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Mar 8 11 tweets 3 min read Read on X
1/ Youtuber @MKBHD recently tested Fisker's latest EV and called it the "worst car I've ever reviewed."

The video has picked up 4.3 million views since he posted it and even reached execs at the company.

But things got really weird when Fisker responded. Let's get into it. Image via Auto Focus
2/ Brownlee had initially asked Fisker to give him a vehicle to review, but they kept delaying.

Tired of jumping through hoops, he found a car dealer willing to let him borrow one.
3/ When Fisker found out Brownlee sourced a car from a dealer, it asked that he delay his review until a software update came through.

Brownlee refused, saying "It's not really in my policy to wait on promised future software updates."
4/ He continued with the review, posting it to his account on February 17.

In it, he notes "a lot of weird" choices—including unlabeled buttons, sunroof solar panels you can't monitor, and software glitches with the keyfob, cameras, and more.
5/ Brownlee did give credit to the car's handsome physical design.

But he followed that up by saying "You could give me this car and I wouldn't want to drive it," so the pros were obviously not enough to make up for the cons. Image via Fisker
6/ Fisker had a truly bizarre response.

A Fisker senior engineer called the dealership that loaned Brownlee the car to try to do damage control.
7/ Unaware that they were being recorded, the rep let some things slip.

They admitted that even after the car's new update, Fisker's software "still got some holes in it."

The video recording of the call has 3.6+ million views on TikTok. Image
8/ Fisker's stock has tanked ~50% since Brownlee's video went live.

More people subscribe to Brownlee's YouTube channel than to the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today combined. Image
9/ It's another example of just how influential social media reviewers have become in the product space.

Separately, Fisker announced last week that it may not have money to survive the year.
10/ If you enjoyed this thread, follow us @MorningBrew

We post business breakdowns like this 3x a week.

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More from @MorningBrew

Dec 13
1/ BuzzFeed had a saving grace this week when it sold "Hot Ones" for $82.5 million.

But will it be enough to save the once high-flying digital publisher from financial collapse?

Let's get into it. Image
2/ "Hot Ones," known for its spicy celebrity interviews, will now operate as a stand-alone company under the ownership of a fund controlled by George Soros.

Host Sean Evans remains an investor, ensuring continuity for fans.
3/ The show has over 14 million YouTube subscribers and 4 billion views.

It even has a cultural presence on shows like SNL and "The Simpsons."
Read 10 tweets
Nov 14
1/ Trump has appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to co-lead the newly created "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE).

Their goal? To slash $2 trillion from the federal budget, cutting nearly one-third of total spending.

But what exactly might go? Let's get into it. Image
2/ The US spent $6.75 trillion in fiscal year 2024, leading to a deficit.

Of that $6.75 trillion, Social Security, health, and Medicare were the biggest expenditures. Image via Business Insider
3/ Social Security alone accounted for $1.46 trillion, while health and Medicare cost $912 billion and $874 billion, respectively.

Those programs may not need annual approval from Congress but it would take new legislation to change them.
Read 12 tweets
Sep 26
1/ OpenAI has been non-profit...until now.

The company is considering a shift to for-profit, with Sam Altman getting a 7% equity stake.

So why the change?

Let's get into it. Image
2/ OpenAI was founded as a non-profit.

When asked about his "real motivation" on the All-In Podcast a few months ago, Altman made it clear it wasn't equity he was after. Image
3/ But the tables have turned.

News broke this week that OpenAI is considering a serious restructure as a means of appealing to investors.
Read 12 tweets
Sep 5
1/ The US yield curve slope has been an indicator for most recessions since WWII.

Yesterday, the longest US yield curve inversion ever ended.

Let's get into what that means. Image
2/ An inverted yield curve (when short-term yields are higher than long-term yields) typically indicates a looming recession.

But you'll often see the yield curve disinvert just before a recession. Image
3/ Why?

As an economic slowdown becomes more plausible, investors start betting on Fed rate cuts.
Read 10 tweets
Aug 8
1/ So far, Team USA is leading with 103 medals at the Paris Olympics.

Yet some of the elite athletes bringing home gold, silver, and bronze in Paris went into the red just for the opportunity to be there.

Let's get into it. Image
2/ At this rate, Team USA may very well surpass the 113 medals won at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Simone Biles became the most decorated Olympic gymnast, Katie Ledecky took home the most medals for a female Olympian, etc.
3/ But many enter the world stage without a guarantee of placing...and at what cost?

A Congressional report released in March showed that, of the 1,000 Olympic and Paralympic athletes surveyed, 26.5% have individual incomes under $15,000 per year. Image via the WSJ
Read 12 tweets
Aug 5
1/ It's absolute carnage out there right now.

Yen trade is unraveling. Bank of Japan is raising interest rates. Unemployment is up. Emergency rate cut? Brokerages going down left and right.

Let's get into it. Image
2/ The stock market crashed today with the Nasdaq 100 dropping almost 6%.

But the trouble started in Japan. Image
3/ In the early hours of the morning, Japan's Nikkei index turned red and finished the day down 12.4%, its biggest drop since October 1987.

It was partially in reaction to the Bank of Japan raising rates to 0.25% on Wednesday.
Read 12 tweets

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