Episode #1416:  Today we unpack dealer concerns about Carvana’s expanding Stellantis experiment, Ram’s premium-priced return to street-truck performance, and Telo’s Mini-sized electric pickup claiming enough towing power to beat a standard Cybertruck.

Carvana’s Franchise Experiment Has Dealers Asking Hard Questions. Dealers say the issue is not simply that Carvana is selling a lot of vehicles—it’s whether the online retailer is operating with exceptions that traditional franchisees would never receive.

• CDG News spoke with 40 industry sources, many of whom questioned Carvana’s website standards, service capacity, inventory practices, market reach, and allocation levels.

• Dealers pointed to Carvana’s ability to use its own website platform, national pricing, no document fees, and a sales model that actively promotes itself as an alternative to traditional dealerships.

• Service is another flashpoint. Some nearby dealers say they are receiving more warranty and recall work from Carvana customers, potentially placing additional pressure on their technicians and service departments.

• Carvana’s Casa Grande CDJR store reportedly sold 998 units in June, becoming Stellantis’ top-selling dealership in the country and fueling questions about allocation and out-of-market sales.

• Stellantis says all dealers are treated “fairly, consistently, and in accordance” with established agreements, but dealers worry the model could become an indirect path toward direct-to-consumer retail.
  

Ram is reviving the street-truck formula with a four-model Rumble Bee lineup that blends Hemi power, aggressive proportions, and premium pricing. Dealers believe the trucks will attract enthusiasts who care far more about sound, speed, and exclusivity than fuel economy or monthly payments.

• The 2027 Rumble Bee starts at $62,790 with 395 hp, while the 777-hp SRT tops the lineup at $97,790. Two 470-hp versions fill the gap.

• Ram shortened the wheelbase by 13 inches and paired a quad cab with a short bed, creating a lower, wider truck designed for pavement performance rather than off-road duty.

• Dealers say customer interest is already building. The Rumble Bee could bring performance buyers into Ram showrooms who would not normally consider a pickup.

• Optional supercharger kits will push output beyond 600 hp on the base truck and above 900 hp on the SRT, adding another $10,995 before installation.

• Edmunds’ Ivan Drury summed up the target buyer: “If someone is even contemplating price ... you’re the wrong customer from the get-go.”
  

Telo’s compact MT1 electric pickup is about the length of a two-door Mini Cooper, but the startup says it can tow 8,000 pounds, more than a standard Cybertruck. The truck combines unusually small dimensions with serious battery capacity, range, and utility.

• Telo says extensive testing raised the MT1’s tow rating from 6,600 to 8,000 pounds, nearly twice the truck’s estimated 4,400-pound weight.

• The dual-motor version produces 500 hp, uses a 106-kWh battery, and is expected to deliver around 350 miles of range.

• A single-motor MT1 is expected to start at $41,520 with 300 hp and 260 miles of range. The dual-motor version should begin near $50,000.

• Telo has connections to Tesla’s earliest days: Forrest North helped engineer the original Roadster’s batteries, while Tesla co-founder Marc Tarpenning serves on Telo’s board.

• Production is targeted to begin before the end of 2026, although the company still faces the familiar challenge of turning an ambitious startup truck into a real production vehicle.