Latest news with #Gruber
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Consumers sustain interest in EVs but range anxiety still a concern
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. Tariffs and political uncertainty have disrupted the automobile market, but consumers are no less likely to consider purchasing electric vehicles, according to a recent study by J.D. Power. The 2025 U.S. Electric Vehicle Consideration Study, released May 15, found that 59% of vehicle shoppers said they were at least somewhat likely to consider an EV — the same rate the study reported one year ago. Between January and April 2025, J.D. Power surveyed 8,164 people who were planning to purchase a vehicle within a year on their intent to consider an EV. Per the report, 24% of shoppers said they were 'very likely' to consider purchasing an EV, while 35% said they were 'somewhat likely.' In fact, according to April Cox Automotive data, the EV market continues to grow. Compared to the same period last year, U.S. EV sales increased 11.4% in the first quarter of 2025. 'Despite the market volatility, EVs have found a solid ground for consumer consideration,' Brent Gruber, executive director of the EV practice at J.D. Power, said in a statement. J.D. Power's findings shed light on consumer wants and needs, including the ways people shop for EVs and their biggest concerns with the vehicles. For instance, EV shoppers are likely to look at more vehicle brands — 'cross-shop' — than those shopping for ICE vehicles. The study reported that those likely to consider EVs look at an average 2.8 or 2.9 brands, while a previous J.D. Power study found that people shopping for gas-powered vehicles considered an average of 2.5 brands. 'As more EV options come to market, this should serve as an encouraging sign for automakers because it's an opportunity for them to gain a foothold and pull shoppers from outside their brands,' Gruber said, adding that the study revealed that EV shoppers also consider EVs from both mass market and luxury brands. Yet range anxiety remains a key concern, as 52% of vehicle shoppers cited charging station availability as a reason to forgo purchasing an EV. At the same time, another long-standing concern with EVs — their expense — fell in importance. The study found that 43% of shoppers said EV purchase price was a reason to avoid buying an EV, compared to 47% last year. In addition, 33% of shoppers stated they were concerned with EV cost of ownership, compared to 35% of shoppers in 2024. Much of the growth in EV sales can be attributed to more affordable, mass-market automakers such as General Motors. Still, the issue of EV affordability might box out the age group most interested in purchasing them — younger shoppers ages 25-49. 'It's an interesting dichotomy because younger consumers are the most receptive to EVs, but also the least likely to be able to afford them, while older consumers have the financial means but show less interest,' Gruber said. According to Gruber, the industry needs to focus on affordability and consumer education to continue to drive EV growth. Less expensive EVs would address what he described as the 'pent-up demand for more affordable products,' while improving consumer education could 'ease concerns' about EV ownership, as many, like public charging availability, 'are less problematic than they might seem when it comes to actually owning an EV,' he said. Recommended Reading New York expands EV purchase, charging equipment incentives
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
WWDC 2025: Apple won't follow this ‘tradition' for the first time in 10 years
Apple will hold its Worldwide Developers Conference, or WWDC, on June 9. Following the conference, John Gruber hosts the live " The Talk Show " podcast with the company's senior executives. However, for the first time in 10 years, Apple will not have senior executives participate in Gruber's show -- a decision that breaks a long-standing tradition that has seen high-ranking Apple officials engage in lively post-keynote discussions, offering unique insights into the company's announcements. Gruber, the renowned Daring Fireball pundit, revealed the development while announcing ticket sales for his annual live episode. He did not provide a reason for Apple's refusal, and it's highly probable that Apple offered none, reports macrumors, citing the ticket announcement. "Ever since I started doing these live shows from WWDC, I've kept the guest(s) secret, until showtime. I'm still doing that this year. But in recent years the guests have seemed a bit predictable: senior executives from Apple. This year I again extended my usual invitation to Apple, but, for the first time since 2015, they declined," Gruber said. "I think this will make for a fascinating show, but I want to set everyone's expectations accordingly. I'm invigorated by this. See you at the show, I hope," he added in a blog which notes that the show will be on Tuesday, June 10. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Write Better, Work Smarter With This Desktop App Grammarly Install Now Undo Gruber criticised Apple over 'non-functional' AI features In a March blog post, Gruber critiqued Apple for what he perceived as "vaporware" presented at last year's WWDC. He highlighted that planned Apple Intelligence features, showcased during the event, were not functional at the time, and some may still not be. Gruber expressed self-reproach for not recognising these "red flags" earlier. He said that Apple's credibility is damaged. "Keynote by keynote, product by product, feature by feature, year after year after year, Apple went from a company that you couldn't believe would even remain solvent, to, by far, the most credible company in tech. Apple remains at no risk of financial bankruptcy (and in fact remains the most profitable company in the world). But their credibility is now damaged. Careers will end before Apple might ever return to the level of "if they say it, you can believe it" credibility the company had earned at the start of June 2024," he said.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
New Yorker Has Viral Theory About Short Nails: 'Recession'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. After years of long, dramatic manicures dominating social media, a new trend is poised to take over: short, neatly kept nails. Bryce Gruber, a veteran commerce director for major North American publishers shared her behind-the-scenes insight from the beauty industry on TikTok in a video that has gained viral attention. "Do you know what's going to be trending by the end of the year?" Gruber said in the video that has already racked up over 6 million views since being shared in May. "And I know it for a fact because the ad budgets were already spent and I sat in on a meeting about it last week." Gruber, 41, from New York, has worked as a commerce editor and director for roughly 20 years, specializing in consumer trends. She revealed that short nails are set to be on-trend this year. "Money is tight for a lot of people right now—people are opting for lower maintenance looks. This, being coupled with the popular 'clean girl' aesthetic has made the short and tidy nails trend a clear, emerging winner for the second half of 2025," she told Newsweek. Pictures from the viral video where expert Bryce Gruber revealed her prediction for an upcoming 2025 trend. Pictures from the viral video where expert Bryce Gruber revealed her prediction for an upcoming 2025 trend. @brycegruber/TikTok Her TikTok explanation went further, revealing an insight she heard from an earlier advertising meeting with a publisher: "Just to give you a heads up, this publisher is one of the biggest in North America and controls a lot of the information that is distributed. I would say women between 25 and 45. If you are between those ages, you definitely read some of these sites, watch some of these TikTok accounts," she said. "The number one thing that I can see—and let me know if you agree, if you're already seeing it—short nails," she continued. "That like big coffin look that everyone was obsessed with, the like long French manicures that were having a moment like a few months ago. That stuff is done." Gruber noted the scale of commitment from brands behind the shift: "Every major nail and beauty company, I mean the L'Oréals, the Revlons, all of them, they have already committed massive amounts of ad spend to this sort of short but nicely kept nail trend. You're going to see it everywhere, and honestly, I'm happy about it because it's easier and I can tell you if I can wash my dishes, I can do all the things with reasonable nails." Industry publications back up her observations. Harper's Bazaar UK recently named "dark, short nails" a standout for 2025, while ELLE Australia earlier reported a "dramatic shift" away from long acrylics toward short, square, or "squoval" shapes. Meanwhile, social media commenters are interpreting the shift as a sign of the times. "Short nails aka the rise of conservatism and recession indicator," wrote one TikTok user. Another dubbed it: "I can't afford to get my nails done trend." Others praised the practicality: "Short nails are easy to maintain and easy to work with." Are short nails an indicator of recession? While this idea of "recession nails" is more of a viral meme than a formal economic measure, it reflects a broader move toward cost-saving beauty habits—similar to trends like "recession brunette" and "recession blonde" which have appeared online. Historically, beauty choices have sometimes mirrored economic conditions, as seen in the "lipstick index"—a concept introduced by Estée Lauder's former chairman to explain why sales of small luxury items like lipstick rise during downturns. Currently, fears of a recession are growing again: According to a study by financial data firm FactSet, of the 451 earnings calls conducted by S&P 500 firms between March 15 and May 15, 121 of these mentioned "recession," equivalent to 27 per cent. These concerns are partly tied to President Donald Trump's trade policies in his second term, with businesses warning of possible lasting damage despite recent tariff rollbacks and temporary pauses.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
J.D. Power: Car buyers are still interested in EVs and Tesla alternatives
Despite the whirlwind of headlines about auto tariffs, EV mandates, and even the potential loss of EV tax credits, Americans are still very much interested in EVs. Including those not named Tesla. Consumer research group J.D. Power's latest EV consideration study found that 24% of car shoppers said they are "very likely" to consider purchasing an EV, and 35% said they are "somewhat likely," which is largely unchanged from a year ago. J.D. Power polled 8,164 consumers in January through April who intend to buy or lease a new vehicle in the next 12 months. "Despite the market volatility, EVs have found a solid ground for consumer consideration,' J.D. Power executive director of EV practice Brent Gruber said in a statement. Interestingly, with more options available, consumers are shopping across brands. Buyers are cross-shopping on average 2.9 brands when looking at EVs, versus two brands seen with gas-powered cars. And they are increasingly looking at EVs other than Tesla. J.D. Power found that the top five vehicle brands cross-shopped among purchasers interested in the Model Y SUV are Honda, Ford, BMW, Toyota, and Cadillac, in that order. "Manufacturers that didn't have electric vehicles before have now rounded out their portfolios with EV products, and so consumers are considering products from those other brands," Gruber said in an interview with Yahoo Finance. Honda's popular Prologue EV, Ford's Mustang Mach-E, and BMW products like the iX, i4, and i5 are gaining traction. Cadillac's Lyriq has been GM's top-selling EV for some time now. Read more: How your vehicle's make and model affect car insurance costs Gruber added that Tesla brand issues may be behind the cross-shopping. "There's certainly some consumer sentiment for and against some of the actions taken by Elon Musk in the political arena," Gruber said. "So we have seen some impact from that." But Gruber believes Tesla sales have been affected by the availability of new products coming to market, like the Prologue and Lyriq, rather than perceived brand issues. The broader EV market, however, faces a big headwind: the potential loss of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. House Republicans are pushing a bill that would end the EV tax credit, a signature component of former President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Not surprisingly, Gruber believes this would create a major impact on EV sales. "You're potentially looking at a double whammy with tariffs and the elimination of the tax credit," Gruber said. "You're talking about what is conceivably a $12,000-plus swing on the price of an electric vehicle. So if those tax credits go away, you're going to see probably a slowdown in the level of interest for electric vehicles." Of course, it's not just a problem for consumers. It's also a major problem for automakers. Per current EPA rules, automakers need to sell EVs to meet federal emissions targets. If they do not, they're on the hook for billions in fines or must purchase carbon credits from companies like Tesla. "We believe the credits are critical for automakers to achieve current federal and state emissions standards," a spokesperson for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group that represents several major automakers, said to Yahoo Finance. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
J.D. Power: Car buyers are still interested in EVs and Tesla alternatives
Despite the whirlwind of headlines about auto tariffs, EV mandates, and even the potential loss of EV tax credits, Americans are still very much interested in EVs. Including those not named Tesla. Consumer research group J.D. Power's latest EV consideration study found that 24% of car shoppers said they are "very likely" to consider purchasing an EV, and 35% said they are "somewhat likely," which is largely unchanged from a year ago. J.D. Power polled 8,164 consumers in January through April who intend to buy or lease a new vehicle in the next 12 months. "Despite the market volatility, EVs have found a solid ground for consumer consideration,' J.D. Power executive director of EV practice Brent Gruber said in a statement. Interestingly, with more options available, consumers are shopping across brands. Buyers are cross-shopping on average 2.9 brands when looking at EVs, versus two brands seen with gas-powered cars. And they are increasingly looking at EVs other than Tesla. J.D. Power found that the top five vehicle brands cross-shopped among purchasers interested in the Model Y SUV are Honda, Ford, BMW, Toyota, and Cadillac, in that order. "Manufacturers that didn't have electric vehicles before have now rounded out their portfolios with EV products, and so consumers are considering products from those other brands," Gruber said in an interview with Yahoo Finance. Honda's popular Prologue EV, Ford's Mustang Mach-E, and BMW products like the iX, i4, and i5 are gaining traction. Cadillac's Lyriq has been GM's top-selling EV for some time now. Read more: How your vehicle's make and model affect car insurance costs Gruber added that Tesla brand issues may be behind the cross-shopping. "There's certainly some consumer sentiment for and against some of the actions taken by Elon Musk in the political arena," Gruber said. "So we have seen some impact from that." But Gruber believes Tesla sales have been affected by the availability of new products coming to market, like the Prologue and Lyriq, rather than perceived brand issues. The broader EV market, however, faces a big headwind: the potential loss of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. House Republicans are pushing a bill that would end the EV tax credit, a signature component of former President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act. Not surprisingly, Gruber believes this would create a major impact on EV sales. "You're potentially looking at a double whammy with tariffs and the elimination of the tax credit," Gruber said. "You're talking about what is conceivably a $12,000-plus swing on the price of an electric vehicle. So if those tax credits go away, you're going to see probably a slowdown in the level of interest for electric vehicles." Of course, it's not just a problem for consumers. It's also a major problem for automakers. Per current EPA rules, automakers need to sell EVs to meet federal emissions targets. If they do not, they're on the hook for billions in fines or must purchase carbon credits from companies like Tesla. "We believe the credits are critical for automakers to achieve current federal and state emissions standards," a spokesperson for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, a trade group that represents several major automakers, said to Yahoo Finance. Pras Subramanian is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. You can follow him on X and on Instagram. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
