith in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (#justiceforauntviv). Brands, like children, need stability to thrive. It seems like the new STLA One platform has been developed to give various smaller brands a chance to make something a little more unique.
That’s good. Designer Ralph Giles, in addition to being almost universally liked and wearing the hell out of that turtleneck, has put his pen to a lot of great cars, including the Chrysler 300 and last gen-Viper. Lately, though, Stellantis has been sticking the various ex-DaimlerChryslerCerburusGameStopFiat brands with mediocre platforms that couldn’t take much more than a light redesign (ahem, Hornet). It’s kinda sucked, and it’s a sad debate as to whether this has been worse for brands like Chrysler, which has been starved of platforms, or Dodge, which has had to use them.
According to this Automotive News article, it sounds like STLA One is going to enable Chrysler to let Gilles be Gilles again:
STLA One will be a “star” in the global lineup as the automaker phases out its STLA Small and STLA Medium platforms, Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles said.
The platform will support gasoline and electrified powertrains in segments ranging from subcompacts to family-hauling midsize utility vehicles. It’s designed to reduce complexity, cut costs, shorten time to market and strengthen supplier stability.
“We are getting rid of our own boundaries that we were constraining ourselves in terms of segmentation, in terms of dimension,” Davide Mele, Stellantis’ chief product planning officer, said during the company’s May 21 investor day.
It’s definitely possible to rebadge or tweak cars and make them interesting, but after years of bad EV bets it sounds like we’re in for a long period of visual refreshes as an industry. Stellantis, at least, is getting a do-over. Also, I agree with this guy:
“I‘m a strong believer in Ralph Gilles,” said Stellantis National Dealer Council Chairman Sean Hogan. “I think he’s got a vision for this product, he’s got a vision for Chrysler, definitely, and what he touches seems to turn out really well for the brands, so I’m pretty optimistic with all these new vehicles coming. We need it.”
Chrysler dealers are probably desperate for anything, and it’s good fortune for them that Gilles usually produces cars that are sometimes the thing.
BYD Will Be The Biggest, Says Chairman, But Who Cares?
Current BYD CEO and my former chauffeur Wang Chaunfu was up on stage at the annual BYD meeting yesterday and he had a lot of things to say about the company, including that it’ll be bigger than everyone else (read: Toyota and Volkswagen) in five years.
Wang highlighted the robust growth of Chinese automakers in international markets, noting that BYD’s products – characterised by competitive pricing, advanced technology, and superior user experience – are currently outperforming many local competitors.
While the company initially set an overseas sales target of 1.6 million vehicles for this year, Wang revealed that current trends suggest this figure will be surpassed. Emphasising a strategy of “long-termism,” Wang stressed the importance of localisation to ensure stable and sustainable growth, aiming for win-win outcomes in international markets.
Sure, but at what cost? While BYD has a large percentage of the domestic market, that market is still oversaturated with brands and older automakers like Geely are catching up in terms of offerings. As CNEVPost points out, shares of BYD have fallen 33% over the last year.
The era of China shoveling money and incentives into car companies is likely in the past, which means that BYD has to succeed as an exporter and a builder of cars in other countries in order to achieve the kind of margins it needs to continue to exist. If BYD becomes the biggest carmaker and can’t sell cars profitably, that’s not going to be sustainable over the long term.
Elon Musk’s Robotaxi Claims Haven’t Exactly Panned Out Yet
While people have spotted the eventual Tesla CyberCab out testing, the current robotaxi fleet is reportedly still just a bunch of Model Ys. And a “bunch” in that sentence is an overstatement as Bloomberg reports:
“We’ve already expanded our service area in Austin,” the chief executive officer said. Tesla was planning to grow further in the city and quickly spread to California, Nevada, Arizona and Florida. “We’ll probably have autonomous ride-hailing in about half the population of the US by the end of the year.”
Almost a year later, Tesla has just 59 vehicles in its entire robotaxi fleet as of Tuesday, limited to three Texas cities.
Here’s another fun piece from the article:
Musk has blamed state and federal regulators for the slow rollout. But Tesla has faced few rules in Texas and it has moved slowly even in places where it has the green light. The company secured test permits in Arizona and Nevada last year but has yet to launch in those states.
State regulators in Texas are, in my long experience living there, like snow days in Corpus Christi. They exist, but if your argument relies on everyone believing they’re a threat you’re in trouble.
E’rbody At The Costco Getting Gassy
Take it from Adrian, Costco is kinda the best place to get gas. That’s hard for me to write because I want a sweet Shell deal or something in the future, but let’s be honest, if you’ve got a Costco near you that’s probably where you’re getting gas.
Here’s some data from Costco, via the Seattle Times, that shows how many of you are getting gas at Costco:
In the third fiscal quarter, which runs from mid-February to mid-May, Costco said its gas sales set successive records, with the final five weeks of the quarter being the highest in the company’s 50-year history.
Costco stations saw so much demand over that period that trucks had to deliver gas to the same locations multiple times a day, CEO Ron Vachris said during an earnings call last month. The lower prices drove many members to use Costco gas for the first time that quarter.
The Issaquah, Washington-based warehouse club typically offers gas prices up to 30 cents cheaper per gallon than other gas stations. Costco makes little profit on gas as a result — but, like its $4.99 rotisserie chicken or $1.50 hot dog combo, the low prices attract customers willing to purchase a Costco membership to access such discounts.
Damn, now I want a hot dog.
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
Would you believe that “Your Love” by English band The Outfield has been viewed over 1 billion times on YouTube? It’s a bop, and also birthed one of my low-key favorite SNL sketches. You know I like my cars a little bit older.
The Big Question
Who is your favorite car designer?
Top photo: Chrysler
Current BYD CEO and my former chauffeur Wang Chaung-fu was up on stage at the annual BYD meeting yesterday and he had a lot of things to say about the company…
Including for Everybody Have Fun Tonight and to not forget your Dance Hall Days while practicing 80’s pop self defense.
Designer has to be Massimo Tamburini for me. Yes, motorcycles, but anyone who pens the Ducati 916 gets a pass.
I saw a Cybercab testing in SW Florida a few weeks back on I-75. Freaked me out, man.
Favorite designer? Easily Marcelo Gandini. His designs were the epitome of the Francis Bacon quote “There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion”.
Such a great album.I was dating a girl in high school when it came out and she put that cassette in my Trans Am cassette player and I don’t think we took it out for a week.Every time I hear that album it takes me back to being 16 again.
“STLA One will be a “star” in the global lineup as the automaker phases out its STLA Small and STLA Medium platforms, Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles said.”
I’ll believe it when I see it. Ralph might know what he’s doing. But there is still a possibility that someone higher up who doesn’t get it sabotages his efforts.
“Elon Musk’s Robotaxi Claims Haven’t Exactly Panned Out Yet”
And I’m pretty sure they won’t pan out… ever. They should take that Cybercab, add proper driver controls, add a proper dashboard and call it the Model 3 Sport Coupe.
The Outfield! That song was Charlie Blackmon’s walk up song forever! Excellent when the Outfielder uses a song from the Outfield, and all of Coors Field sings the “toniiiight” bit. Super fun. Miss watching him play.
I’m currently very much enjoying owning an example of Peter Schreyer’s love letter to sport sedans, and I am also tickled by Hyundai Motor Group’s bonkers approach to styling, which is at least in part Schreyer’s work.
Favorite designer? Bwahhhh, Giugiaro? Gandini? Tjaarda? Martin? You may as well make me pick from a pile of equally adorable kittens!
Favorite car designer? That would be Marcello Gandini because he designed, amongst other greats, the Lamborghini Miura.
“State regulators in Texas are, in my long experience living there, like snow days in Corpus Christi. They exist, but if your argument relies on everyone believing they’re a threat you’re in trouble.”
Hah! Definitely picking up what you’re putting down, Matt. Crazy when the park along Ocean Drive has kids sliding down the slope on cardboard in the thin snow. Sad for all of the folks with their water heater outside of their house, and all the exposed water pipes bursting from the freeze.
If you are an Exec-level member, you have extra incentive to gas up at Costco . . . you get a % back.
Not on gas. That needs the co-branded Visa. And it’s 5% for gas. Not just at Costco, either!
Costco has spotlessly clean stations that are well laid out, well lit and attended by a Costco employee whose only job is troubleshooting. The gas is always fresh, has lots of detergents and they change pump filters on schedule. Those reasons alone make it worthwhile. Being the cheapest around makes it very much a no brainer to fill up there.
My favorite designer put the Pin In my Farina.
I somehow have gone all these years with no idea that The Outfield was an English band. Kind of messing with my brain to learn this.
If you’re saving 30 cents a gallon I totally get skipping the Costco gas lines, but here in WA the gap is much larger. I was gassing up at Costco yesterday for $4.85 and across the street Shell was $5.95. I go at non-peak times and wait for the current people to finish filling, then I’m up. Worth it for me.
Where I’m at, Costco is about 1.5 miles out of my way on my commute and is usually $0.50/gal cheaper. Currently it’s only somehow $0.05 cheaper than CircleK, $0.15/gal cheaper than Chevron, but is $0.75/gal cheaper than the Mobil that are all right on my commute.
That being said, if I fill up on the way to work there’s never a line and I never have to wait. Advantages of getting there before 7am, I guess.
Bruno Sacco
“If you look at the video above, on the left, is probably the affordable Chrysler Airflow or Airflow Cross”
Oops, not quite. The vehicle in the video is likely the sub-$35K Airflow, which only comes in one variant; you are conflating the Airflow with the Grizzly-based Arrow and Arrow Cross.
I work two blocks from a Costco with a gas station and car wash that opens at 6AM. It’s great since it’s pretty empty at that hour and I can quickly drop in before work at 7:30. If I had to wait in line the cost savings wouldn’t be worth it.
This is the way. Got 2 Costco’s within 5 miles of my house. One I drive by on the way to work. Leave a few minutes early and enjoy the no lines and 5% cash back on the Costco Visa.
Bit of an obvious/basic answer, but I love Gandini’s designs. They’re prolific, accessible and consistently lovely.
To be more esoteric, I’m fond of Harm Lagaay.
He’s behind the 924, whose design is fundamental to the bubble-back liftback segment that followed up with the RX-7, 180SX and Mk3 Supra.
He also penned the 993, 986 and 996, all 3 impressive exercises in designing within difficult constraints (the 993 retains the greenhouse and doors of the original 911 for development cost, while the 996 and 986 had to make do with one housing for headlights, blinkers and foglamps for tooling cost)
The Z1 and Carrera GT are both beautiful and strange, which I really appreciate. The CGT’s rollover structure has really grown on me as I’ve come to appreciate the pleasure of having the top down.
I ain’t got time for the lines at Costco gas stations. Hell, I leave gas stations that have insanely slow pumps. Saving $3 isn’t worth losing 10 minutes of my life.
10 minute wait is fast at Costco.
I can get E15 at KwikTrip for almost Costco prices.
Yeah every time I roll past a costco or Sam’s I always question is it really worth saving the what 20-30 cents but have to wait for a pump for 10mins+ just for gas? I think my time is worth more then the amount saved maybe if I was filling up my trucks 30 gallon tank and 2 5gallon jugs for my tractor but neither the Costco or Sam’s by me has diesel.
Don’t know where you are at but in AZ the Costco gas stations open at 6 AM and close at 10PM M-F. On the weekend they open at 6 AM and close at 6PM. No lines before or after the normal store hours. Worth it to me to save 30 to 70 pennies per gallon.
Northwest Indy for me. Never really checked the times Costco/Sam’s gas stations are opened as I don’t have a card for either (my dad has a Sam’s one) but I thought they were only during store hours but if not that isn’t bad then. But I know any time I was driving to and from work when I would pass them they looked closed but that was normally before the sun was up so makes sense and yeah no way I was stopping on the way home during rush hour hah.
I waited in a long line once on a Saturday afternoon at Costco. It tested my patience which is weak. Never again. In an emergency I will hit a Circle K for 10 bucks or so to tide me over.
5:30 is when they open in CA – I used to leave the house at 5:30 and take advantage of that pre 6am devoid of people Costco gas station and they’ve still kept it
Heck, at the ‘Co, the gas station attendants regularly walk around and check on gas pump speeds. Pick off-peak times, and you can roll right in and out. The $400-500/year I save at Costco (40-50k miles/yearly) more than pays for the fancy level membership, even without money back.
John DeLorean if you are well known enough to have a SNL skit making fun of you, you have made it.
On the subject of SNL, has Jason ever proven he’s not the baby who had his bris in the back seat of the Royal Deluxe II?
Costco? I will wait half a day in line to get one of their mutated how-the-fuck-did-they-grow-it-so-big rotisserie chickens for $5.00, but I’ll be damned if I wait in their gas lines to save $0.50 a gallon.
I’m not rational.
I know the rotisserie chicken is a loss leader for them, but it always baffles me that it costs me more to buy a whole chicken that I have to break down and cook myself than it does to buy one that I can just eat. Even my grocery store sells fried chicken for less than the cost of raw chicken. I just don’t get it.
That and the hot dogs. If they entice a small % of their customers to make a stop they wouldn’t otherwise make and drop the minimum 5 gajillion dollars any Costco trips requires, then it’s a success.
The hot dog is absolutely a marketing move: https://boingboing.net/2020/09/25/costco-co-founder-to-new-ceo-if-you-raise-the-effing-hot-dog-i-will-kill-you.html
This was the case with wings at restaurants/bars when I was in my 20s (which was … awhile ago). I was shocked the first time I bought wings at the grocery store– I could buy them already cooked at seasoned at my local dive for less than the raw meat.
I buy my gas pretty much exclusively at a Shell station I pass twice/day. It’s usually the cheapest in that little area and I’m part of their discount program, so I get a whopping $0.05 off/gallon.
But the main reasons I use it are:
1) No ads.
2) The chip reader asks me zero questions.
I put my card in, wait for a click, pull it out, hit the 87 button, and gas up in silence. That’s far too rare today. Even when it’s not the cheapest I use it anyway because it’s a luxury I’ll gladly pay for.
100% agree on those ads. They’re terrible. I’ve walked 50 feet away to the grass median as the car fills to avoid hearing them before.
On the ones that have buttons on the sides of the screen, the second button down on the right is often a mute button.
I’m going to look for that next time, thanks.
Those ads piss me off. I have driven away without getting gas when they were loud enough.
I for one appreciate Maria Menounos screaming at me about wellness or whatever while I’m pumping gas!
I put up with her because she’s pretty.
Saw a guy in line there on a moped- I was confused-I had my motorhome
The grocery store I go to has “gas points” that you can cash in for discounts at certain gas stations. If I time it right, I can get almost a dollar a gallon off for a whole tank.
This is how I feed my 4Runner.
At $1/gal off on regular (which that boat anchor 4.0 runs on just fine), the per mile cost is only 13% higher than feeding my Fiesta ST premium at a standard gas station.
Meijer gives point for shopping and you can use 10k points for either 10 bucks off a shopping trip or you can use it for $1 of a gallon up to 30 gallons so I use them normally for that when I need to fill up my truck and diesel cans for my tractor.
Bingo! Kroger fuel points for the win.