IRAs, Apples, And EVs -- May 12, 2019

IRAs: contribution maximum increased by $500. First increase since 2013.

 

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GM Cuts Price Of Chevy Bolt

I was curious to read more about the Chevy Bolt price cut. The first google search led me to this -- note the date of the articles -- early March, 2019. GM says, "... read our lips; no price cut."

But I knew I had seen a price cut for the Chevy Bolt posted earlier. Another search. Two months later, GM says, "Never mind."

The discount:

Chevrolet Bolt EV sales decreased 1.35 percent to 4,316 units in the first quarter of 2019 as the auto industry had its worst-performing first quarter since Q1 2014. So, as complete federal electric vehicle tax credits ran out on April 1st, a new Chevrolet discount reduces the price of select Bolt EV models by 15 percent in April 2019, which can total over $6,500 in some cases.

Yup, it's all about the Federal and state incentives. Same with solar and wind energy.

Sales for 1Q19 may have decreased 1.35% but month-over-month is was incredibly worse.

If Tesla is price-competitive it will destroy the competition (as we are seeing). Tesla accounts for almost 80% of new EV sales. 

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The Apple Page

This is so cool. I'm sitting poolside at our daughter's house in north Texas -- the setting rivals any I experienced in southern California -- just saying -- listening to YouTube through my daughter's wireless over-the-ears Beats headphones, and while reading The Wall Street Journal, come across this article:

The best truly wireless headphones—besides AirPods. Apple AirPods started the revolution in totally wireless, internet-accessible headphones—but they are no longer your only option.

Unfortunately the article is only about ear buds, nothing about over-the-ear headphones.

Having said that, from the article:

You shouldn’t have to spend an hour getting your music going. This is where Apple really shines. Both the AirPods and the Powerbeats Pro are remarkably easy to pair to any other Apple device—and when you’ve connected your headphones the first time, they’re automatically paired to your other Apple devices. Even on Android phones, they seem to connect more seamlessly than most, and the feature that pauses your music whenever you take your headphones out works great on any phone. Samsung’s Galaxy Buds are the closest Android analog, but nobody matches Apple here. [That was the experience I had with my daughter's Beats -- my computer and the headphones paired immediately, no fuss, no muss.]

Overall, the Powerbeats Pro is my favorite pair of the bunch; they sound good and connect easily, and the Hanger style keeps the buds securely on my ears. They’re one of the more expensive options, though. Plus, the case is so stupidly large it’s like carrying a hockey puck in my pocket. Which I don’t ordinarily do.

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5G

Update at The Wall Street Journal.