Four Wheel Trends
Posts
Stellantis Sold Thousands of Dead Cars

Stellantis Sold Thousands of Dead Cars

Plus, 2024 was a crazy year for sales, this state is now the EV leader and, are cars becoming cool again?

Bernardo Montes de Oca
January 07, 2025

In partnership with

Issue 78

Let's play a game. Think of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the US in 2024.

Now, go back to 2000. Try to name the 10 best-selling vehicles then.

You'd be surprised to see how much (or little) it has changed.

Check out the answer here!

Key Takeaways

Don’t have much time? Here’s the summary of what we’re talking about:

2024 Sales Upswing: Despite fears of a recession, the year ended with better-than-expected sales for major automakers, including Toyota surpassing one million EVs sold, Honda scaling back Accord sales, and Porsche rethinking its EV strategy.
Stellantis' "Dead" Inventory: The automaker struggled to sell off discontinued models, with up to 40% of 2024 sales of cars that were technically no longer in production.
Large SUVs Under Fire: A growing movement questions the safety and environmental impact of full-size SUVs, comparing them to public health threats on par with tobacco.
Mazda's Longevity Secrets: Mazda's resistance to fully electrifying its lineup has allowed the company to refine its engines and maintain a reputation for reliability and durability.
Newsbites

NEWSBITES

Every week, we scour the web for the most essential news. Here’s what you need to know this week:

Jalopnik came up with an "interesting" survey: which cars do you think should die? Here are the answers.
There's a 4,500-item Hot Wheel collection up for sale
In the most dystopic news you can read (and it won't be the last time), an entrepreneur was trapped in a self-driving car in LA
Germany's EV sales crash, and here's why it's important
GM's most popular EV is a Honda, that's not a Honda. Here's what we mean.

RECALLS

Let’s discuss this week’s recalls

Pinching power windows cause a recall of these 47,000 vehicles
Recalls were down in 2024, but repairs have yet to catch up
Ford recalls these SUVs over a critical battery issue

Video of the week

In recent years, we've seen how many cars have fallen into one category: boring. Except for a few models, there's no spice.

So, are times changing? This video discusses what's new and what's hot in the automotive market for the coming year.

IN THE KNOW

This state has become an EV leader, and no, it's not California

The US has been slow to embrace electrification for many reasons.

The average US car owner doesn't want to stress out over anxiety or the lack of charging stations.

Plus, the EV offer doesn't appeal to everyone. Then there's temperature and how it affects EV performance.

It's no wonder that states such as North Dakota and Montana have the lowest number of charging stations in the continental US.

Despite this slow electrification process, some states have seen EVs flourish. One state, in particular, has already electrified 25% of its fleet.

It's not California, but can you guess which one it is?

2024 was a crazy year for sales, but who won?

There are many positive aspects to keeping up with the latest automotive news this past year, but there's also a stressful side to it.

For one, 2024 was a crazy year for the automotive sector.

At one point, the industry feared a recession, but by year's end, these fears subsided thanks to a tiny bump in sales.

Once lagging in EV sales, Toyota has already sold one million of them.

Honda's star player, the Accord, dropped in sales, and the company said it was "on purpose." Porsche walked back on EVs because people still want internal combustion.

So, at this crazy end of the year, which company won, and which one lost? The article below dives into these numbers and yields surprising results.

Stellantis sold thousands of "dead" cars in 2024

Companies frequently "kill off" models, nameplates, or specific options. It's so common that almost no one bats an eye.

However, when a company stops production of iconic cars, the automotive world usually takes notice.

When this happens, fans rush to buy the remaining units. This way, they have a bit of history, and a story to tell.

However, in the case of Stellantis, this didn't happen. Instead, the troubled automaker has plenty of dead inventory and is desperate to sell it off.

Some of the automaker's brands are so full of inventory that up to 40% of their sales in 2024 were dead inventory.

This article dives into the fascinating situation that's haunting Stellantis.

The case against large SUVs

SUVs are the most popular vehicle class in the US; there's no sign of this changing. After all, SUVs make up more than 70% of the US market share.

While smaller SUVs have become more popular due to a rise in new vehicle prices, larger models are still widespread on American streets.

Every company offers small and medium options, and more automakers also offer full-size vehicles. However, there's a movement against them, and some arguments are solid.

There's no denying that larger SUVs consume more fuel, but are they really a public threat?

This article raises this question, even comparing large SUVs to tobacco. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

OUR THOUGHTS

Do Mazdas last long? There's a reason why people love them

As we've written before, Mazda is a brand that's thriving by bending the rules.

The company has yet to produce an EV and is only beginning to foray into hybrids.

While this mentality has helped the brand create a cult-like following, it has also impacted the company in another aspect.

Most Mazda engines have maintained their DNA intact and weeded most of their problems.

Thus, these engines are a synonym of reliability and longevity.

We dive deep into why Mazdas last long and what you can do to keep your vehicle going for miles.

BEST AND WORST

What are the best years for the Nissan Pathfinder?

The Nissan Pathfinder has had a fascinating evolution.

It started as a rugged but rudimentary SUV that tackled the most challenging terrains.

Then, it gained some weight but still had a transfer case when others lost it.

Finally, it's a run-of-the-mill vehicle that has managed to compete in the SUV sector but not much else.

The Nissan Pathfinder won't stand out, so some people like it. So, if you want to buy one of these, here are the best years to consider.

TIPS AND KNOW-HOW

Let's talk about brake pads

Braking is the second-most important aspect of your car (and the first one regarding safety). A well-kept braking system can save your life, when all else fails.

At the same time, braking systems have become more complex, so keeping them in top shape requires more effort.

So, what does brake maintenance entail? And what can you do to keep this crucial system in top condition?

In this article, we discuss your car's braking system, from basic maintenance tips to common problems it can have.

What did you think of this post?

We love your feedback!

If you enjoyed it, please consider refering it to other readers by clicking the link below!