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This Is How Your 2023 Automotive Predictions Fared

This Is How Your 2023 Automotive Predictions Fared

Why were so many of you convinced Toyota would buy out Mazda?

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The Tesla Cybertruck during a tour of the Elkhorn Battery Energy Storage System in Moss Landing, California, U.S., on Monday, June 6, 2022.
Photo: Nic Coury/Bloomberg (Getty Images)

Each year, I’ve taken to asking you fine readers of Jalopnik to peer into your crystal ball and tell me just what you think is going to happen in the automotive world for the upcoming year. From the painfully true (nope, car prices still aren’t normal) to the hilariously incorrect (Charles Leclerc as Formula 1 World Champion), these are how your predictions fared.

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2 / 17

No EV Demand

No EV Demand

Image for article titled This Is How Your 2023 Automotive Predictions Fared
Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto (Getty Images)

In 2023 demand for existing EV charging points will exceed availability in many US locations, causing a reckoning, of sorts, with many consumers trading back to ICE vehicles. While the Biden administration will express interest in addressing the shortage on a national level, a republican congress will prevent meaningful change.

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Suggested by: Paaron

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3 / 17

Where’s The Cybertruck?

Where’s The Cybertruck?

A Tesla Cybertruck at a Tesla store in San Jose, California, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023
Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg (Getty Images)

No surprise: Tesla Cybertruck and Roadster are still MIA. Lordstown, Canoo, and Faraday Future collapse (or stick around as shell companies that exist only to sue other companies for stealing trade secrets for cars that no one actually makes). At least 6 car models die, while 20-30 new SUV/Truck models and/or variants are born.

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Suggested by: paradsecar

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4 / 17

Ford Recalls Upon Ford Recalls!

Ford Recalls Upon Ford Recalls!

A Ford Explorer SUV is parked for sale at a dealership on June 12, 2019 in Glendale, California
Photo: Mario Tama (Getty Images)

At least a dozen Ford recalls

GM announces a Trailblazer EV, causing rumors the Bolt will finally get axed in a few years.

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Suggested by: engineerthefuture

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5 / 17

Ain’t That Obvious?

Ain’t That Obvious?

Max Verstappen doing donuts at the 2023 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Photo: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto (Getty Images)

In Formula 1 the driving will be overshadowed by allegations of cheating, rules bending and people just being dicks.

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Suggested by: Pitchblende

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6 / 17

Well, You Got One Right

Well, You Got One Right

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc sits on a barrier after crashing at the start of the Formula One Brazil Grand Prix at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace racetrack, also known as Interlagos, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 5, 2023
Photo: DOUGLAS MAGNO/AFP (Getty Images)

Charles Leclerc is the 2023 F1 drivers champion

Lewis Hamilton will announce his retirement from F1 at the end of the 2023 season, a decision which he will regret and tries to go back on immediately after Mercedes has replaced him.

The new Prius is a hit.

Tesla finishes 2023 with a new CEO.

Suggested by: Forkish

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7 / 17

Cars Are Boring Now

Cars Are Boring Now

Couple sitting in a Cabriolet
Photo: Dr. Paul Wolff & Tritschler/Corbis (Getty Images)

I predict there will be even fewer new cars that I have any interest at all in purchasing.

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Suggested by: krhodes1

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8 / 17

Faraday Future: How?

Faraday Future: How?

n this photo illustration, the Faraday Future logo is displayed on a smartphone screen
Photo: Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket (Getty Images)

January 1, 2024:

Faraday Future still isn’t fucking dead? How is that even possible?

Suggested by: shanepj13

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9 / 17

Supply = Demand?

Supply = Demand?

Newly assembled vehicles at the Subaru Corp. Gunma Yajima Plant in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023
Photo: Akio Kon/Bloomberg (Getty Images)

I predict supply of new cars will finally catch up with demand, and we will once again see vehicles available below sticker price.

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Suggested by: marktheboomer

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10 / 17

Autopiloting To Disaster

Autopiloting To Disaster

Protesters hold signs during a demonstration outside of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on August 07, 2023 in San Francisco, California
Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

I’m also predicting that there will be still more accidents caused by people that can’t seem to understand that his “autopilot” just isn’t and probably won’t be for a good while.

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Suggested by: ObscureReference

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11 / 17

Toyota’s Answer To The Maverick?

Toyota’s Answer To The Maverick?

A Ford Maverick is offered for sale at a dealership on January 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois
Photo: Scott Olson (Getty Images)

I predict that Toyota will come out with a Maverick competitor in the fourth quarter.

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Suggested by: JAB2022

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12 / 17

Car Financing Has Gotten Out Of Hand

Car Financing Has Gotten Out Of Hand

A "We Finance" sign is posted at YG Auto Sales on September 06, 2023 in Richmond, California. Credit monitoring agencies are seeing a rise in defaults of credit card and auto loan payments as inflation continues to squeeze the pocketbooks of many Americans
Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

As a means of combating slower sales, automakers will start pushing 10 year loans on cars.

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13 / 17

No Cybertruck Recalls — Yet

No Cybertruck Recalls — Yet

Newly manufactured Tesla Cybertrucks are parked outside the company's Giga Texas factory on December 13, 2023, in Austin, Texas
Photo: SUZANNE CORDEIRO / AFP (Getty Images)

Tesla finds itself in serious need to have positive news in the market and will rush the Cybertruck out. Unfortunately, a couple significant recalls on it will affect it even more than the fact that it’s ugly.

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Suggested by: dolsh

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14 / 17

Mazda’s Still Runnin’

Mazda’s Still Runnin’

Japanese car maker Mazda company logo at their exhibition area during the Japan Mobility Show 2023 in Tokyo Big Sight
Photo: Stanislav Kogiku/SOPA Images/LightRocket (Getty Images)

My 2023 Predictions:

1. Toyota will buy Mazda

2. Tesla stock will continue to tank and the company will be sold

3. Apple or Google will announce some crazy car-related AR tech with a cringey name like Dynamic Windshield

4. Some or all of my Predictions will be wrong

Suggested by: Stephen

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15 / 17

EV Apathy

EV Apathy

 A general picture shows a cable charging an electric BMW i4 car during the inauguration of an Atlante electric vehicle charging station, located at CityLife district, on December 11, 2023 in Milan, Italy
Photo: Emanuele Cremaschi (Getty Images)

Across the board of slowing demand for EVs from consumers, while automakers continue to be behind the 8 ball and invest disproportionally large budget in EV development and treat ICE like a chronic PITA that wouldn’t go away.

R34 Skyline prices mysteriously collapsed so I could buy one.

Suggested by: OhAlbanianKar

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16 / 17

Do We Ever?

Do We Ever?

Stellantis logo is seen displayed on a mobile phone screen with stock market percentages in the background
Photo: Idrees Abbas/SOPA Images/LightRocket (Getty Images)

Nobody will have any idea what Stellantis is up to.

Suggested by: dolsh

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