Tesla vehicles had more problems than last year

But at least it’s not Dodge.

6/28/24 1:59PM

Typically, electric vehicles — likely owing in part to their new tech — have more problems than gas-powered cars. But while Tesla had performed better than the electric cars produced by traditional manufacturers, its quality this year has gotten worse, so now Teslas and EVs from traditional companies are performing equally poorly.

This year Tesla had 266 problems per 100 vehicles, according to J.D. Power’s 2024 Initial Quality Study, released this week. That’s up from 242 per 100 last year. The consumer data company blames Tesla’s decline on the removal of traditional controls like turn signals and wiper stalks, which have aggravated consumers.

The study average was 195.

“Owners of cutting edge, tech-filled BEVs and PHEVs are experiencing problems that are of a severity level high enough for them to take their new vehicle into the dealership at a rate three times higher than that of gas-powered vehicle owners,” Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, said in a statement.

Tesla has issued eight recalls already this year, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, including four for its Cybertruck.

But hey, at least it’s not Dodge. The Stellantis brand was at the bottom of the list with more than 300 problems per hundred vehicles (Stellantis’ truck brand Ram was at the top, with just 149 problems per 100).

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Holiday cheer turned into chaos this week for Starbucks after the coffee giant’s new “Bearista” holiday cup sent fans into a frenzy.

Dropped alongside its 2025 holiday menu, the $30 beanie-wearing glass bear tumbler sparked long lines, sellouts, and even in-store scuffles before Starbucks stepped in with an apology.

“The excitement for our merchandise exceeded even our biggest expectations,” the company said in a statement to People. “Despite shipping more Bearista cups to our coffeehouses than almost any other item this holiday season, the Bearista cup and some other items sold out fast.”

Within hours of launch, frustrated fans flooded Starbucks’ social media pages and even store hotlines. Some customers waited in line before dawn and others said their stores received only a handful of cups. In one Houston location, the craze even turned physical, with police reportedly called to break up a brawl. Meanwhile, the cup is already reselling on sites like eBay, with listings topping $600.

“We understand many customers were excited about the Bearista cup and apologize for the disappointment this may have caused,” Starbucks said. While in-store customers may be upset, investors seem happy about the viral hit, as the stock has risen over 3% on Friday.

If you’re still hoping for a Bearista at market price, that may not be on order: the chain didn’t disclose how many cups were made or whether a restock is planned.

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Target tells workers to smile, wave, and greet shoppers if they come within 10 feet of them

Target just rolled out a new rule for store employees: “smile, make eye contact, and greet or wave” when a shopper comes within 10 feet — and if they get closer, within four feet, “ask whether they need help or how their day is going,” according to a new Bloomberg report.

Dubbed the “10-4 program” internally, the rule mirrors rival Walmart’s own 10-foot policy, formalizing behavior Target had previously only encouraged.