IIHS: "Safety is getting too good for vehicles and we are becoming less important.  What can we do to sound relevant again?"

Exactly - an example is how many reports of totaled Mavericks due to them getting struck from behind and the frame rails deforming to absorb the rear-ender.....now, the seat will take a direct 20 and 30 MPH blow on a test sled?  Can you say "designed to fail" built into the test regimen? 

Yeah, I'd strip out as much VW stuff as I could......including that stupid two window switches approach that you have to toggle between front and rear....

"Van" and "Perfect Time" seem like mutually exclusive terms here....

Yeah, this is the only thing that makes sense.   I feel like otherwise, they'd want to replace the VW-based models with CE1 products as quickly as possible.  I know that there was a report saying they want to have proof of concept in the US before it goes to EU, but I'd assume that's cover for some sort of contractual agreement.

I agree!  Plus you lose everything about the car that is built to protect the occupants.  The crash structure build to absorb some of the blow, etc.  It's crazy!

Ram Is Bringing Back a Van at the Perfect Time - Autoblog   Looks like Ram will re-enter the market alongside Transit Connect (or whatever they'll call it).

This may also be a factor....     Hyundai Is Ending Its Small Pickup Experiment, With a Bigger One on the Way - Autoblog   While the Santa Cruz looks set to bow out early, Hyundai is not abandoning pickups altogether. The automaker has already confirmed plans for a mid-size, body-on-frame truck that will take aim at stalwarts like the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger, and should arrive before 2030. But that’s not all. Hyundai also wants to use that platform to build a new SUV that will take aim at the Toyota 4Runner. While all of this sounds promising, Hyundai will face an uphill battle to deal with new US tariffs on South Korean imports.       I wonder if this is the truck that they announced partnering with GM on a while back?

We have something similar with American Family.  Run an app on our phones and we get a discount based on our driving.  35% off for this period.  I don't mind sharing a little info for big savings as I don't have anything to hide.

When do you expect to be back to work and building the Super Duty?