Hybrid Sales Boom, Bronco Stroppe Reality Check, High Elevation and No Water, Ford Drops Escape

Shoppers are speaking with their wallets, and the data speaks loudly. We kick off with a clear-eyed look at why Hyundai and Kia just posted record January sales, driven by hybrids and value-forward crossovers—and how Chevy’s layered lineup keeps affordable options on the lot. 

Then we take the 2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Special Edition into focus: what its Baja-tuned suspension, GOAT modes, and 315-hp EcoBoost deliver off-road, and where price, fuel economy, seat design, and daily usability fall short. If you’re weighing a base Bronco build against a near-$80K special, we’ve got the context you need.

Mid-show, we pivot to a different kind of traction problem: warm winters and thin snowpack across the West. When snow turns to rain, reservoirs don’t refill; water rushes off, flooding and leaving little for summer. We break down how mid-elevation snowpack drives most runoff, why ski towns and resort jobs feel the pain first, and how agriculture—winter wheat, sugar beets, and more—pushes the impact to your grocery bill. From the Pacific Northwest’s atmospheric rivers to Utah’s snow-dependent water supply, the stakes reach far beyond the slopes.

We close by examining Ford’s Escape exit and the affordability gap it creates. Dealers want an entry-level vehicle that keeps shoppers in the brand; buyers want sensible payments, not just passion projects. Maverick and Bronco Sport help, but they won’t fit everyone who doesn’t want a truck-like look or a premium price. Across cars, crossovers, and climate, the throughline is the same: meet real-world needs with practical choices. If that’s your lens, you’ll love this one. 

Subscribe to The TechMobility Podcast, share it with a friend who’s car shopping, and leave a review with your take on value versus hype—we’ll feature the best replies next week.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Welcome to the Tech Mobility Podcast. Brought to you by Playbook Investors Network. Your strategic partner for unstoppable growth.

Vehicle Affordability & The Return of Passenger Cars

SPEAKER_04 0:15

Visit pincommunity.org to get started. I'm Ken Chester. We got a lot ahead. So let's get started. On the docket, my impressions and review of the 2025 Ford Broncos Strope SUV, low snowfall and warm temps spell trouble for water resources, and why Ford dealers can't escape. To add your voice to the conversation, be it to ask a question, share an opinion, or even suggest an idea for future conversation, call or text the Tech Mobility Online. That number, 872-222-9793, or you can email the show directly. Talk at Techmobility.show. From the Tech Mobility News Desk. I don't usually talk about automotive sales records. I don't. The statistics are out there, the published in automotive news, it's this, that, and the other. But I saw some stuff this time I thought was interesting in today's climate that I wanted to share with you. Because I think you deserve to know it and give you a little context as to what's going on. The automotive news article says Hyundai, Kia, set January sales records on strong crossover hybrid demand. Kia, which has seen U.S. sales rise seven straight months now, was aided by record January deliveries of two core cars, the K-5 up 8%, and the K4 up 2%. And as a friend of mine said, stop right there. We have waxed almost ad nauseum about the high price, the high average transaction price for new vehicles in the United States of America today. Almost everybody I talked to, one-on-one, almost to a person, they said it's ridiculous, it's crazy, it's stupid, it's uncalled for. Seriously? Let me show you something. The K4, which is a sedan, and the K5, which is a sedan, built by Kia in the good old United States of America in West Point, Georgia, and have been since they launched. It is part of Kia's success story now. Cars. Cars. GM gave up on cars. Ford gave up on cars. Chevy coughed up their last family-sized car when they retired to Malibu. Salantis got out of the car business ten years ago for the most part. What did they miss? The number one thing that everybody is screaming right now. All for dubility. What this is saying is that for a growing part of the American population, a car still fits the bill. Let's be clear now. Toyota still builds cars. Honda still builds cars. Nissan still builds cars. Cars. And they did not take their foot up from development. I've driven these cars. They're every bit as advanced and good and wholesome. Now, to be fair, the price of a family-sized sedan has been creeping for a while. And it's in the low to mid-30s, which I think is a little high, but that's where they're at. But if you want a car, you want a new car, you can own a new car for way less than 50 grand. And maybe with a sharp pencil a lot closer to 29, 30 grand. Brand new. With a payment, you might even be able to afford. In January, this January, January. 64,502, 13% increase at Kia. This is on top of both brands coming off record U.S. sales in 2025. And they expect it to continue. What's part of their magic? They pivoted. Hyundai said his gasoline electric hybrid deliveries surged 60% last month. They still make electric vehicles and sales a week of pure electrics. Three crossovers. Hyundai. The Kona, the Palisade, and the venue also posted double-digit games. The Kona and the venue are inexpensive crossovers in the Hyundai lineup. The Palisade is their large one. Which for most Americans would be mid-size. That's the largest thing they make. The Palisades made in the United States. Just so you know. They've imported the Kona in the venue. Think about that for a minute. And that's what's selling. That's where they're at. Here, Sportage is made in America. So is the Telluride. They're both up. Sportage was up 23%. Telluride, which rides on the same chassis as the Palisade, up 7%. Celtos up 6%. Celtos is their entry-level crossover. People, are you seeing some here? They're making sales by serving what the people want. GM, Ford, and Stellantis chose to chase profits and volume. Kia and Hyundai said, you know what? We're gonna meet the people where we are, where they're at. Now, one caveat. One caveat. In the midst of all of this, and this is for all automakers, inventory is a 79-day supply, mid-January. What does that mean? Average supply is 60 days. So it's a little high, but not like the 70s. Lexus, Toyota, Audi, Honda, Infinity, Land Rover, Chevy, Porsche, BMW, GMC had the leanest supplies. Notice I said Chevy. Coming back to that. Supplies were highest. Where? Chrysler. Jeep. Lincoln, Mishubishi, Mini Mini, Ram, Buick, Volkswagen, and Waitford, Ford. The folks that left and went chasing the money. Why not Chevrolet? Because Chevy figured out five years ago. We are going to build different size crossovers at different price points, including two below 25 grand, brand new. They build a lot of Chevy tracks. They build a lot of Chevy trailblazers. They build a lot of Chevy Equinoxes. These are vehicles people can afford, people. Chevy had that plan in place before all of this. And as a result, they're reaping the benefit. Don't believe me? Next time you got a road, count how many brand new Chevy tracks you see. Count how many Kia Celtos, Hyundai Kona, Hyundai Venu. There is a place at this end of the market. The problem is, most of your traditional automakers ain't there. They went chasing the money. They went chasing the profit. They thought it'd be okay that it would keep on going. Now they're flat footed. They don't have anything to offer somebody as an entry-level car. Even Toyota, in the midst of everything, blew through Travis for a record global sales last year on hot U.S. demand. If you build it, they will come. Price your vehicles right, offer entry level for folks that are trying to get something decent, and people will buy your product. Make it reliable, make it look good, give them some features and people will buy it. That's always been the auto industry. That hasn't changed. There is only so many people that can buy an$85,000 half-ton pickup. And the problem is there are a lot fewer now. And that number is going to keep going down. And even if the automakers are going to fix this problem, there's still two to three years. Even if they're scrambling now. Before they can fix it.

SPEAKER_01 10:31

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SPEAKER_00 10:42

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SPEAKER_04 11:15

To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings of the Tech Mobility Show by visiting TechMobility.show. You can also drop us a line at talk at TechMobility.show.

SPEAKER_01 11:41

Every great business starts with a spark, but taking it to the next level takes strategy, connections, and capital. That's where Playbook Investors Network comes in. We're your strategic partner for accelerating growth, navigating challenges, and capturing market opportunities before your competition does. Your business is more than an idea. Let's make it an impact. Playbook Investors Network. Your future starts here. Learn more at pincommunity.org.

SPEAKER_03 12:13

Okay, here's our four-wheeling rally. Over these temperature trails, then enter Mount Rushmore Park and get up close to those presidents.

SPEAKER_02 12:20

Ford Brunco, a complete four-wheeler, family-sized comfort, BigCube 351 V8 standard, front quad shock option. Part-time four-wheel drive with optional automatic. Did you get close to Mount Rushmore? This is close enough for you.

SPEAKER_04 12:45

I want to say 1978, Ford Bronco. The Ford Bronco holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the Ford Faithful. From its humble beginnings in 1966 as a competitor to the Jeep CJ and International Scout SUVs of the time, it evolved over a 30-year period before being discontinued in 1996. But as you can't put a good person down, the nameplate was revived in 2021. Revamped and completely reimagined, the Bronco retained its original reputation as a go-anywhere, do anything vehicle. Ford also designed it to be highly customizable as a nod to those off-roaders and active lifestylers who wish to take their Bronco to another level. Its GOAT driver modes, which is short for goes over any terrain, suggest, and I can attest that the current Ford Bronco is completely up for the challenge. Yeah, this thing's a breast. If you get stuck in one of these, you deserve to be stuck. Honest to God. But before I continue, let me set the story straight regarding Bronco for 2025. The Ford Bronco 2-door is currently available in the following trim levels. Base, Outer Banks, Badlands, and Raptor. The following trim levels have been discontinued for this year, for 2025. Big Bend, Black Diamond, Wild Track, Everglades, and Heritage Limited Edition. As an added bonus, a Baja 1000-winning legendary name returns to the Ford lineup for 2025 with the new Bronco Strop Special Edition. A successor to the original Strop Baja Bronco from the 60s and 70s, this new limited edition Bronco pairs the Desert Racing Spirit of the Original with today's off-road capability to create a special high performance Bronco SUV. The Bronco Strop Special Edition is available exclusively as a two-door model and takes the place of the Wild Track in the Bronco lineup. It also includes a standard stabilizer bar disconnect, high performance off-road stability suspension 3.0, and 35-inch Goodyear territory RT tires, so it can deliver off-road performance worthy of the Strop name. The 2025 Bronco Strop Special Edition wears a modern take on the original Calypso Coral, Wimbledon White, and Astro Blue livery of the Strop Baja Broncos. Needless to say, this review is all about the Ford Bronco Strop Special Edition model. Starting with the sixth edition of the Bronco that debuted in 2021 after a 25-year hiatus, the current Ford Bronco is manufactured at the Automakers Michigan Assembly Complex in Wayne, Michigan. The Bronco Strop is equipped with a twin turbocharged EcoBoost 2.7-liter gasoline V6 engine that makes 315 horsepower and 410 foot pounds of torque. Energy is transferred to the drive wheels via 10-speed automatic transmission with a standard oil cooler. EPA fuel numbers, economy numbers, are 17 city, 18 highway. And I need to mention this: the goat driving menu for this drop also adds a Baja mode. Just wanted you to know that. Cargo capacity is 108.4 cubic feet. Dynamic roof load is 110 pounds. Static load 450 pounds. Towing capacity is 3,500 pounds. Suspension hardware includes the Fox Internal Bypass Dampers designed for performance and improved control during high-speed desert running. The Bronco Strop also includes the following changes over the regular Bronco. Frozen white grille with coat orange bronco word mark, coat orange front tow hooks, and a standard steel bumper. Strop special edition and bronco branding on the front and rear fenders, of course. Squared off high clearance fenders in coat orange, unique removable sidesteps with integrated rock rails, a 17-inch beadlock capable wheels with a matte black beadlock ring, a gloss black spokes, and a matte black tailgate. Here's what I liked about the Bronco Strop. When I say this vehicle is beyond capable, it seems like an understatement. I mean when you combine the strong and capable powertrain, the number of GOAT drive modes, on-demand four-wheel drive, automatic for high, for low, too high, front and rear lockable differentials, trail control with one-pedal drive, trail turn assist, an elevated outward view, and, well, I think you get the gist. Just, wow. The current Ford Bronco was not designed to be a poser, but to be the real deal. The Strop Edition takes that concept to the next level. And let me continue. The side view mirrors even have lighting for better night visibility when navigating off-road. Displays, controls, and switch gear are user-friendly. Retained accessory power and remote engine start only adds to the positive experience. And even the tires come up for praise with bona fide off-road capability to get it done. It's an auto poser. The spare tire is mounted on the rear door, not under the vehicle. And y'all know how I feel about that. So, here's what I don't like about the Bronco Strop. Well, I love the capabilities of this Bronco. I thought the price was way out of line. Did have fog lights. The right side view mirror was too far forward in order to be fully used by short drivers. The 50-50 split rear seat seemed to be an uncomfortable afterthought. Old school flip and fold that didn't fold flat with the cargo floor, adding insult to injury, removing these seats is not quick or convenient. And atop all of that, the rear seating area is also hard to access or manipulate, a problem for two adults or growing teens. While I love the functionality of the two-piece rear steel hatch, its usefulness was limited by the need to open the upper steel door portion first as they are not independent. And I shouldn't have to say this in 2026, but it is. The fuel economy is abysmal. And the Nanny State driver monitoring system was downright terrible. It kept telling me to keep my hands on the wheel when they never left the wheel. I was aggravated to the extreme. See here's the bottom line. The two-door Bronco Strop is a vehicle of strong pros and cons. While I would just bite the bullet and remove the rear seats or upgrade to the four-door if you really need to carry through more people, I would love to add a five-ton electric winch to the front and call it a day. You're going to pay dearly to own this one, although you might consider starting with a base Bronco and equipment to your liking. Just a thought. Destination charges add$1,895. The Strop as tested, I only had one option: a sound deadening headliner. Total cost of that option,$135. Total MSRP, including options and destination charges, came to$77,665. That's a lot of money. I mean, it is awesome. Is it almost$80 grand awesome? Mmm. Maybe even$60. Low snowfall and warm temperatures are bad news for water resources. This is the Tech Mobility Show.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

Now you need the right partner to make it happen. At Playbook Investors Network, we power ambitious leaders with the tools, insight, and investment connections to move faster, grow stronger, and lead markets. We're more than advisors, we're your co-pilots in success. Because in business, standing still is not an option. Playbook Investors Network, fueling ambition, delivering results. Visit pincommunity.org.

Low Snowfall, Warm Temps, and Scarce Water

SPEAKER_04 21:44

Did you know that Tech Mobility has a YouTube channel? Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. Each week, I upload a few short videos of some of the hot topics that I cover during my weekly radio program. I've designed these videos to be informative and entertaining. Way to keep up on current mobility and technology news and information. Be sure to watch, like, and subscribe to my channel. That's the Tech Mobility Show on YouTube. Check it out. It's been a while since we've discussed climate change and the scarcity of water. While wrecked snowfall and single-digit temperatures have pummeled the southeast and eastern United States recently, and extreme snow drought and unusually warm weather are keeping skiers off mountains, snowmobilers off trails, and waters out of the rivers of much of the West. What's going on? This is topic B. I haven't talked about the Colorado River in a while. But it's time, and we need to talk. Let me start by explaining the importance of a snowpack. Consider a frozen snowpack to be a reservoir of sorts. The snow falls, but it doesn't melt, doesn't flow right away. It stays in the colder climbs, and as the weather warms up in the mid-range and higher elevations, it starts to melt, releasing this water, releasing this energy into brooks, streams, rivers, reservoirs. What happens when the ground warms up? What happens when the weather is warmer? When you get precip, it's rain, not snow. And you go, well, so what? Well, big deal. Rain flows now. And that much rain, flooding, rock slides, landslides, and no reserve. Let me drop this on you. From December 1st last year to January 15th, temperatures were up to fifteen degrees above normal in the Rockies, the Cascades, and the Sierra Nevada. Colorado is having its warmest weather, its warmest winter since 1895. Pre-sip that would normally have arrived as snow in many places, instead appeared as rain and caused widespread flooding. And if you go back a few months, you may remember the severe flooding that happened in the Pacific Northwest in general and Washington State in particular. The mountains of Oregon are one of the hardest hit. And they're struggling with a lack of snow. Let me give you an example. Mount Bachelor is a ski resort near Bend, Oregon. Last year, 2025, last year, go back a year. They had 109 inches of snow at its base. This year, 27 inches. Snow in the runs is so thin that the resort has closed two of its 12 ski lifts. The Salt Lake City Airport may set a new record this winter for low snowfall. So far, one tenth of an inch has fallen. The previous low, almost 100 years ago, 1933, 1934, 14.3 inches. Before we even get into the impact of a lack of water in the Colorado, what kind of toll do you think is taking on states that are known for winter recreation and sports? I mean, like Colorado, you're looking at uh Steamboat Rock, Aspen, Vale, a host of others. That industry, the ski industry in Colorado, is worth five billion with a B dollars a year. Five billion. One of the companies up there, one of the resort companies, we've experienced one of the worst early season snowfalls in the Western U.S. in over 30 years. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, because I'm covering this article, let me tell everything. Scientists say that it's difficult to attribute this winter's dry season and others to climate change alone. There I said it. You heard me say it. But the weather models suggest that the pattern will continue. Predictions are that we will get less snow because the precipitation base will be rain rather than snow, and the line at which the snow accumulates will keep creeping up. We've had multiple rainstorms rather than snow. We've had rain up to 10,000 feet elevation, which is pretty abnormal here. Now the good news is Montana and western Wyoming ski areas in the northern Rockies are in good shape. High above 6,000 feet, the snowpack is great at medium and low elevations. It's as bad as I've ever seen it. Fun fact that snow melt that goes into the rivers is at the mid-elevations where there ain't any. A major concern for the West is how snowpack levels affect water resources for the coming year. Most of the runoff originates from middle or lower elevations, which cover a far greater area than land at high altitudes. In the Pacific Northwest, unusually heavy rains from what is called the Pineapple Express, an atmospheric river that flows from in from the Pacific Ocean, brought torrential rain and extremely damaging floods to Washington, Idaho, and Montana, washing out roads and bridges. Here's what you may not realize. The rain melted a lot of the snow, decreasing the snowpack by 50% in one drainage. Here's something else you may not realize. The state of Utah, it gets 95% of its water from the snowpack. But just 5 to 15% of the runoff comes from high elevations. It's that lower to mid elevations that isn't there. You know, we talk about water scarcity. We think Arizona. We think Mexico. We think California. Um add Utah to the list. Last year, drought caused low flows for irrigation in the farm fields of northern Montana. Resulted in water rationing. Now you're like, why should I care? You will. What do you think they grow up there? Beets, sugar beets, and wheat. Yeah, winter wheat. Sugar beets, there are two kinds of sugar you buy at the grocery store. Both granulated white sugar. One comes from cane sugar, from sugar cane, and most of it comes from a process where they get sugar from beets. Most of the sugar we consume comes from beets. And if the crops fail, guess what? Price of sugar is going up, and every baked good and everything that uses sugar will go up. If the winter wheat crop fails, that wheat goes in all stuff, pasta, baked goods, everything. Your breakfast is going to cost you a heck of a whole lot more. What snow does for winter wheat is insulate the ground and the seed. If the temperatures drop without snow, the seed could die. If that happens and they have to buy seed and replant, that would be expensive with today's commodity prices. So it's just more than Colorado, and that's a major issue. But there are issues north, way north, that you hadn't thought about. And for the record, everybody around the table that needs to talk about water in the Colorado aren't coming to any conclusions. They gotta make hard choices and nobody wants to blink. It's a problem. It is indeed a problem. With the escape crossover out of the lineup, it seems Ford may have an affordability problem. We are the Tech Mobility Show.

SPEAKER_00 31:10

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SPEAKER_04 31:42

To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings at the Tech Mobility Show by visiting TechMobility.show. That's TechMobility.show. You can also drop us a line at talk at TechMobility.show.

SPEAKER_01 32:13

In business, opportunity doesn't wait, and neither should you. At Playbook Investors Network, we connect visionary entrepreneurs with the strategies, resources, and capital they need to win. Whether you're launching, scaling, or reimagining your business, our network turns ambition into measurable success. Your vision deserves more than a plan. It deserves a playbook that works. Playbook Investors Network, where bold ideas meet bold results. Visit pincommunity.org today.

Ford Drops Escape: Dealers Concerned

SPEAKER_04 32:44

Did you know that Tech Mobility has a YouTube channel? Hi, I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. Each week, I upload a few short videos of some of the hot topics that I cover during my weekly radio program. I've designed these videos to be informative and entertaining. It's another way to keep up on current mobility and technology news and information. Be sure to watch, like, and subscribe to my channel. That's the Tech Mobility Show on YouTube. Check it out. Since 2001, the Ford Escape was the automaker's affordable entry-level vehicle into the SUV side of things. Bear in mind that at the time of its debut, Ford was still very deeply in the car business, with Focus, Escort, Mustang, Taurus, Crown Victoria, and the Windstar Minivan. But the escape was just the ticket for those who wanted more than a car, less than a truck, and for sure wasn't going to be caught dead in a minivan. It evolved over time. Even Spawnus, the first ever crossover-based hybrid, in 2004. But the Ford Motor Company says that the escape doesn't fit into his brand portfolio anymore, but the dealers beg to differ. This is topic C. If you wanted to know when to mourn the last Ford Escape built by the Ford Motor Company, I'm afraid you're two months too late. The last Ford Escape, after a 25-year run, rolled off the line at Louisville Assembly on December 17th with Little Fanfare. You see, the Escape became Ford's entry-level vehicle as they uh as their business evolved. They got out of the car business. They continued doubling down on trucks. The escape was the thing. Even after they stopped making the edge, they made the flex for whatever reason. But this was the vehicle. It was stylish. It gave a better uh road height. You you sat above things. It was affordable. It wasn't big, it was garageable. You couldn't run it, and it did not look like a truck. The challenge we got now, and I'm picking on the Ford Motor Company. Ford doesn't have an affordable vehicle. If you don't want a truck-looking vehicle, but you want to own a Ford, and you're not gonna buy a Mustang, and you're gonna not gonna buy a Marquee, you're stuck. Ford doesn't make the edge anymore. Ford's been out the car business. The Mustang is a niche vehicle, with the Mustang Marquee being even more niche, those aren't gonna necessarily work for you. If affordability is your game, the escape was something that you wanted that wasn't truck like but gave you advantages, more carrying capacity, uh, better seating situation. It was it was right. I thought Ford had figured this out six years ago when they introduced the Ford Maverick. That unibody truck, they offered an XL in a hybrid for$19,995. I drove it. I was impressed. Ford was sold out of that vehicle for two full model years. The public responded so strongly, you'd think they'd get the hint. Earlier this year, I reviewed a Ford Maverick Lobo, which is Ford's take on a lowrider on a street truck. And it had a pretty hefty price. It was well north of 30 grand. My problem is that if you want to sell Ford, if you want to bring people into the brand, you get to offer them a Bronco sport, and there's nothing wrong with it. You can offer them the Maverick. But what if you don't want a truck? What if you don't want an SUV-looking SUV? You're stuck. I mean, the Bronco Sport is very capable, but it's not for everybody. And it's pricier, which is half the thing. My friend Jim Farley, the president of the Ford Motor Company, feels that the vehicles they sell need to generate excitement and passion. Uh, Mr. Farley, some of us just want reliable, affordable transportation to get from point A to point B every day. We don't always have the luxury of having a pat being passionate about our vehicle. We're passionate when it starts, when it runs, we can make the payments and afford the insurance. Thank you very much. For its plan, build more basic models of all their product line. I'm sorry, even a base explorer is more money than I can afford. I would love to see them get back to a base model maverick, even if it's$22,000,$23,000. Even$24,000, because I understand inflation, things. The dealers are saying, hey, we've sold thousands, hundreds of thousands of these. And even when you look at the production numbers, the Ford Bronco sport did not outsell the escape. It got close. Last year it got within 10,000 units, but the escape still outsold it. They are selling last year, they sold a hundred and forty thousand Ford Escapes. That's not that's not peanuts, people. But they complain, being an older design, it's not as profitable. We can't get people excited about it so that we can upsell them. Uh, I just need a vehicle to run. So what are the dealers doing? They're not happy about it. And they're trying to find ways to get somebody who wants an entry-level vehicle into a Ford. Part of that's going to be leaning on their used car inventory, their used vehicle inventory. But here's the problem with that. You remember this thing called the pandemic? Most of these vehicles, most of these late model, late model used vehicles, they would buy a dealer auction. They would put into their certified pre-owned inventory. That used to be a good deal for everybody. Here's the problem. If you remember, most of the industry was shut down for a lot of time. So the vehicles that would have gone into leasing then don't exist. So coming out now, you've got a dearth of those vehicles, and the vehicles that are in the pipeline that are available because of supply and demand will cost more. So if you're driving a 15-year-old vehicle, you know you need to trade. And you were thinking that just maybe, just maybe, I can afford an escape. For it says there's 26,000 escapes on the ground right now. Dealers think that that should hold them till about mid-year. So it's not totally over, but trust me, as those start going away, the dealers will be less willing to make a deal. That's the problem. When they were building them, they make a deal. Here, not too much. Why? It's a disappearing disappearing product that everybody wants. They're gonna hold as much gross as they can. That's just the way this works. Oh well. Ford needs an affordable vehicle. I'm not sure that the Broncos Sport and the Maverick are the vehicles that are gonna do it for everybody. We'll do it for some, but somebody wants something that's not truck-like and affordable. And right now, it looks like they're going elsewhere. And the dealers know it, and they're not too happy about it. So the matter is, Ford, did you go too far?

SPEAKER_00 41:42

This is the Tech Mobility Podcast.

SPEAKER_01 41:48

Every great business starts with a spark, but taking it to the next level takes strategy, connections, and capital. That's where Playbook Investors Network comes in. We're your strategic partner for accelerating growth, navigating challenges, and capturing market opportunities before your competition does. Your business is more than an idea. Let's make it an impact. Playbook Investors Network. Your future starts here. Learn more at pincommunity.org.

SPEAKER_04 42:19

To learn more about the Tech Mobility Show, start by visiting our website. I'm Ken Chester, host of the Tech Mobility Show. The website is a treasure trove of information about me and the show, as well as where to find it on the radio across the country. Keep up with the happenings at the Tech Mobility Show by visiting TechMobility.show. You can also drop us a line at the talk at TechMobility.show.

SPEAKER_00 42:44

Are you tired of jumping multiple apps and platforms for meetings, weapon numbers, and staying connected? Look no further than AON Meetings.com with more than one remote-based platform that does it all. With AON meetings, you can effortlessly communicate with clients, boost virtual meetings and weapon members. All in one place and one place the best you can have your way for each five. It's time to simplify your life and boost your productivity. AON meetings.com for innovation meets connections. It's the production day and revolutionize the way you communicate.

SPEAKER_01 43:18

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