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Ferrari, not Tesla, might be the stock to buy

Last week Tesla's earnings – or lack thereof – were one of the big stories in the auto industry. As usual, the electric carmaker didn't make money, but the news sent the market, analysts, and Tesla's devoted fans into a lather. But another company, this plucky upstart called Ferrari, also attracted a positive reaction from the market and actually had the financials to back it up. Ferrari posted net revenues of $898 million (at today's exchange rates) EBITDA of $265 million (a slightly complicated way to snapshot financial performance) and an adjusted net profit of $136 million in the first quarter. The company delivered 2,003 cars, and sales of its V12 models increased 50 percent. It quietly made progress nearly a year and a half into its life as an independent automaker. For 2017, Ferrari expects to deliver 8,400 cars and rake in net revenue of $3.6 billion. No one thought Ferrari would flounder when Fiat Chrysler Automobiles spun it off in fall 2015. With a rich history, expensive products, and its own loyal fan base that's arguably even larger than Tesla's, the company seemed poised for success, though skeptics wondered how it might fare after longtime chief Luca di Montezemolo stepped down before the spinoff. Plus, the company remains within the FCA sphere, as its key stakeholders are largely connected to its former parent in some way, and Chairman Sergio Marchionne also steers FCA. Last week's results showed Ferrari is gaining footing in the evolving automotive world, and analysts responded. UBS analyst Michael Binetti reiterated Ferrari stock (RACE on the NYSE) as buy status and raised his target price from $85 to $92. Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas was even more bullish, raising projections to $100 in the next 12 months. Shares were trading around $82 Monday morning. Both analysts viewed Ferrari as something different than a conventional automaker stock, with Binetti comparing it to luxury house Hermes, which produces high margins even for a specialty goods maker. Jonas suggested Ferrari's singular reputation and history (16 Formula One Constructors titles, the most ever) could insulate its products when autonomous and electric cars become even more commonplace. "In our view, a Ferrari is not transportation," he wrote in a note to clients. "Ownership is viewed as an exclusive club, and membership requires more than just money.

Mercedes may end Tesla supply agreement for B-Class Electric Drive

The Mercedes-Benz B Class Electric Drive has only been rolling off the production line for 17 months, each one equipped with a battery pack and drivetrain from Tesla Motors, but already there is talk of big upcoming changes. According to a report from the German publication Auto Motor und Sport, the next-generation version of this model will see an end to the Tesla-supplied tech and a hugely improved range. Currently, the electric sedan gets an EPA-rated 87 miles of range, using 28 kWhs of its 36-kWh battery, though its now-standard "Range Plus" package takes advantage of more of the pack, stretching that driving to 100 miles or so. It may take a year or several – the model just had a refresh – but expect those distance digits to double. The rumored range is said to be 500 km (310.7 miles), but since that would likely be calculated using the European drive cycle, expect something significantly lower stateside; say 220-ish official miles. This would be in keeping with expectations from a number of battery-powered competitors in the 2017-2018 time frame. It is unknown if this supposed next-gen B Class Electric Drive is in any way related to the rumored "Ecoluxe" program. The Tesla/Daimler relationship stretches back to 2009, when the Stuttgart-based outfit made a significant investment in the California automaker, quite possibly saving it from extinction in the process. We have reached out Mercedes-Benz about this report, but as of this writing, have not had a reply. We will update this post when we hear back. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2015 Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive: Paris 2014 View 13 Photos Green Rumormill Mercedes-Benz Tesla Electric Sedan electric drive electric drivetrain

Recharge Wrap-up: NADA chairman keeps 'Get The Facts,' Teslarati improves at Buttonwillow

Zap and Jonway Autos will sell their electric minivan under the Dongfeng brand. Dongfeng will sell 5,000 units of the EV minivan as a cargo delivery van. Based on the passenger version, the extra seats will be removed to make room for whatever you'd like to carry, as well as a battery large enough to offer over 300 kilometers (184 miles) of driving range per charge. Zap/Jonway expects to have the van ready for delivery by June of this year, with subsequent sales handled by Donfeng's partner, Shi Kong. Dongfeng is one of China's top four government-owned automakers, and is in partnerships with Honda and Nissan, among other automakers. Read more in the press release below. The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) will continue its "Get The Facts" campaign under its new chairman. "Get The Facts" tries to explain to the public the benefits of the dealership franchise system – a campaign that also serves as an anti-Tesla platform. In an interview with Ward's Auto, Nada Chairman William Fox says he'll continue those efforts. Fox says that a direct-to-consumer sales method (like Tesla's) could "entice a niche auto manufacturer with lower volume serving a small market," but that "the dealer franchise model is proven to work best." Green Car Reports points out that Fox provides no real-world studies to support this. Check out the interview at Ward's Auto and read more at Green Car Reports. The Teslarati 48 clocked its best time of 2:12 at Buttonwillow Raceway. The folks at Teslarati have taken the Tesla Model S to various racetracks around California and Nevada to test the sporting chops of their beloved EV. This year's time is an improvement over last year's best lap by the Teslarati 48 of 2:19. They give a nice rundown of the track and their experience driving it, including setup, difficulties, charging and power consumption-great reading material for anybody thinking about taking their Model S out for some hot laps. See the 2:12 run in the video above and read more at Teslarati. ZAP and Jonway Auto's EV Minivan will be OEM by Dong Feng Motor Corporation, one of the four China's Largest Auto Group through Shi Kong, Zhejiang SANTA ROSA, Calif., Feb.