Luxury Pacific Mist

[SrfnFly227]

The automotive industry has been doing this for 60+ years. At the most basic level, you are armed with every feature and trim level every competitor offers, and the number of vehicles with those options that sell. We can also look at our reservation list for breakdowns at a high level. Beyond that, forecasting magic has to happen. In our case, we are spooling up a brand new factory and so we will start with a few simple build options and certain colors. Then we can expand offerings as production ramps up and quality remains strong. But there are always adjustments throughout the production year (called running changes).

I would bet that a lot of that data is pretty inaccurate. What people buy vs what people want can vary quite a bit due to how many manufacturers package items together.

My 2019 Pacifica is a Limited trim. It came with all sorts of options that my wife and I did not want. But Chrysler only offered memory seats in the Limited trim and above and that feature was a must have because we swap cars almost daily. Data would show that we got a power third seat vs a manual one. We didn't want that, but it's what we ended up with. Data would probably also show that most purchases option for the built in vacuum. You have to dig pretty deep to figure out that a spare tire kit is an option, but deletes the vacuum. Almost every Pacifica we saw on a 2 local lots had the vacuum. We custom ordered ours to get the spare tire.

 

[dreamweaver]

I would bet that a lot of that data is pretty inaccurate. What people buy vs what people want can vary quite a bit due to how many manufacturers package items together.

My 2019 Pacifica is a Limited trim. It came with all sorts of options that my wife and I did not want. But Chrysler only offered memory seats in the Limited trim and above and that feature was a must have because we swap cars almost daily. Data would show that we got a power third seat vs a manual one. We didn't want that, but it's what we ended up with. Data would probably also show that most purchases option for the built in vacuum. You have to dig pretty deep to figure out that a spare tire kit is an option, but deletes the vacuum. Almost every Pacifica we saw on a 2 local lots had the vacuum. We custom ordered ours to get the spare tire.

This is why they do several trim levels, to get their hand in your wallet. This does make the numbers pretty inaccurate.

 

[J Alynn]

I would bet that a lot of that data is pretty inaccurate. What people buy vs what people want can vary quite a bit due to how many manufacturers package items together.

My 2019 Pacifica is a Limited trim. It came with all sorts of options that my wife and I did not want. But Chrysler only offered memory seats in the Limited trim and above and that feature was a must have because we swap cars almost daily. Data would show that we got a power third seat vs a manual one. We didn't want that, but it's what we ended up with. Data would probably also show that most purchases option for the built in vacuum. You have to dig pretty deep to figure out that a spare tire kit is an option, but deletes the vacuum. Almost every Pacifica we saw on a 2 local lots had the vacuum. We custom ordered ours to get the spare tire.

There is truth to this for sure

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

I would bet that a lot of that data is pretty inaccurate. What people buy vs what people want can vary quite a bit due to how many manufacturers package items together.

My 2019 Pacifica is a Limited trim. It came with all sorts of options that my wife and I did not want. But Chrysler only offered memory seats in the Limited trim and above and that feature was a must have because we swap cars almost daily. Data would show that we got a power third seat vs a manual one. We didn't want that, but it's what we ended up with. Data would probably also show that most purchases option for the built in vacuum. You have to dig pretty deep to figure out that a spare tire kit is an option, but deletes the vacuum. Almost every Pacifica we saw on a 2 local lots had the vacuum. We custom ordered ours to get the spare tire.

Similarly for colors. I think most dealerships are conservative about colors. They buy grey because their data indicate that many people buy grey. Few people want grey. But the reaction to grey is a shrug and a purchase. Whereas the reaction to red or purple or green might be a definite “no” by many of the people coming onto the lot. So dealerships sell grey and the numbers suggest that everyone wants grey. But that’s a bias that’s introduced into the data because dealerships are afraid of being stuck with a red car.

 

[cyure]

Similarly for colors. I think most dealerships are conservative about colors. They buy grey because their data indicate that many people buy grey. Few people want grey. But the reaction to grey is a shrug and a purchase. Whereas the reaction to red or purple or green might be a definite “no” by many of the people coming onto the lot. So dealerships sell grey and the numbers suggest that everyone wants grey. But that’s a bias that’s introduced into the data because dealerships are afraid of being stuck with a red car.

But if we are ordering why can’t we have fun colors. And I’m just hoping Scout is going to break the mold and offer colors. Heck Wranglers have colors. The dealer in town sold every pink Wrangler they got last year and I just saw they are bringing back purple.

Don’t dash my pale butter yellow dreams people!

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

But if we are ordering why can’t we have fun colors. And I’m just hoping Scout is going to break the mold and offer colors. Heck Wranglers have colors. The dealer in town sold every pink Wrangler they got last year and I just saw they are bringing back purple.

Don’t dash my pale butter yellow dreams people!

I’m hopeful that they will include a good selection of colors. And maybe if they have the Build Supplier Park up and running they’ll be able to get a 3rd party wrap company to move in and offer custom wraps “from the factory.”

 

[J Alynn]

Similarly for colors. I think most dealerships are conservative about colors. They buy grey because their data indicate that many people buy grey. Few people want grey. But the reaction to grey is a shrug and a purchase. Whereas the reaction to red or purple or green might be a definite “no” by many of the people coming onto the lot. So dealerships sell grey and the numbers suggest that everyone wants grey. But that’s a bias that’s introduced into the data because dealerships are afraid of being stuck with a red car.

BMW and Mercedes around me-90% are black over black. Just so bland but safe as you indicated and surely skews all that info. Would be nice if Jamie posted a new color poll including the colors we’ve seen, the other misc colors and a B/W/G and silver and guaranteed which colors would land at the bottom

 

[dreamweaver]

BMW and Mercedes around me-90% are black over black. Just so bland but safe as you indicated and surely skews all that info. Would be nice if Jamie posted a new color poll including the colors we’ve seen, the other misc colors and a B/W/G and silver and guaranteed which colors would land at the bottom

I like that idea. I hope he would post good real paint chip samples as well.

 

[cyure]

I like that idea. I hope he would post good real paint chip samples as well.

Great idea. Are we voting for top 3 or just favorite?

 

[OH1984]

Great idea. Are we voting for top 3 or just favorite?

Top 3 would be great

 

[JAngley]

The automotive industry has been doing this for 60+ years. At the most basic level, you are armed with every feature and trim level every competitor offers, and the number of vehicles with those options that sell. We can also look at our reservation list for breakdowns at a high level. Beyond that, forecasting magic has to happen. In our case, we are spooling up a brand new factory and so we will start with a few simple build options and certain colors. Then we can expand offerings as production ramps up and quality remains strong. But there are always adjustments throughout the production year (called running changes).

I hear. Launch edition? That sort of first model run?

 

[dreamweaver]

I hear. Launch edition? That sort of first model run?

I am up for that as long as it is NOT the $90k edition.

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

I am up for that as long as it is NOT the $90k edition.

For that it would have to make my coffee and give me a wake up kiss.

And 5miles/KWH minimum guaranteed.

 

[J Alynn]

For that it would have to make my coffee and give me a wake up kiss.

And 5miles/KWH minimum guaranteed.

Aaaahhh-the feel of cold steel on your lips in the morning

 

[THil08]

Hopefully Harvester will come after the BEV by a few months. and maybe I will get better options.

 

[dreamweaver]

Hopefully Harvester will come after the BEV by a few months. and maybe I will get better options.

Right now there is no incentive to purchase right away when the BEV becomes available. So, one could wait a couple of months when both models will be available to decide. Now if they offer some kind of incentive to purchase BEV when first available things could be different.

 

[Jamie@ScoutMotors]

I would bet that a lot of that data is pretty inaccurate. What people buy vs what people want can vary quite a bit due to how many manufacturers package items together.

My 2019 Pacifica is a Limited trim. It came with all sorts of options that my wife and I did not want. But Chrysler only offered memory seats in the Limited trim and above and that feature was a must have because we swap cars almost daily. Data would show that we got a power third seat vs a manual one. We didn't want that, but it's what we ended up with. Data would probably also show that most purchases option for the built in vacuum. You have to dig pretty deep to figure out that a spare tire kit is an option, but deletes the vacuum. Almost every Pacifica we saw on a 2 local lots had the vacuum. We custom ordered ours to get the spare tire.

We don’t only look at current and past trends. We also have tons of data on what customers want/prefer from a wide variety of consumer trend and data companies. That said, trying to negotiate with a supplier for one small item when you don’t know how many people will purchase a single option it is really difficult. That’s often why things get bundled. I’m using a random example here. If it turns out chrome badges only have a 2% take rate and you committed to a supplier to purchase 4x that thinking people want “heritage” badges in chrome, then you made a costly mistake. There are times you take a risk to see what customers want, but by and large you try and avoid risk.

Just want to shed light on the why and how car companies make decisions.

 

[dreamweaver]

We don’t only look at current and past trends. We also have tons of data on what customers want/prefer from a wide variety of consumer trend and data companies. That said, trying to negotiate with a supplier for one small item when you don’t know how many people will purchase a single option it is really difficult. That’s often why things get bundled. I’m using a random example here. If it turns out chrome badges only have a 2% take rate and you committed to a supplier to purchase 4x that thinking people want “heritage” badges in chrome, then you made a costly mistake. There are times you take a risk to see what customers want, but by and large you try and avoid risk.

Just want to shed light on the why and how car companies make decisions.

Thank you for putting a little finer point on car trends and manufacturer risk.

 

[THil08]

We don’t only look at current and past trends. We also have tons of data on what customers want/prefer from a wide variety of consumer trend and data companies. That said, trying to negotiate with a supplier for one small item when you don’t know how many people will purchase a single option it is really difficult. That’s often why things get bundled. I’m using a random example here. If it turns out chrome badges only have a 2% take rate and you committed to a supplier to purchase 4x that thinking people want “heritage” badges in chrome, then you made a costly mistake. There are times you take a risk to see what customers want, but by and large you try and avoid risk.

Just want to shed light on the why and how car companies make decisions.

No Bundles PLSSSSSSSS......

 

[chucchinchilla]

No Bundles PLSSSSSSSS......