Automotive News

LUXURY: Tesla Q1 sales more than double those of BMW

The entire US luxury sector sales rose 23 percent to 616,970 cars and light trucks in the first quarter, outperforming the broader industry’s 8.4 percent bump. In the first quarter, BMW sales rose 12 percent, and the automaker secured a more than 14,000 vehicle advantage over No. 3 Lexuses. The Toyota luxury brand delivered 68,251 vehicles, up 6 percent from a year earlier. BMW, which commanded a 13 percent share of the luxury segment, extended its lead over German rival Mercedes-Benz with a more than 20,000-vehicle advantage. Mercedes’ sales of 61,531 were down 1.2 percent from the prior year as…

Automotive News

Nikola battles for scarce funding as it launches its first truck

Like every other startup, Nikola is in search of funds to continue its mission to deliver zero-pollution cargo-moving trucks. Last week, it floated a $100 million stock offering that underwhelmed Wall Street. The company’s cash is being spent in three major areas: building trucks, creating a network of hydrogen fueling stations and developing software for autonomous driving. Any one of those pursuits would be a huge project for a startup. Perfecting all three seems like a moonshot. But Lohscheller has been able to sign up partners to help defray some of the costs. And thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act,…

Automotive News

THE UNOBVIOUS ONES: Getting BMW’s programs fit for Canada

The Unobvious Ones is a monthly look at movers and shakers who fly below the radar in the Canadian auto industry. TRACY BULMER WORKING WITH DEALERS TO TAILOR PROGRAMS TO CANADA Looking after customers isn’t just about the sale. There’s also aftersales, warranty and technical support. At BMW Group Canada’s head office in Richmond Hill, Ont., Tracy Bulmer oversees a team of 55 people in her role as director of customer support. “It’s an interesting area of ​​business, and sometimes people underestimate it because there are many different aspects,” he said. “We work with our partners in Germany in some…