All articles tagged with #customer demand
Lamborghini's CEO states that despite the technical capability to build powerful electric supercars, customer demand for traditional internal combustion engines like V12s and V8s remains strong, leading the brand to postpone full electrification and focus on hybrid models, while maintaining exclusivity and authenticity in their offerings.
McDonald's has announced the return of its popular snack wraps to the U.S. menu in 2025, after being discontinued in 2016. The wraps, which include options like crispy or grilled chicken with lettuce, cheese, and sauce, have a strong fan following, prompting the decision to bring them back. While a specific launch date hasn't been set, fans are eagerly anticipating the return of this beloved menu item.
McDonald's has announced the return of its popular snack wrap to U.S. menus in 2025, following significant customer demand and social media influence. The snack wrap, which was discontinued in 2020, has been a highly requested item, with McDonald's acknowledging its "cult following." The company is also focusing on rebuilding customer trust after a recent E. coli outbreak and plans to launch a new McValue menu in January 2024.
McDonald's has announced the return of its popular snack wrap to U.S. menus in 2025, following significant customer demand and social media influence. The snack wrap, which was discontinued in 2020, has been a highly requested item, with McDonald's acknowledging its "cult following." The company is also focusing on rebuilding customer trust after a recent E. coli outbreak and plans to launch a new McValue menu in January 2024.
Kwik Trip convenience stores will stop selling bagged milk in May due to decreased customer demand and the need for costly new equipment. The decision comes after more than 40 years of bottling and bagging milk, with the company noting a decline in demand for this product, which is mainly popular in the Midwest and Canada. Kwik Trip aims to focus on items that better align with customer preferences.
GM dealers are urging the company to prioritize hybrid vehicles for customers who aren't ready to fully transition to electric vehicles, as the company's EV push hasn't met expectations. Despite GM's focus on EVs, dealers are seeing real-time customer demand for hybrids and are concerned about losing customers to other brands offering hybrid models. GM CEO Mary Barra has historically favored EVs over hybrids but hasn't ruled out the possibility of introducing hybrid models in the U.S. Dealers are looking to Toyota's success with hybrids as a potential indicator of the market demand for such vehicles.
Apple's new mixed reality headset, the Vision Pro, is priced at $3,499 due to the costly development and production behind it, as well as the focus on reaching professionals who can enhance the product with additional apps. The high price reflects the advanced technology packed into the headset, and initial response suggests that some customers are willing to pay it, with pre-orders selling out almost immediately. However, analysts expect Apple to face production challenges in meeting demand for the Vision Pro.
Ford is reducing the production plans for its F-150 Lightning EV pickup due to lower customer demand. The automaker initially aimed to produce 150,000 vehicles per year but has now informed suppliers that it will only assemble around 1,600 Lightnings per week, half of the original goal. This decision comes as consumers hesitate to pay higher prices for EVs and face increased financing costs. Despite reporting record sales in November, Ford's reduced production target may not meet the growing competition in the EV truck market. Ford is still targeting an 8% EBIT margin for its EV business by 2026 and is banking on improvements in its current EV models and the launch of second-generation EVs to drive profitability.
Ford is reducing weekly production of its F-150 Lightning pickup truck in response to slowing customer demand, informing dealers to expect an average production volume of 1,600 electric trucks per week starting next year, down from the current 3,200. The company's decision reflects the slower-than-anticipated growth in EV sales, leading to a reduction in production goals and delayed investments. Despite losing money on EVs, Ford's sales of the F-150 Lightning have increased, and EVs accounted for nearly 8% of all US vehicle sales in Q3 2023.
A coalition of over 3,000 auto dealers across the United States has sent an open letter to President Biden, urging him to reconsider the aggressive electric vehicle (EV) push and tap the brakes on his administration's EV mandate. The dealers argue that current regulations are unrealistic and not aligned with customer demand, as EVs are stacking up on their lots due to slow sales. They highlight issues such as inadequate charging infrastructure, energy grid instability, and a lack of reliable mineral supplies for EV batteries. The dealers call for more time for battery technology to advance, affordability to improve, and consumer comfort with the technology to grow. They emphasize the need for a market-driven approach rather than government mandates. Gas-powered cars still dominate new car sales, and experts warn of national security risks associated with China's dominance in the global EV industry.
The author expresses their desire for a larger iMac and highlights the importance of Apple giving customers what they want. They reminisce about the excitement of owning their first MacBook Air and how Apple's innovative designs solved industry problems. The author believes that Apple's most exciting upgrades come when they listen to customer demands, such as adding ports to the MacBook Pro. They argue that a bigger iMac would meet the needs of users who want to replace their older models without downsizing. Despite rumors suggesting a larger iMac is unlikely, the author hopes that Apple will surprise them with a 27- or 32-inch M3 iMac.
Ford is postponing $12 billion in EV factory building, including a battery factory in Kentucky, due to customer unwillingness to pay extra for electric vehicles. The company's EV business continues to lose money, with a loss of $1.3 billion in adjusted earnings this past quarter. Ford's transformation into an EV company will take longer than expected. However, its Blue Oval City project in Tennessee is still moving forward. General Motors is also delaying production of its electric trucks and SUVs, reflecting the challenges in the EV market.
Ford is postponing approximately $12 billion in planned spending on new electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing capacity due to customers' reluctance to pay a premium for EVs over internal-combustion or hybrid alternatives. While Ford's EV sales are growing, they are not meeting the company's expectations. Ford executives clarified that they are not cutting back on spending for future EV models but will gradually ramp up EV manufacturing capacity. The construction of Ford's new EV manufacturing campus in Tennessee will continue as planned, but the second battery plant in Kentucky will be postponed. Ford's electric-vehicle business unit, Ford Model e, reported a $1.3 billion operating loss in the third quarter of 2023, double the previous year's loss, despite a revenue increase.
Costco's new gold bars, priced at just under $2,000, have been in high demand, selling out within hours of becoming available online. The bars, available only to Costco members, have prompted the company to limit the number of bars each customer can purchase. The PAMP Suisse bars, made of 24-carat gold, come with protective packaging, an Assay Certificate, and a digital certificate. Customers have been complaining online about the difficulty of obtaining the bars, leading to comparisons to a gold rush. Costco's CFO confirmed the high demand during an earnings call, stating that the bars are typically gone within a few hours. Social media users have also reported the availability of gold bars at some Costco locations in Asia.
Nintendo has confirmed that its next console is in development and has pledged to produce large quantities to ensure readily available stock, aiming to beat scalpers. The company wants to prioritize meeting customer demand and will consider additional measures to prevent reselling. While the nature of the next-gen console remains undisclosed, Nintendo's commitment to making it accessible to fans from launch is commendable. However, high demand may still result in waiting periods or preorders, given the immense popularity of Nintendo games and the company's track record of shipping over 125 million Nintendo Switch consoles since 2017.