Ford splits in two as it ramps up EV production

Ford splits in two as it ramps up EV production

Ford announced it will split in two earlier this month. The company will reorganize operations to separate its electric and internal combustion engine businesses within the legacy auto brand. 

“We’re announcing one of the biggest changes in our history today,” said CEO Jim Farley. 

Farley said the new organization will allow the EV side of development and production to move faster once untethered from the much larger legacy company. 

“We are going all in, creating a separate but complementary business that gives us startup speed and unbridled innovation,” he said. 

Dividing the operations while still keeping them in-house will help appease Wall Street analysts who have been pressuring legacy automakers to spin off their electric vehicle business to secure value that some investors have been offering some EV startups. 

The move is expected to streamline its growing electric vehicle business and maximize profits. Farley said the new EV business will “produce as much excitement as any pure EV competitor, but with scale and resources that no start-up could ever match.”

As electric vehicles become more common in the general market, they’ll become more common on the used car market. That means they’ll be more common on the Carmigo marketplace too. So needless to say, we’re excited to see what Ford does next. 

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What We’re Loving: Turning Red

What We’re Loving: Turning Red

Pixar’s newest release, Turning Red, has been a real theme in the Carmigo chat this week. Not to toot our own horn, but we’ve probably contributed to 1% of the total views on Disney+.

Young Meilin stands in front of her Red Panda alter-ego in the movie poster for Pixar's new movie, Turning Red.
Turning Red is turning heads on Disney+, and we love it.

 

The movie follows 13-year-old Meilin as she adjusts to being a teenager. But she turns into a red panda anytime she gets too excited – which has got to be stressful for a very excitable 13-year-old. 

Don’t take our word for it. The move has a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes

What the team’s saying about Turning Red: 

Austin: First of all, I love Toronto (he says while wearing a Toronto Raptors shirt), and they recreated that city flawlessly in the movie. Additionally, I consider myself a die-hard Pixar fan and this one of by far the funniest on their roster. I was actually laughing my way through. 10/10, do recommend.

Nidhi: I was hesitant about Turning Red after how amazing Encanto was, but Disney/Pixar pulled it off yet again. I was excited to see the diversity in the movie and accurate portrayal of asain cultures.Turning Red was relatable and it was cathartic to see struggles with generational trauma and coming of age in a traditional asian household on the screen.

JB: I’m a watch-it-once kind of guy, but my two kids get obsessed with movies and will watch the same one over and over for a week. So I’m always happy when a new movie with great music and funny jokes comes around. And Turning Red has that in spades, plus lots of great lessons for kids about accepting their bodies as they change. 

Hannah: I don’t watch animated movies. I mean, I’m not opposed to it. (We’re all in agreement that Hannah is too cool for Pixar movies).

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5 Fuel Efficiency Tips to Combat Rising Gas Prices

5 Fuel Efficiency Tips to Combat Rising Gas Prices

Fuel efficiency is a hot topic as gas prices continue to set new records. But with a few small tweaks you can save hundreds of dollars at the gas pump each year, improve road safety, and prevent wear and tear on your vehicle. 

The easiest and most effective way to improve the fuel efficiency of any vehicle is to modify your driving habits, but it’s not as hard as you may think. Adopt these five fuel-efficient driving techniques and you’ll see your gas bill start to drop:

1. Accelerate Gently

The harder and faster you accelerate, the more fuel you use. Avoid rapid acceleration and hard brakes.

2. Use Cruise Control

When your speed fluctuates, you use more fuel and spend more money. To avoid this, use cruise control on highways where conditions permit. 

3. Avoid High Speeds

Stick to the speed limit and save on fuel. While every vehicle is different, the fuel economy of most cars, vans, pickup trucks, and SUVs typically peaks between 30 and 50 miles per hour. Above this speed, vehicles use increasingly more fuel the faster they go. 

4. Coast to Decelerate 

Each time you use your brakes, you waste your forward momentum. You will conserve fuel and money by taking your foot off the accelerator and coasting to slow down instead of using your brakes. 

5. Anticipate Traffic

Monitor the traffic ahead and time your approach to stoplights to maintain momentum and avoid unnecessary acceleration or braking. Observing what other cars and pedestrians are doing and preparing for what they will do next, can help keep your speed as steady as possible and use less fuel. 

Lay off the Pedal and Save at the Pump

Saving money on gas is like getting into shape. It takes some discipline and there are no quick fixes to get the results you want.

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Road Trip Watch: Super Nintendo World Opening in Hollywood

Road Trip Watch: Super Nintendo World Opening in Hollywood

Mark your calendars and prepare your hearts, Super Nintendo World is making its way stateside next year. Earlier this month, Nintendo announced its plans to open the new theme park at Universal Studios Hollywood sometime next year. 

Nintendo already opened a Japanese version of the theme park in 2021, and the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. And from what we’ve seen, they’re right. The park in Japan looks super cool

Life-sized piranha plant at Super Nintendo World in Japan.

Super Nintendo World brings Nintendo's legendary video games to life. This giant piranha plant can be seen at the Super Nintendo World in Japan.

When Does Super Nintendo World Open?

The Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood will open in 2023, but there’s no official date set  not that “grand opening” dates matter much in the waning days of COVID. After all, the park at Universal Studios Japan delayed its opening to March 18, 2021, after COVID caused multiple delays.

Don’t fret if you live in the eastern US, Universal Studios Orlando will get its own Nintendo theme park in 2025.

Nintendo Plans to Expand

And all Nintendo fans will be excited about the company’s commitment to the theme park experience. Only a year after the park’s opening, the company announced plans to add a Donkey Kong section to its Japanese park in 2024. We can only hope they plan to expand the Hollywood and Orlando parks as well. 

So pick your park, make a note on your calendar (sometime in 2023 or 2025), and start saving up to take the whole family. We’ll certainly be checking it out as soon as we can. Here’s to hoping the entrance is a big green pipe. 

If that’s not enough Nintendo excitement for you, Illumination Studios (Despicable Me, Sing) has an untitled Mario movie in development expected to release at the end of 2022.

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