Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky have apparently agreed to sit down for a one-on-one meeting within the next two weeks.
Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, told reporters that Putin had agreed to a summit with the Ukrainian leader following a phone call with Donald Trump on Monday.
Didn’t we have one of those in Turkey… oh no, the scardy cat didn’t turn up
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Some people don't seem very tolerant that other people might have conflicting views.
I’m sure it’s unrelated but one of the organisers of the letter was on the receiving end of a less than flattering review of her first book from Mr Boyne.
Good on the organisers for cancelling rather than go ahead under such circumstances.
“ President Donald Trump offered tantalizing glimpses of how he could approach presidential greatness by saving Ukraine, securing Europe and genuinely deserving the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Ooh err. Next weeks top story on cnn: We are all maga now.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Is it literally impossible for Sir Liability to go somewhere without giving someone our money?
It's not ideal, but *if* we manage to secure Europe now, it's money well spent. The alternative is a much larger - and more expensive in terms of men and material - war later.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I've had a lot of time to reflect, these last months of relative stablity - of quietness, reclusion, solitude, introspection. I've mulled over my assumptions, and often found them forlornly wanting - I now recognise that I've made far too many glib pronouncements, and facile statements over the PB years. And for these I apologise. I likewise apologise for those times - so many they make me wince - when I have been gracelessly offensive or needlessly abusive. I apologise for those moments, as well
On top of that, I have learned one other thing: everyone on the left is a wanker
Relative to your good self, that is 99.3% of the population. Ish.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
The model's out (sales started in May), and IIRC Mr Pioneers has altered his stance from "Wait for the new model" to "wait longer!"
I could talk about NIMBYs, and other things but it’s worth saying this is 20 years in planning
While visiting family in Queensland, we drove past a few second hand homes sites. They're just like car dealer showrooms but offering (transportable) homes instead. Very odd seeing a 3 bedroom home on stilts ready to roam.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
The model's out (sales started in May), and IIRC Mr Pioneers has altered his stance from "Wait for the new model" to "wait longer!"
I’m glad, for Tesla investors, they have fingers in other pies. This pie seems to be a rather poor one. Like a Tesco value pie rather than a Marks and Spencer’s one.
Sources saying something around "he did not commit the time". His (she claims) mum disagrees:
As his mother, I can confirm this is not the truth. Cllr Joseph Boam committed 100% of his time to the role and that is simply not true. 12:13 PM · Aug 17, 2025 50.8K Views https://x.com/Lady_AmandaB/status/1957037962245321033
The website says it is their scalp, so it could be local media achieving cut through.
I have been very busy all day, so what has happened with Trump and big Z meeting with the European leaders hovering around in the background? Anything positive?
Ukraine the Latest are more positive than I was expecting. Probably a good place to start; this came out in the early hours.
Newsnight: Children's Commissioner for England — VPNs must have age checks.
This age check stuff is over done. Just get porn sites to use captchas with things that will baffle kids, such as "tick all the squares containing CDs"
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
The model's out (sales started in May), and IIRC Mr Pioneers has altered his stance from "Wait for the new model" to "wait longer!"
I’m glad, for Tesla investors, they have fingers in other pies. This pie seems to be a rather poor one. Like a Tesco value pie rather than a Marks and Spencer’s one.
It really has been a series of brilliant moves from the master genius. Release an overpriced and underwhelming vehicle no-one wants (Cybertruck), whilst letting your core range get stale, develop a mass of technical debt, delay announced products by years (Roadster 2, Cyerbtruck) for which you take hefty deposits, and develop products that disappear (Tesla Semi).
And all the while, royally piss off your core and most vociferous market: wealthy liberals, at a time when competitors are releasing compelling alternatives without any of the baggage.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Yes, $100bn in return for some worthless US "security guarantees" is a very poor deal indeed.
On the other hand, the US has already almost stopped any actual funding due Ukraine, and the arms supplied are now being paid for by Europe. The need for them isn't going away fast, even as Europe ramps up its own arms production, so it's perhaps not quite as disastrous a deal as the headline suggests.
I have been very busy all day, so what has happened with Trump and big Z meeting with the European leaders hovering around in the background? Anything positive?
Ukraine the Latest are more positive than I was expecting. Probably a good place to start; this came out in the early hours.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
The model's out (sales started in May), and IIRC Mr Pioneers has altered his stance from "Wait for the new model" to "wait longer!"
I’m glad, for Tesla investors, they have fingers in other pies. This pie seems to be a rather poor one. Like a Tesco value pie rather than a Marks and Spencer’s one.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Yes, $100bn in return for some worthless US "security guarantees" is a very poor deal indeed.
On the other hand, the US has already almost stopped any actual funding due Ukraine, and the arms supplied are now being paid for by Europe. The need for them isn't going away fast, even as Europe ramps up its own arms production, so it's perhaps not quite as disastrous a deal as the headline suggests.
Our post-war (and frankly during war) leaders did this to us when it was decided that we would be a vassal state to the US, maintaining a polite pretence of sovereignty. Sir Blancmange is only the latest and worst example of a long and ignominious line.
I could talk about NIMBYs, and other things but it’s worth saying this is 20 years in planning
While visiting family in Queensland, we drove past a few second hand homes sites. They're just like car dealer showrooms but offering (transportable) homes instead. Very odd seeing a 3 bedroom home on stilts ready to roam.
It is quite normal in NZ too. A relative there literally moved house 10 miles down the road to a new plot.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
The model's out (sales started in May), and IIRC Mr Pioneers has altered his stance from "Wait for the new model" to "wait longer!"
I’m glad, for Tesla investors, they have fingers in other pies. This pie seems to be a rather poor one. Like a Tesco value pie rather than a Marks and Spencer’s one.
M and S is overrated 😂
So are people who are always contrary for the sake of it because they crave attention 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Sources saying something around "he did not commit the time". His (she claims) mum disagrees:
As his mother, I can confirm this is not the truth. Cllr Joseph Boam committed 100% of his time to the role and that is simply not true. 12:13 PM · Aug 17, 2025 50.8K Views https://x.com/Lady_AmandaB/status/1957037962245321033
The website says it is their scalp, so it could be local media achieving cut through.
RefUK need to sort out their non-serious people.
How many left after a cull of the non-serious? Having your mum write you a note isn’t hugely convincing. Dog prepared for council docs eating role?
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Is it literally impossible for Sir Liability to go somewhere without giving someone our money?
It's not ideal, but *if* we manage to secure Europe now, it's money well spent. The alternative is a much larger - and more expensive in terms of men and material - war later.
Luckyguy doesn't seem to have considered that we and Europe will need to carry on buying US weapons for quite some time. Ukraine is for now indefensible without them.
I've long been arguing for more independence from US supply chains, but the reality is that the biggest near term threat to Europe's ability to defend itself would be the US restricting what they were prepared to sell us.
The devil, as ever, will be in the detail, but it's entirely possible that this just formalises what we'd be trying to do anyway. Presenting it as a win for Trump is the necessary flattery to get him to agree to anything.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Donald Trump reminds me of the Marquis of Curzon. He was unkindly (but truthfully) called the Marquis of Cushion because 'he bore the imprint of whichever arse last sat on him.'
If I were a Ukrainian I'd just be very glad he saw Putin first.
I could talk about NIMBYs, and other things but it’s worth saying this is 20 years in planning
While visiting family in Queensland, we drove past a few second hand homes sites. They're just like car dealer showrooms but offering (transportable) homes instead. Very odd seeing a 3 bedroom home on stilts ready to roam.
It is quite normal in NZ too. A relative there literally moved house 10 miles down the road to a new plot.
Yes - stayed at a b and b near Taupo that had been moved hundreds of miles and my ex girlfriends house had been raised on stilts and had an apartment and garage built underneath. That said - it’s typically wooden buildings, not brick/stone. Not much different from portacabins.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Yes, $100bn in return for some worthless US "security guarantees" is a very poor deal indeed.
On the other hand, the US has already almost stopped any actual funding due Ukraine, and the arms supplied are now being paid for by Europe. The need for them isn't going away fast, even as Europe ramps up its own arms production, so it's perhaps not quite as disastrous a deal as the headline suggests.
Our post-war (and frankly during war) leaders did this to us when it was decided that we would be a vassal state to the US, maintaining a polite pretence of sovereignty. Sir Blancmange is only the latest and worst example of a long and ignominious line.
Oh, I agree. We should have joined the nascent European community at the start, rather than joining later, on less favourable terms, and with less influence.
During the war, we had no choice in seeking help from the US. Without it, we'd have lost.
Always an angle shot with the Trumpster. He is like the Las Vegas hospitality scene these days, there is always just one more extra charge on top of the other charges.
Ukraine offers $100bn weapons deal to Trump to win security guarantees
The deal, said to be financed by Europe, would also see Kyiv and Washington strike a $50bn agreement to produce drones with Ukrainian companies. It is unclear which weapons Ukraine would seek to buy, but Kyiv has been open about its desire to procure at least 10 Patriot air defence systems to protect its cities from Russian bombardments.
Yes, $100bn in return for some worthless US "security guarantees" is a very poor deal indeed.
On the other hand, the US has already almost stopped any actual funding due Ukraine, and the arms supplied are now being paid for by Europe. The need for them isn't going away fast, even as Europe ramps up its own arms production, so it's perhaps not quite as disastrous a deal as the headline suggests.
It seems to be $90bn for weapons purchases (over an as yet unspecified time period).
A Santander report had the annual cost to the EU alone of the Ukraine war at $175bn.
If it does actually stop the war, for a decade plus, it doesn't sound like a poor deal.
We are so totally fucked. I wonder if we will hit the wall of reality this year. We are spiralling towards an Italian or Greek style crisis
Like the famous Japanese crisis?
Isn't Japan weirdly insulated because so much of its massive debt is owned by Japanese citizens?
Not that this has stopped Japan economically stagnating for about 30 years
Only up to a point. Japan's 30 year bond yields have gone up almost as much as 30 year gilt yields in the last year, although absolute levels are lower. Japanese savers are discovering other places to put their money, and also consuming their savings as they get older. Population ageing is pressuring public finances everywhere. And Japan's economic stagnation is also in large part a result of its demographics. In per capita term growth looks a lot better, very much in the pack.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
Morning! Its absolutely true that comparing off sale vs on sale in not like for like - which is what much of the media was doing. It's true that sales resumptions do not make for smooth sales numbers - you get an early adopter spike then in drops then it settles.
We're in the post-sale drop. Need to see the rest of the quarter to see how the settle looks.
But sales are down. And were going to be down. I've been commenting on video about it *before the old car went off sale* earlier this year. Was scorned by the usual fanbois for saying Model Y wouldn't be the best selling car in the world this year.
The month on month comparisons for most of this year haven't been LFL. They are valid, but they tell a false story. Handy if you are pushing that false story, less handy if you are interested in reality. I've spent too many decades reporting on sales performance to waste my time trying to defend half-truths and distorted non-LFL comparisons. Because you have to make something up to explain the false narrative and then get stuck with it once it pans out...
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
Morning! Its absolutely true that comparing off sale vs on sale in not like for like - which is what much of the media was doing. It's true that sales resumptions do not make for smooth sales numbers - you get an early adopter spike then in drops then it settles.
We're in the post-sale drop. Need to see the rest of the quarter to see how the settle looks.
But sales are down. And were going to be down. I've been commenting on video about it *before the old car went off sale* earlier this year. Was scorned by the usual fanbois for saying Model Y wouldn't be the best selling car in the world this year.
The month on month comparisons for most of this year haven't been LFL. They are valid, but they tell a false story. Handy if you are pushing that false story, less handy if you are interested in reality. I've spent too many decades reporting on sales performance to waste my time trying to defend half-truths and distorted non-LFL comparisons. Because you have to make something up to explain the false narrative and then get stuck with it once it pans out...
So your view is that everything is rosy and hunky-dory for Tesla and its sales?
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
Morning! Its absolutely true that comparing off sale vs on sale in not like for like - which is what much of the media was doing. It's true that sales resumptions do not make for smooth sales numbers - you get an early adopter spike then in drops then it settles.
We're in the post-sale drop. Need to see the rest of the quarter to see how the settle looks.
But sales are down. And were going to be down. I've been commenting on video about it *before the old car went off sale* earlier this year. Was scorned by the usual fanbois for saying Model Y wouldn't be the best selling car in the world this year.
The month on month comparisons for most of this year haven't been LFL. They are valid, but they tell a false story. Handy if you are pushing that false story, less handy if you are interested in reality. I've spent too many decades reporting on sales performance to waste my time trying to defend half-truths and distorted non-LFL comparisons. Because you have to make something up to explain the false narrative and then get stuck with it once it pans out...
So your view is that everything is rosy and hunky-dory for Tesla and its sales?
Suspect it is part of the product life cycle. ICE cars holding their value but EV cars not so much. It's difficult to value a long term asset based on newer technology. More risk than the well established ICE market.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
Morning! Its absolutely true that comparing off sale vs on sale in not like for like - which is what much of the media was doing. It's true that sales resumptions do not make for smooth sales numbers - you get an early adopter spike then in drops then it settles.
We're in the post-sale drop. Need to see the rest of the quarter to see how the settle looks.
But sales are down. And were going to be down. I've been commenting on video about it *before the old car went off sale* earlier this year. Was scorned by the usual fanbois for saying Model Y wouldn't be the best selling car in the world this year.
The month on month comparisons for most of this year haven't been LFL. They are valid, but they tell a false story. Handy if you are pushing that false story, less handy if you are interested in reality. I've spent too many decades reporting on sales performance to waste my time trying to defend half-truths and distorted non-LFL comparisons. Because you have to make something up to explain the false narrative and then get stuck with it once it pans out...
So your view is that everything is rosy and hunky-dory for Tesla and its sales?
In my mind you have to separate Tesla as a viable car company from Tesla as a $1tn company that will change the world.
On the first point, it was ahead of the electric game and makes cars that a significant number of people like at moderately premium pricing. I see no reason why they can't continue to make profits on that basis.
On the second point, it is an increasingly laughable proposition. It relies upon a 200x price to earnings ratio at a time when both revenue, earnings and subsidies are trending downwards. Its self driving and AI capabilities are behind competitors and seems to rely on Musk's sales pitch. Its brand value has plummeted in many of its core markets, including liberal Americans. And competitors have been catching up on overtaking on the core 'cost effective electric car' product that it has a significant lead in 5 years' ago.
Share prices can defy gravity for a long time so I make no predictions there.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe. Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties. And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
I know he’s not round much now but our resident Tesla expert, @RochdalePioneers, IIRC, said a while back low Tesla sales are partly due to a model change with a new model due soon.
Morning! Its absolutely true that comparing off sale vs on sale in not like for like - which is what much of the media was doing. It's true that sales resumptions do not make for smooth sales numbers - you get an early adopter spike then in drops then it settles.
We're in the post-sale drop. Need to see the rest of the quarter to see how the settle looks.
But sales are down. And were going to be down. I've been commenting on video about it *before the old car went off sale* earlier this year. Was scorned by the usual fanbois for saying Model Y wouldn't be the best selling car in the world this year.
The month on month comparisons for most of this year haven't been LFL. They are valid, but they tell a false story. Handy if you are pushing that false story, less handy if you are interested in reality. I've spent too many decades reporting on sales performance to waste my time trying to defend half-truths and distorted non-LFL comparisons. Because you have to make something up to explain the false narrative and then get stuck with it once it pans out...
tldr: 'I was wrong about Tesla sales bouncing back from May but won't admit it'
Comments
Allegedly a video of flying Flamingos. https://x.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1957455584128545161
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1bX3F7uTrg
The SPD have been stuck in the mid/high teens in the opinion polls since early 2018, apart from a brief surge around the 2021 election.
WHY?
Is it literally impossible for Sir Liability to go somewhere without giving someone our money?
Good on the organisers for cancelling rather than go ahead under such circumstances.
“ President Donald Trump offered tantalizing glimpses of how he could approach presidential greatness by saving Ukraine, securing Europe and genuinely deserving the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Ooh err. Next weeks top story on cnn: We are all maga now.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe.
Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties.
And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
No, I'm not predicting anything.
Sales down 60% in the UK in July YOY. Those proved more resilient than elsewhere in Europe.
Leases offered at 40% discount via third parties.
And USA legal actions working through slowly.
That's a Model Y from around £400+ a month, and a Model 3 for £300+ per month. Those numbers look attractive compared to some comparisons.
No, I'm not predicting anything.
https://www.autoblog.com/news/tesla-slashes-uk-lease-prices-after-sales-collapse-could-the-us-be-next
We may have to wait a long time...
https://www.wired.com/story/it-looks-like-the-tesla-model-y-refresh-has-bombed/
I could talk about NIMBYs, and other things but it’s worth saying this is 20 years in planning
I’m glad, for Tesla investors, they have fingers in other pies. This pie seems to be a rather poor one. Like a Tesco value pie rather than a Marks and Spencer’s one.
As his mother, I can confirm this is not the truth. Cllr Joseph Boam committed 100% of his time to the role and that is simply not true.
12:13 PM · Aug 17, 2025 50.8K Views
https://x.com/Lady_AmandaB/status/1957037962245321033
The website says it is their scalp, so it could be local media achieving cut through.
RefUK need to sort out their non-serious people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHs1DEiBhbo
Putin and Zelensky to meet within two weeks & US 'to protect Ukraine as part of a peace deal'
And all the while, royally piss off your core and most vociferous market: wealthy liberals, at a time when competitors are releasing compelling alternatives without any of the baggage.
Genius.
On property taxes, I'm reminded of this from last October:
https://taxpolicy.org.uk/2024/10/18/how-to-reform-property-tax/
We don't have to call it Land Value Taxation but that's essentially where we finish up.
On the other hand, the US has already almost stopped any actual funding due Ukraine, and the arms supplied are now being paid for by Europe.
The need for them isn't going away fast, even as Europe ramps up its own arms production, so it's perhaps not quite as disastrous a deal as the headline suggests.
But for that, surely Putin will have to admit that Ukraine is a sovereign state, and not a rogue part of Russia?
House prices fall again.
Great news for Buyers.
Having your mum write you a note isn’t hugely convincing. Dog prepared for council docs eating role?
Ukraine is for now indefensible without them.
I've long been arguing for more independence from US supply chains, but the reality is that the biggest near term threat to Europe's ability to defend itself would be the US restricting what they were prepared to sell us.
The devil, as ever, will be in the detail, but it's entirely possible that this just formalises what we'd be trying to do anyway.
Presenting it as a win for Trump is the necessary flattery to get him to agree to anything.
NEW THREAD
Just as we've been buying US arms for Ukraine for the last few years. Along with Europe.
If I were a Ukrainian I'd just be very glad he saw Putin first.
That said - it’s typically wooden buildings, not brick/stone. Not much different from portacabins.
We should have joined the nascent European community at the start, rather than joining later, on less favourable terms, and with less influence.
During the war, we had no choice in seeking help from the US. Without it, we'd have lost.
A Santander report had the annual cost to the EU alone of the Ukraine war at $175bn.
If it does actually stop the war, for a decade plus, it doesn't sound like a poor deal.
And Japan's economic stagnation is also in large part a result of its demographics. In per capita term growth looks a lot better, very much in the pack.
We're in the post-sale drop. Need to see the rest of the quarter to see how the settle looks.
But sales are down. And were going to be down. I've been commenting on video about it *before the old car went off sale* earlier this year. Was scorned by the usual fanbois for saying Model Y wouldn't be the best selling car in the world this year.
The month on month comparisons for most of this year haven't been LFL. They are valid, but they tell a false story. Handy if you are pushing that false story, less handy if you are interested in reality. I've spent too many decades reporting on sales performance to waste my time trying to defend half-truths and distorted non-LFL comparisons. Because you have to make something up to explain the false narrative and then get stuck with it once it pans out...
https://cardealermagazine.co.uk/average-used-car-prices-holding-firm-but-electric-car-prices-still-dropping-fastest/317622
On the first point, it was ahead of the electric game and makes cars that a significant number of people like at moderately premium pricing. I see no reason why they can't continue to make profits on that basis.
On the second point, it is an increasingly laughable proposition. It relies upon a 200x price to earnings ratio at a time when both revenue, earnings and subsidies are trending downwards. Its self driving and AI capabilities are behind competitors and seems to rely on Musk's sales pitch. Its brand value has plummeted in many of its core markets, including liberal Americans. And competitors have been catching up on overtaking on the core 'cost effective electric car' product that it has a significant lead in 5 years' ago.
Share prices can defy gravity for a long time so I make no predictions there.