Li Auto, a prominent hybrid vehicle manufacturer, has seen a recent adjustment in its market outlook by Citi, which lowered the price target for its stock due to tepid demand for its newly launched SUV, the L6. Citi has also expressed concerns about the impact of Tesla’s recent price reduction strategy in China on the overall market sentiment. This comes as the automotive sector faces shifting dynamics due to aggressive pricing tactics by leading competitors.
Financial Revisions and Market Reactions
On Monday, Citi revised Li Auto’s price target from $48.50 to $43.60 while maintaining a ‘Buy’ rating, despite the initial order of 10,000 units for the L6 within the first 72 hours post-launch. This order volume was considered modest compared to previous models, such as the L7 and L9, which had garnered 21,000 and 50,000 orders, respectively, in the same timeframe. The nature of these orders, potentially refundable, has led to some skepticism about the solidity of the demand figures reported.
Strategic Moves and Future Prospects
Following the market feedback, Li Auto responded by reducing prices by about 5% across four of its five models, a strategy mirrored by Tesla and BYD to maintain competitiveness. The price adjustments, which range from 18,000 to 30,000 yuan, reflect a broader industry trend towards more aggressive pricing to attract consumers. Furthermore, Li Auto is preparing to launch three new pure electric SUV models in the second half of the year, boasting advanced 5C charging capabilities and all-wheel drive, which the company’s leadership has touted as highly competitive.
These strategic adjustments by Li Auto aim to strengthen its position in a rapidly evolving automotive market, highlighting the company’s proactive approach to adapting to consumer needs and market pressures.
In a distressing event late Sunday night in Unionville, Missouri, an elderly woman sustained serious injuries when an SUV collided with her home. The accident occurred just before 11:30 p.m. along U.S. Highway 136, east of North 29th Street. The sudden impact of the crash has shocked the local community, bringing to light concerns about road safety in residential areas.
Details of the Crash
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s report indicates that Jimmy A. Pacheco Dzib, a 32-year-old from Princeton, MO, was driving westbound when he lost control of his vehicle. The SUV veered off the road and disastrously crashed into a nearby residence. Inside the home at the time was 79-year-old Karen Torrey, who was grievously injured as a result of the incident.
Aftermath and Emergency Response
Torrey was urgently airlifted to University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia to receive necessary medical treatment for her injuries. Despite wearing a seatbelt, the driver of the SUV, Pacheco Dzib, escaped the incident without any reported injuries. This accident has raised questions about driver vigilance and the enforcement of traffic laws near residential areas, prompting discussions on how such unfortunate incidents can be prevented in the future.
In a late-night incident that has disrupted the daily commute, an abandoned vehicle was struck by a train near the University of Houston – Downtown. This event occurred on the tracks at the Buffalo Bayou Trail under Main St. shortly after 3:15 a.m., bringing emergency services to the scene. The Houston Police Department, along with Houston Fire and UHD Police Department, quickly responded to manage the situation.
Details of the Train Collision
Upon arrival, responders discovered an SUV abandoned on the Union Pacific Lines. Fortunately, there were no occupants in the vehicle, leading to no reported injuries from the incident. The train, extending several blocks across major thoroughfares including San Jacinto and areas near St. Arnold’s Brewery, posed significant logistical challenges. The full extent of the train’s length and the impacted crossings remained unclear initially, complicating efforts to assess and mitigate the situation.
Traffic Disruptions and Ongoing Investigations
The aftermath of the crash has significantly impacted traffic flow, particularly affecting downtown areas and access to county court buildings from I-10. Authorities are working diligently to remove the vehicle and restore normal train operations. As the investigation continues, updates will be provided to keep the public informed of developments and traffic advisories. This incident highlights the critical need for safety and vigilance near train tracks, particularly in urban areas.
Jacqueline Jones was talking on the phone with her friend Kelly Little in the early hours of April 11 while Little was driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike back to Harrisburg from Philadelphia.
“Her car was moving and I kept hearing a loud clicking sound,” said Jones. “When she told me that she was only going 20 mph, I asked ‘Why are you going so slow?’”
There are a ton of articles and videos out there on how to clean your car with common household items. Here, I’ll share a few of my own tips and tricks.
You can clean fabric upholstery and carpets with a simple solution
If you don’t have any formal upholstery cleaning equipment, no worries. You can use diluted laundry detergent to freshen up your fabric seats and carpets. My favorite DIY secret ingredient is powdered Tide, but liquid detergent will work, too. You can use a “clean” or “free” detergent if you wish. There are many recipes out there for homemade cloth seat cleansers. Keep in mind that most involve some sort of product like oxygen bleach or dish soap.
In this use case, simply mix a small amount of detergent – think 1/4 teaspoon – into a bucket filled with very warm water. Add a clean rag or soft-bristled brush. Use the rag or brush to swipe the seats well.
Once you’re done wiping with the solution, you can swap for a clean rag and another bucket of clean, warm water. Give the seats another wipe-down.
Repeat the process for carpeting. You can go more aggressive with brushing here. Leave the windows or doors open to let the interior air dry, or you can use a vacuum to speed the process up.
You can use dish soap + water to clean leather seats, the dash, and the center console
To clean leather seats, the car’s dashboard, and the center console, including the steering wheel and cup holders, you can mix dish soap with warm water. You can use well-known brands or more natural castile soap. Like the fabric seat solution, think ½ teaspoon of soap to a filled bucket. Use with a clean towel to wipe all surfaces.
You can use a toothbrush or Q-tips to address any tough areas. Feel free to let cruddy nooks sit in the solution for a bit to loosen up.
Once you’ve gotten everything clean, swap to a clean towel and a fresh bucket of warm water to do a rinse-wipe.
To protect the dash, you can mix a base oil (some have used olive oil, others mineral oil) with a few drops of scented essential oil (pine, orange, whatever) and wipe the hard surfaces with it.
Once you clean your car interior, I typically place a dryer sheet under the driver’s seat. It will absorb future odors plus serve as an air freshener. I’m sensitive to strong car fresheners, so the dryer sheet under the seat has been a good choice for me, at least!
The new 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe has a more boxy look than before, but is actually more aerodynamic.
I bought the 2020 Ford Escape Titanium hybrid as a new car. It was a bit more than I wanted but, scarcity was looming and I loved the green colour. It turns out that it does not suit my driving habits. I don’t drive enough in the winter so it constantly goes into battery saver mode.
I need a reliable car to drive from Ottawa to Toronto and to Saint John. I have an adult son and an adult nephew who live with me, so head and leg room are important. And with the long drives that I do on an almost monthly basis, a full electric vehicle is not on my radar yet. I am considering a plug-in hybrid, but I’m not sure whether I will have the same issues. I also don’t want a car that will tempt car thieves as I don’t have a garage. What do you recommend? – Maureen
Petrina Gentile: It’s sad that we have to consider car thieves in our vehicle purchases these days. But it’s unfortunately a reality. So, is it safe to say we can take Honda and Toyota off the list, if she doesn’t want a car that will tempt thieves?
Mark Richardson: It’s a bit of a crap shoot for which makers and which models are most vulnerable. Kia, for example, has a poor reputation for its access codes being easily hacked, but only certain models, like the Stinger. It depends what technology the thief has on hand this week.
Gentile: But it’s not only about the technology – it’s about what cars are in demand in other global markets. Kia isn’t, but Honda and Toyota vehicles are prized in other markets, like Africa.
Richardson: Again, it depends on the model. It doesn’t necessarily pay to ship a Toyota Corolla across the ocean, but it definitely pays to send a Land Cruiser there. Thieves tend to steal larger or luxurious models for export-to-order, and smaller models for local sale or joy rides.
Gentile: Maureen is considering a plug-in hybrid. But one of my favourites, the Toyota RAV4 Prime, might be a target for thieves. Wouldn’t you agree?
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The 2022 Toyota RAV4 Prime offers 68 kilometres of electric range, but is hard to buy outside Quebec and B.C.Mark Richardson/The Globe and Mail
Richardson: It might be. It’s nearly impossible to buy a new one legitimately. Mind you, my brother-in-law just bought a two-year-old RAV4 Prime in Halifax on the first day he went looking for one. It had 60,000 kilometres and he paid less than $50,000, fully loaded. So it’s not unobtainable. He’s bought a steering-wheel club for it to help him keep it.
Gentile: That’s a smart idea.
Richardson: The challenge here is that I’d normally recommend the Ford Escape Hybrid to Maureen as a smart buy, but she says it’s too much for her. Perhaps she should just trade it in for a regular Escape. Hybrids don’t save her much fuel on those long highway drives.
Gentile: I’m not a fan of the Escape – I don’t really like the ride and handling. I find it lacklustre and the transmission isn’t the smoothest.
Richardson: But you’d agree that if she doesn’t drive much in the winter and she doesn’t want an electric car, then she’ll be better off with a conventionally powered vehicle? Hybrids generally have smaller 12-volt batteries that don’t handle cold weather and long storage so well. Check out the online forums and you’ll see it’s an issue for Fords that sit parked for days at a time in the winter.
Gentile: I agree. And it’s not just an issue for Fords. Other manufacturers have similar issues in the cold.
Richardson: She needs size for her passengers and she shouldn’t be too concerned about fuel consumption because she doesn’t drive much for half the year. How about a Volkswagen Tiguan or Atlas?
Gentile: I don’t think she needs an Atlas. It’s too big and can be cumbersome to drive and park in congested areas because of its size. But the Tiguan would do the trick.
Richardson: I’ve heard stories of glitchy software in the Atlas that can be frustrating to use, but the Tiguan has a good reputation. The Chevrolet Equinox has also been around for a while, and it’s not high on the list for thieves.
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2025 Chevrolet Equinox RS.Courtesy of manufacturer
Gentile: That’s true. It also blends in on the road. But it does get redone for 2025 so she might want to wait and see what’s in store for the new model. What about Hyundai?
Richardson: The new Santa Fe has more space in both rows for passengers. I’m almost six-feet tall and had no issues for head or leg room in any of the seats. And its latest tech should make it less straightforward to steal – for now, at least.
Gentile: I like the new Santa Fe, especially the styling. It’s bold, distinct and looks more like a Land Rover than a Hyundai.
Richardson: It’s definitely more boxy, but apparently the new design makes it more aerodynamic. I’d recommend it as something for Maureen to consider. What else has the passenger space she’s looking for, without being too large? The Mazda CX-70?
Gentile: That would work – it’s basically a two-row version of the CX-90.
Richardson: It’s almost exactly the same as the CX-90, but if you don’t need that third row, why pay for it and lug around the weight of those extra seats? I think it would fit the bill very well for Maureen. Plenty of space and relatively anonymous looks.
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The exterior of the Mazda CX-70, which Mazda revealed on Jan. 30.Courtesy of manufacturer
Gentile: It’s affordable, starting around $50,000, before taxes. And she can get it as a plug-in hybrid model, too. But that’ll cost more.
Richardson: I don’t think many stolen Mazdas are ending up in shipping containers. But whatever Maureen chooses, she should invest in a highly visible steering-wheel lock as a deterrent for when she parks overnight on the street.
Gentile: So what’s your final recommendation for Maureen?
Richardson: I think a conventionally powered Mazda CX-70 or new Hyundai Santa Fe will give her what she’s looking for.
Gentile: My pick is the new Santa Fe – good interior and cargo space, excellent head and leg room and beautiful styling that sets it ahead of the pack.
Martin Lewis, a renowned personal finance expert, recently shared valuable insights on how drivers can secure more cost-effective car insurance while also enjoying additional benefits. According to Lewis, many drivers continue to overpay for insurance due to common misconceptions about coverage types. During an episode of ITV’s “Tonight Show,” he highlighted that comprehensive insurance policies might actually be more affordable than third-party options, contrary to popular belief. This is because insurers often view comprehensive coverage as lower risk, which can lead to cheaper rates despite the broader protection it offers.
Tesla’s Strategic Supercharger Pricing Update
In a strategic move to enhance its service offerings, Tesla has reduced the monthly cost of its supercharger membership, making electric vehicle charging more accessible at its 42 charging sites. The price cut from £10.99 to £8.99 per month aims to attract a broader range of EV drivers to Tesla’s rapidly expanding network of ultra-rapid public chargers. Additionally, Tesla introduced an annual membership option priced at £90, offering substantial savings over the year and equalizing the per-kilowatt-hour rate for Tesla and non-Tesla EV owners alike.
Life in the Slow Lane: UK Drivers and Traffic Delays
A recent study has illuminated the significant amount of time British drivers spend in traffic, with the average motorist facing 84 hours of delay per year—a figure that has doubled since 1994. Over a lifetime, this adds up to 175 full days spent in traffic jams, according to research conducted by TomTom for Quotezone.co.uk. This statistic not only underscores the growing challenge of traffic congestion but also highlights the need for efficient travel planning and possibly reconsidering transportation options to mitigate wasted time.
A woman described the scary moments a car crashed into her Lauderhill home and burst into flames.
The silver SUV plowed through Mary Jackson’s home on NW 16th Street Sunday night.
“We ran outside to see what was going on, and it was a car in front of the house on fire,” Jackson said. “Then we look, and there’s a big hole in the wall in our house.”
She said she called 911. When crews got there, they pulled the driver out.
“The lady was inside and seemed like her head went through the windshield because she was bleeding very bad,” Jackson said. “I think she was semi-conscious, but there was so much blood, it’s hard to say.”
Jackson said the SUV crashed into the closet inside her bedroom.
“Everything came flying, all the cement,” she said.
Jackson said in the 50 years she’s been living there, nothing like this has ever happened.
Last week, a group of quick-thinking individuals, including a Minnesota Department of Transportation worker, sprang into action to save a driver from a fiery crash on Interstate 94 in St. Paul. The incident, which occurred near the Snelling exit around 6:30 p.m., involved a Honda SUV that veered off the road, collided with a light pole and a guardrail, and subsequently burst into flames. A video showcasing the rescue efforts has since gone viral on social media, highlighting the bravery and quick response of those involved.
Successful Rescue Amidst Dangerous Flames
As flames engulfed the vehicle, the rescuers, documented in the widely viewed video, struggled to access the SUV. A state worker managed to shatter a window of the burning vehicle, creating a vital entry point for the group to extract the driver. The footage captured by bystander Kadir Tolla shows the rescuers pulling the driver out feet-first, a critical move that likely saved the driver’s life.
Aftermath and Medical Attention
Following the rescue, the driver was immediately transported to Regions Hospital for a thorough evaluation. Remarkably, despite the severity of the crash and the dramatic rescue, the driver sustained no injuries, according to State Patrol spokesperson Lt. Jill Frankfurth. This incident not only underscores the dangers of highway driving but also serves as a testament to the courage and quick action of ordinary citizens and state workers who come together in moments of crisis.
Revamped Aston Martin DBX707 Sets New Industry Standards
The Aston Martin DBX, a high-performance SUV, has received significant updates, particularly to its cabin, making it even more competitive in the luxury vehicle market. The British automaker has discontinued the standard DBX model, now exclusively offering the more dynamic DBX707 version. This move aims to streamline the lineup and enhance the vehicle’s appeal against high-end competitors like the Lamborghini Urus, Bentley Bentayga, and Porsche Cayenne.
Performance and Design Enhancements
While the DBX707 retains the powerful Mercedes-sourced 4-litre V8 engine, producing 697bhp and enabling a 0-60mph sprint in just 3.1 seconds, Aston Martin has made substantial revisions elsewhere. The vehicle’s air suspension and dampers have been finely tuned to improve body control and driving dynamics, crucial for maintaining precision in corners—a feature surely influenced by its role as the official medical car for the Formula One World Championship. Externally, the SUV boasts new pop-out door handles and redesigned door mirrors, enhancing its aerodynamics and integrating with an updated 3D surround camera system.
Interior and Technological Upgrades
Inside, the DBX707 showcases a redesigned layout that aligns with the aesthetics of the latest Aston Martin sports cars like the DB12 and Vantage, featuring a more horizontal theme to echo a sports car feel. The center console has been simplified yet retains essential physical controls, enhancing both functionality and elegance. Technology-wise, the SUV is equipped with Aston Martin’s latest infotainment system, housed in a 10.25-inch touchscreen that supports wireless connectivity and multi-finger inputs, complemented by a new 12.3-inch digital driver’s display and an optional Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system.
These updates not only underscore Aston Martin’s commitment to innovation and luxury but also position the DBX707 as a pinnacle of modern SUV design and technology, promising an unrivaled blend of performance and sophistication.
