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Stellantis scraps Jeep, Chrysler plug-in hybrid vehicles amid EV slowdown, recall

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Stellantis scraps Jeep, Chrysler plug-in hybrid vehicles amid EV slowdown, recall


The Camp Jeep outdoor terrain at the New York International Auto Shown on April 16, 2025.

Danielle DeVries | CNBC

DETROIT — Stellantis is scrapping its plug-in hybrid electric Jeep SUVs and Chrysler minivan amid slowing EV sales, quality issues and weakened federal fuel economy requirements.

The automaker on Friday said the decision to end production of the plug-in hybrid Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Chrysler Pacifica was a result of waning customer demand and the need to focus on “more competitive electrified solutions, including hybrid and range‑extended vehicles.

“Stellantis continually evaluates its product strategy to meet evolving customer needs and regulatory requirements. With customer demand shifting, Stellantis will phase out plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) programs in North America beginning with the 2026 model year,” the company said in an emailed statement.

The decision is an about-face for the automaker, which has touted its U.S. sales leadership of the models for years. In 2024, then-Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa — who is now CEO of Stellantis — said the SUV brand planned to sell 160,000 to 170,000 PHEVs that year, and the company said it represented 41% of U.S. PHEV sales.

Aside from sales, Stellantis has been using PHEVs as a way to offset its production of gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs to attempt to meet federal fuel economy standards and avoid penalties. The goal has become less urgent as the Trump administration eliminates or weakens aspects of those rules.

Chrysler first introduced its PHEV minivan in 2016. Jeep debuted the Wrangler PHEV, which it called a “4xe,” in 2020, followed by a Grand Cherokee version in 2021.

PHEVs feature traditional internal combustion engines, but also have an all-electric range when charged like an EV. They have largely been viewed as a transitional technology from traditional vehicles to EVs; however, they are quite costly because of their two different propulsion systems.

The cancellation also comes amid a recall of the Jeep SUVs due to fire risk — the latest in a string of issues for the vehicles. The company is also reevaluating its product portfolio as part of its U.S. turnaround strategy.

A 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Jeep

The company said the recall, which included a stop-sale of the vehicles, “is in no way related” to the cancellation of the vehicles.

Jeep CEO Bob Broderdorf late last month told CNBC the brand was evaluating its electrification strategy since the end of up to $7,500 in federal incentives for EVs and PHEVs in September.

He said Jeep still had vehicles on the ground that it would continue to sell, but “all of us are waiting to see what the demand is, how it’s going to continue to shake out, and what becomes steady state for 4xe and [battery] EVs in general.”

A Jeep spokeswoman said the brand will continue to offer all-electric SUVs such as the Wagoneer S and Recon, which was officially revealed late last year.



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Ajit Jain: Warren Buffett’s trusted executive Ajit Jain buys apartment in Gurugram for Rs 85 crore – The Times of India

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Ajit Jain: Warren Buffett’s trusted executive Ajit Jain buys apartment in Gurugram for Rs 85 crore – The Times of India


A 7,400 sq ft apartment at DLF The Camellias in Gurugram has been purchased by Berkshire Hathaway’s Ajit Jain. The vice-chairman overseeing insurance operations at Berkshire Hathaway, Ajit Jain, is regarded as one of Warren Buffett’s most trusted associates. The apartment has been bought for around Rs 85 crore, according to sources quoted in an ET report.Jain, who has spent most of his time living abroad, recently visited Delhi to complete the deal, the sources said. One person aware of the development said non-resident Indians account for more than 25% of DLF’s ultra-luxury housing portfolio, and Jain is among the most prominent buyers in this segment. The individual added that premium amenities offered at such developments are a major attraction for those who plan to spend only part of the year in India. Jain is widely considered one of the most influential Indian-origin business leaders in the United States.Property consultants noted that since the Covid period, ultra-high-net-worth individuals have increasingly favoured secure, gated condominium projects over independent bungalows, as such residences provide access to a wide range of on-site facilities.ET recently reported that an industrialist purchased four apartments at DLF’s new ultra-luxury project, The Dahlias, for close to Rs 380 crore, making it one of the country’s most expensive apartment transactions.In 2025, Gurugram saw the costliest property deal in the National Capital Region, overtaking Lutyens’ Delhi for the first time. Prices per square foot in the city have surpassed those in Mumbai and reached levels comparable with London and Dubai. Earlier, British entrepreneur Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia had acquired an 11,416 sq ft apartment in the same project for Rs 100 crore.Info-x Software Technology, through its director Rishi Parti, had also purchased a 16,000 sq ft penthouse for Rs 190 crore.In October 2023, ET reported the first Rs 100-crore transaction at the same residential complex on Gurugram’s Golf Course Road.



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US stock market today: Wall Street opens higher as investors await Nvidia earnings – The Times of India

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US stock market today: Wall Street opens higher as investors await Nvidia earnings – The Times of India


US Wall Street’s main indices opened higher on Wednesday, recovering after recent volatility as investors weighed concerns surrounding the AI trade and uncertainty over tariffs ahead of Nvidia’s earnings later in the day (local time).The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 183.1 points, or 0.37%, to 49,357.63 at the open. The S&P 500 gained 25.1 points, or 0.36%, to 6,915.15, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 141.3 points, or 0.62%, to 23,005.008.Nvidia remains at the centre of the AI-driven market narrative, with its chips playing a pivotal role in the ongoing surge in artificial intelligence investments. The company has become one of the most influential stocks on Wall Street.Analysts are projecting another strong earnings performance, with Nvidia’s profit expected to jump nearly 70 per cent year-on-year to $37.52 billion. Such a result would translate into daily earnings exceeding $400 million during the three months through January 25.Nvidia’s earnings reports have increasingly served as a barometer for broader market trends, given the company’s size and AI’s outsized influence on equities. In recent years, enthusiasm around AI helped propel markets to repeated record highs, driven by expectations of productivity gains and improved corporate profitability.However, investor concerns have intensified over the sustainability of heavy AI-related spending. Market participants are closely watching whether major technology companies such as Alphabet and Amazon can generate sufficient returns on their substantial investments in AI infrastructure and chips. Any slowdown in capital expenditure could directly impact Nvidia.Investors have also begun reassessing sectors perceived as vulnerable to AI-led disruption, triggering sharp sell-offs across industries ranging from software to logistics and legal services.“While those concerns are real, we believe investors would be wise to balance them out with offsetting trends that may be underappreciated in the current wall of worry headline cycle,” said Darrell Cronk, Chief Investment Officer for Wealth & Investment Management at Wells Fargo.One such offsetting trend has been the steady growth in corporate earnings reported by large US companies, which has supported segments of the market previously overshadowed by AI-focused stocks, particularly smaller firms.Shares of Cava Group surged 18.6 per cent after the Mediterranean restaurant chain posted stronger-than-expected profit and revenue. The company also reported annual revenue exceeding $1 billion for the first time, marking a 22.5 per cent increase from a year earlier.Similarly, Axon Enterprise jumped 16.5 per cent following better-than-expected earnings, aided by demand for its Tasers, body cameras, and AI-powered solutions.The gains helped counterbalance weakness in First Solar, whose shares fell 14.2 per cent after reporting profit below market expectations.



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Lowe’s earnings beat as sales jump more than 10% despite sluggish housing market

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Lowe’s earnings beat as sales jump more than 10% despite sluggish housing market


A Lowe’s store in Concord, California, US, on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.

David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Lowe’s topped Wall Street’s quarterly revenue and earnings expectations on Wednesday, as the retailer’s sales grew more than 10% year over year.

The home improvement company said it expects total sales for the full current fiscal year to range between $92 billion and $94 billion, which would be a roughly 7% to 9% increase over the prior year. It said it projects adjusted earnings per share to be between $12.25 and $12.75 for the full year. Lowe’s said it expects comparable sales, a metric that takes out one-time factors, to be approximately flat to up 2%.

In a news release, CEO Marvin Ellison said the company’s strategy is resonating with its do-it-yourself customers and home professionals, even as higher mortgage rates and slower real estate sales challenge its industry.

“While the housing macro remains pressured, we are focused on directing what is within our control, which includes our ongoing productivity initiatives,” he said. “We remain confident that we are well-positioned to take share regardless of the macro environment.”

Shares of Lowe’s fell in premarket trading as the company’s earnings per share projections for the year fell short of analysts’ consensus expectations of $12.95, according to LSEG.

Here’s what Lowe’s reported for the fiscal fourth quarter compared with Wall Street’s estimates, according to a survey of analysts by LSEG:

  • Earnings per share: $1.98 adjusted vs. $1.94 expected
  • Revenue: $20.58 billion vs. $20.34 billion expected

Lowe’s net income for the three-month period that ended Jan. 30 dropped to $999 million, or $1.78 per share, from $1.13 billion, or $1.99 per share, in the year-ago quarter. Excluding one-time factors, including expenses associated with recent acquisitions, Lowe’s reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.98.

Revenue rose from $18.55 billion in the year-ago period.

Comparable sales for the quarter climbed 1.3%, higher than the 0.2% that analysts were expecting, according to StreetAccount. The company said in a news release that growth was driven by its gains with home professionals, online sales and home services, along with a strong holiday season.

Its competitor, Home Depot, on Tuesday beat Wall Street’s earnings and revenue expectations, but stuck by conservative full-year guidance. Its quarterly results reflected that home improvement demand remains tepid, as U.S. consumers continue to put off big projects because of high borrowing costs and housing prices as well as economic concerns.

Like Home Depot, Lowe’s has felt pinched by a tougher backdrop for the industry. Both have acquired companies that cater to contractors and other professionals, which tend to be a steadier source of business.

Last year, Lowe’s acquired Foundation Building Materials, a distributor of drywall, insulation and other interior building products for large residential and commercial professionals, for about $8.8 billion. It also bought Artisan Design Group, which provides design services and installation of flooring, cabinets and countertops for homebuilders and property managers, for about $1.33 billion.

Lowe’s has also made its own moves to reach customers who are delaying home purchases, such as launching a third-party marketplace to expand its mix of merchandise, tapping influencers to raise its visibility on social media and reaching out to young families by relaunching its kids’ program.

As of Tuesday’s close, Lowe’s shares are up nearly 16% year to date, surpassing the S&P 500’s roughly 1% gains during the same period. Its stock has risen about 15% over the past year, almost matching the S&P 500’s approximately 16% gains over that time.



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