Dealers mishandle leads at high rates, Morgan Stanley upgrades Carvana, Hyundai rolls out Tesla charging adapter

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— CDG

1. Website leads are pouring in, but dealerships aren’t keeping up—report

Dealers are losing out on sales due to poor lead management—not a lack of leads.

The details: A new Foureyes report reveals that nearly half of website leads weren’t managed properly last year, including calls, forms, and chats.

The biggest issue? Timing…when a customer revisits a dealer’s website, nearly 65% of dealers don’t respond within a 24-hour window.

(Go deeper: 1 min. read)

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2. Carvana gets stock upgrade from Morgan Stanley analysts

Carvana just got a big vote of confidence from Morgan Stanley in the form of a stock upgrade.

The investment firm also bumped Carvana’s price target to $280—suggesting a 25% upside.

But why?

According to Morgan Stanley—the retailer’s Q4 results present a strong case for steady profitability.

Big picture: Some investors are back on board—but Carvana’s success will depend on consistent execution in a volatile used car market…

(Go deeper: 2 min. read)

3. Hyundai joins Tesla charging network in an effort to ease consumer concerns

Hyundai is taking steps to make EV charging easier.

How? 

By connecting a handful of its EV models to the Tesla Supercharger network through a Hyundai-designed complimentary NACS adapter.

And the goal? To provide convenience and peace of mind.

This is a big win for current EV owners and potential buyers, given that charging station availability ranked as the leading barrier to EV adoption in Q4.

(Go deeper: 2 min. read)

• The loophole is back open – Kias can charge at Tesla Superchargers again

• Michigan Strategic Fund board approves incentives transfer for GM battery partner

• Don't Recognize the 2026 Leaf, Sentra, and Rogue? That's What Nissan Intended

• Waymo robotaxis racked up $65,000 in San Francisco parking tickets last year

• Thailand’s auto exports take a hit as global market tilts towards EVs

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG