Latest news with #RobbyDeGraff
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Fury as popular tax break set to end in the fall: 'Hypocritical and short-sighted'
A well-used tax credit is being put out to pasture. Car analysts are not happy. The Republican sweeping Big, Beautiful Bill will eliminate the $7,500 tax credit for new EV and plug-in hybrid purchases — a key incentive created under the Inflation Reduction Act. A $4,000 credit for buyers of used electric vehicles will also get the axe on September 30. Critics of the credit argue it reins in spending on programs that haven't lived up to expectations. 'Following the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, there have been significant concerns about the cost of these tax credits,' Bernie Moreno, a Republican Senator from Ohio and former car dealership manager, wrote in an open letter. But supporters of the tax break see a missed opportunity. 'It's almost hilariously hypocritical and short-sighted — but that's the Trump Administration,' Robby DeGraff, the manager of consumer insights at AutoPacific, told 'It's really all a shame, especially from a paranoid administration so hellbent on ensuring "consumer choice."' Buyers can still qualify for credits on eligible vehicles purchased before September 30. Republicans have long criticized the EV credits, arguing the incentives were out of step with consumer demand and too generous to an industry they see as premature. EV adoption has steadily grown since the program launched. But the vehicles still make up just around 10 percent of the overall new car market — falling short of the rapid transition lawmakers envisioned. The credit was designed with two main goals in mind: supercharge domestic manufacturing and encourage Americans to transition to lower-emission vehicles. DeGraff outlined three key ways he believes the removal of the credit under Trump's bill will backfire. First, he said the bill will push car prices even higher. In June, it cost around $49,000 to drive a new set of wheels off a dealership lot. That pushed the average monthly payment above $700. Right now, Americans are paying a premium for electric vehicles, in part due to the costs of ramping up domestic production. The now-expiring credit helped offset those investment costs for consumers, but only for vehicles built largely in the US. Second, DeGraf said the tax bill will crush American manufacturing. 'Slower sales and demand will lead to production pauses at plants and consequently layoffs,' he said. 'Perhaps the comical thing to consider, is that many of these states that do build EVs and have received massive investments and had automakers employ massive amounts of workers are Republican states.' Finally, DeGraff said it makes it harder for US automakers to compete globally. Major Chinese automakers have received huge subsidies for their vehicles. Companies like BYD, Nio, XPeng, and Zeekr have built competitive, low cost vehicles in highly automated factories. The cars typically have higher build quality, electric range, and technology, all for a cheaper price. And they're coming to global markets, where American manufacturers want to be competitive. China and EU officials are currently negotiating how to bring the cheap EVs to the European market without crushing the continent's local carmakers. American delegates are reportedly not involved in that negotiation. Detroit's big three carmakers likely aren't having their voices heard in the market, which is the largest in the world. Meanwhile, some of America's biggest carmaking employers — including GM, Ford, Stellantis, Toyota, Nissan, Honda, and their parts suppliers — are already under pressure. Carmakers are paying 25 percent tariffs on some of their vehicles and parts shipped to the US.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Toyota redesigns America's top-selling RAV4 SUV
America's favorite car is getting a major facelift . After months of cryptic teasers and close-up shots that revealed little more than headlights and body lines, Toyota has finally pulled the cover off the redesigned RAV4. Next year's RAV4 ditches gas-only entirely, going all-in on hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Aesthetically, it sports a chunkier, more upright stance that gives the compact SUV a more menacing vibe — and early impressions are positive. 'There's a RAV4 for everyone's taste,' Robby DeGraff, a product and consumer insights expert at AutoPacific, told 'The sixth-gen RAV4's boxier shape rewards consumers with a much bigger, wider appearance.' Toyota's new plug-in system cranks out up to 320 horsepower — an 18 hp increase over the outgoing model — and now delivers an estimated 50 miles of all-electric range. It also brings DC fast-charging to the table, which juices the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. The plug-in charging speed is not impressive: other EVs can reach the same levels in shorter periods of time with much larger batteries. But hybridizing the RAV4 felt like an obvious choice for the brand. Toyota has been relaunching several best-selling cars, like the Camry, as an all-hybrid lineup. Toyota's hybrid system adds a boost of electric torque during low-end speeds and optimizes fuel efficiency on the highway. The engineneering allows drivers to enjoy enhanced driving dynamics and less pain at the gas pump. Toyota has not released pricing or mileage estimates yet. But scuttlebutt around the release is estimating a base-price in the mid $30,000s and top-end models fetching a little less than $50,000. Expect Toyota to make hundreds of thousands of copies at its battery and assembly plant in Kentucky. US-based production will make the popular SUV less susceptible to President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs. For those prices, Toyota can expect the RAV4 to virtually print money for the corporation. The Japanese brand shocked the automotive world last year, outpacing the Ford F-150 as America's best-selling vehicle with 475,193 units sold from American dealerships. The 2026 model year also introduces a trio of new spec options: core, rugged, and sport, each tailored to a different kind of SUV owner. Drivers can opt for the LE, XLE, and Limited trims and upgrade to ventilated seats, a bigger infotainment display, and 20-inch wheels. The rugged models are off-roading focused. Toyota slaps on its recently-released Woodland badge onto the tougher model. Toyota also surprised with an athletic GR model. Tuned by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, the GR SPORT gets a unique suspension setup, sharper steering, summer tires, and aggressive styling including wing-type spoilers. Previously, GR models were exclusive to Toyota's more enthusiast-focused models , like the Corolla Hatch. But now, the division is making its mass-market debut. 'It's worth applauding Toyota on ensuring each of the new RAV4 trims have their own unique design, from the outdoorsy Woodland to the boy-racer GR Sport,' DeGraff added. Shoppers on social media have also been supporting the car's latest design. 'These are gonna keep selling like hotcakes,' one gearhead commented on Reddit. 'It looks handsome and the interior has a mix of traditional buttons and screens. They haven't messed it up like so many manufacturers do with redesigns.' Recently, Toyota has been on a tear with new model announcements. The car company unveiled its new C-HR: the diminutive SUV is making its American reintroduction, three years after it was pulled form the market. This time, it's reappearing as a $35,000 EV with a 300-mile range. The company also redesigned the bZ4X, its only current mass-market battery-operated car. Next year's design smooths out some of the EV's funky angles and improves on the battery's efficiency. It also simplifies the name to just bZ.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
America's top-selling car finally gets a redesign after eight years... and ditches the gas engine
America's favorite car is getting a major facelift. After months of cryptic teasers and close-up shots that revealed little more than headlights and body lines, Toyota has finally pulled the cover off the redesigned RAV4. Next year's RAV4 ditches gas-only entirely, going all-in on hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Aesthetically, it sports a chunkier, more upright stance that gives the compact SUV a more menacing vibe — and early impressions are positive. 'There's a RAV4 for everyone's taste,' Robby DeGraff, a product and consumer insights expert at AutoPacific, told 'The sixth-gen RAV4's boxier shape rewards consumers with a much bigger, wider appearance.' Toyota's new plug-in system cranks out up to 320 horsepower — an 18 hp increase over the outgoing model — and now delivers an estimated 50 miles of all-electric range. It also brings DC fast-charging to the table, which juices the battery from 10 to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. The plug-in charging speed is not impressive: other EVs can reach the same levels in shorter periods of time with much larger batteries. But hybridizing the RAV4 felt like an obvious choice for the brand. Toyota has been relaunching several best-selling cars, like the Camry, as an all-hybrid lineup. Toyota's hybrid system adds a boost of electric torque during low-end speeds and optimizes fuel efficiency on the highway. The engineneering allows drivers to enjoy enhanced driving dynamics and less pain at the gas pump. Toyota has not released pricing or mileage estimates yet. But scuttlebutt around the release is estimating a base-price in the mid $30,000s and top-end models fetching a little less than $50,000. Expect Toyota to make hundreds of thousands of copies at its battery and assembly plant in Kentucky. US-based production will make the popular SUV less susceptible to President Donald Trump's 25 percent automotive tariffs. For those prices, Toyota can expect the RAV4 to virtually print money for the corporation. The RAV4 gets a new front fascia with a more upright look - it modernizes America's favorite car for the first time in seven years Simon Humphries, Toyota's head of design, was one of the presenters at last night's unveil The Japanese brand shocked the automotive world last year, outpacing the Ford F-150 as America's best-selling vehicle with 475,193 units sold from American dealerships. The 2026 model year also introduces a trio of new spec options: core, rugged, and sport, each tailored to a different kind of SUV owner. Drivers can opt for the LE, XLE, and Limited trims and upgrade to ventilated seats, a bigger infotainment display, and 20-inch wheels. The rugged models are off-roading focused. Toyota slaps on its recently-released Woodland badge onto the tougher model. Toyota also surprised with an athletic GR model. Tuned by Toyota's Gazoo Racing division, the GR SPORT gets a unique suspension setup, sharper steering, summer tires, and aggressive styling including wing-type spoilers. Previously, GR models were exclusive to Toyota's more enthusiast-focused models, like the Corolla Hatch. But now, the division is making its mass-market debut. Off-roading trims of the RAV4 will get orange highlights and seat stitching in the interior The RAV4's new nose might look familiar - it borrows headlamp designs from the Camry and badge placement from the Corolla Toyota also added a flip-able center console that can act as a elbow cushion on one side and a hard-cover table on the other The RAV4's boot opts for chromed lettering instead of a brand badge 'It's worth applauding Toyota on ensuring each of the new RAV4 trims have their own unique design, from the outdoorsy Woodland to the boy-racer GR Sport,' DeGraff added. Shoppers on social media have also been supporting the car's latest design. 'These are gonna keep selling like hotcakes,' one gearhead commented on Reddit. 'It looks handsome and the interior has a mix of traditional buttons and screens. They haven't messed it up like so many manufacturers do with redesigns.' Recently, Toyota has been on a tear with new model announcements. The car company unveiled its new C-HR: the diminutive SUV is making its American reintroduction, three years after it was pulled form the market. This time, it's reappearing as a $35,000 EV with a 300-mile range. The company also redesigned the bZ4X, its only current mass-market battery-operated car. Next year's design smooths out some of the EV's funky angles and improves on the battery's efficiency. It also simplifies the name to just bZ. The bZ's update extends Toyota's cooperation with fellow Japanese automaker Subaru. Both companies also released a wagon-like model that has a longer wheelbase and more off-roading capabilities. Toyota named the new model the bZ Woodland.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's Cybertruck Is No Longer America's Best-selling Electric Pickup Truck
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. The Tesla Cybertruck was knocked off its No. 1 spot as America's best-selling electric pickup truck in Q1 2025. According to vehicle registration data from S&P Global Mobility, first spotted by InsideEVs, the Ford F-150 Lightning beat out the Cybertruck with 7,913 new registrations, compared to the Cybertruck's 7,126 registrations. The Chevrolet Silverado EV nabbed third place in Q1 2025, followed by the GMC Sierra EV, Rivian R1T, and GMC Hummer EV. The news follows the numerous controversies that have hit the Cybertruck over the past year, including everything from a spate of recalls that included flying trim pieces, failing front windshield wipers, and trapped pedals, to politically charged controversies and polarizing presidential endorsements. Public opinion may be souring against Tesla in general. A March 2025 report from market research firm YouGov found that a majority of Americans now have a negative opinion of the company, while the EV giant reported its first yearly sales decline in recent history in January. But while it's easy to attribute the Cybertruck's decline to CEO Elon Musk's antics or ongoing technical issues, models like the Ford F-150 may also simply be proving a hit with consumers. The model not only picked up strong reviews from many automotive journalists when it launched in early 2023, but it also offers consumers a much lower starting price tag. The Ford F-150 Lightning currently starts at $49,995 in the US, roughly $10,000 cheaper than the Cybertruck, with prices for the top trim variations offering a comparable discount. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, not only offers consumers a cheaper starting price for bare-bones models—it also offers perks like a much higher estimated range off a single charge. Analysts have been quick to chime in with ideas about the changing ranking. Robby DeGraff, an analyst at AutoPacific, told Automotive News that the F-150 Lightning "continues to reward EV buyers who desire a pickup truck with emissions-less practicality and durability," but without the "negative association, showboat styling, and questionable quality" of Tesla's futuristic truck.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Tesla's Cybertruck Is No Longer America's Best-selling Electric Pickup Truck
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing. The Tesla Cybertruck was knocked off its No. 1 spot as America's best-selling electric pickup truck in Q1 2025. According to vehicle registration data from S&P Global Mobility, first spotted by InsideEVs, the Ford F-150 Lightning beat out the Cybertruck with 7,913 new registrations, compared to the Cybertruck's 7,126 registrations. The Chevrolet Silverado EV nabbed third place in Q1 2025, followed by the GMC Sierra EV, Rivian R1T, and GMC Hummer EV. The news follows the numerous controversies that have hit the Cybertruck over the past year, including everything from a spate of recalls that included flying trim pieces, failing front windshield wipers, and trapped pedals, to politically charged controversies and polarizing presidential endorsements. Public opinion may be souring against Tesla in general. A March 2025 report from market research firm YouGov found that a majority of Americans now have a negative opinion of the company, while the EV giant reported its first yearly sales decline in recent history in January. But while it's easy to attribute the Cybertruck's decline to CEO Elon Musk's antics or ongoing technical issues, models like the Ford F-150 may also simply be proving a hit with consumers. The model not only picked up strong reviews from many automotive journalists when it launched in early 2023, but it also offers consumers a much lower starting price tag. The Ford F-150 Lightning currently starts at $49,995 in the US, roughly $10,000 cheaper than the Cybertruck, with prices for the top trim variations offering a comparable discount. Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, not only offers consumers a cheaper starting price for bare-bones models—it also offers perks like a much higher estimated range off a single charge. Analysts have been quick to chime in with ideas about the changing ranking. Robby DeGraff, an analyst at AutoPacific, told Automotive News that the F-150 Lightning "continues to reward EV buyers who desire a pickup truck with emissions-less practicality and durability," but without the "negative association, showboat styling, and questionable quality" of Tesla's futuristic truck.
