The Kona packs a better range but is just not as roomy(the ICE or EV version) as the Niro which is perfectly comfortable even with taller adults in all seating positions. The Ioniq has the best EV range potential if they dropped the bigger pack in it as it is the lightest to start with and the most aerodynamic of the…

BMW has never really had luxurious interiors. They’re best (everything up to and including the E46) were simple, spartan and clean, even if they had all the current luxury features of the day.

This is completely correct. I am currently shopping and the Model 3 makes an extremely compelling case because it is the only not lame EV option. If you’ve been using a 3-series/A4/C-class as a second car (i.e. it’s not your family’s road trip vehicle), it’s beyond a no-brainer, even if you don’t have a garage to park…

The Hyundai Kona does it pretty well with either ICE only or all EV, and though the EV is not revolutionary it has decent performance and better than average range. The Ioniq/Niro both do hybrid or full EV as well, the EV’s though are weak on range especially next to the Kona. The needs for ICE, hybrids, and EV’s are…

The RAV4 hybrid is outselling the Prius now.

The RAV4 hybrid is like outselling the Prius 6 to 1.

Tesla is like the rabbit and the veggies are like the automotive market share...

Especially when Wall Street beats you up if your quarterly reports aren’t glowing. Large scale, long term investment, even when it’s well thought out, are discouraged by the stock market.

Outselling Prius sounds like a huge accomplishment...but holy shit have Prius sales tanked! I didn’t realize they had fallen so much until I just looked up the numbers.

Yep, no effect whatsoever. By the way past BMW powner, switched to MB. 

There are no rare elements inside lithium ion batteries, they are all extremely common. The only rare elements are in the motors (assuming they aren’t using ac induction motors), and frankly that never stopped us before. Cars use platinum today which is way rarer than anything that goes into a motor.

Ford Fusion sold pretty decently at 57,474 cars in 2017 or 27% of the hybrid market. This year RAV4 hybrid is outselling the prius by a slight margin.

Neutral

Why not both? The BMW 3-series is one of the most traded-in vehicles for Tesla Model 3.

I agree that the X1/X2/X3 is also having an effect as well. But the Model 3 ain’t helping the situation and BMW has nothing that competes with it.

Mainstream automakers are finally catching on to the fact that no one said an electric vehicle had to look — or drive — like an under-powered jelly bean.

...even Mazda?

I think it was Musk who said something like: When everything has an electric drivetrain, design will sell cars.

How does BMW improve?

Sadly this, with batteries.