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Incentives shrink as Uber reassesses economics

Uber cuts EV incentives as costs rise
Drivers face uncertainty amid shrinking bonuses
Company shifts focus to autonomous electric fleets

Uber is scaling back its once-high-profile effort to convert its driver fleet to electric vehicles, slashing bonuses and ending several programs that previously rewarded drivers for switching from gas cars to EVs. The move marks a significant recalibration of the companys clean-transportation strategy at a moment when EV adoption nationwide has slowed.

For years, Uber offered thousands of dollars in bonuses to drivers who purchased or leased electric vehicles. But those incentives proved costly, and internal spending fell short of the companys own targets. Uber is now discontinuing many of these payments, leaving drivers who had counted on them facing new financial uncertainty.

Market headwinds contribute to slowdown

The shift comes against a backdrop of nationwide EV headwinds: cooling demand, higher interest rates, and slower charging-infrastructure buildout. With the market softening, Uber is reevaluating how aggressively it can push EV adoption among independent drivers already struggling with high vehicle costs.

Rather than funding individual EV purchases, Uber is steering more of its electrification investment toward partnerships with autonomous-vehicle companies. The company has signaled it will rely increasingly on electric robotaxis developed with partners such as Nuro and Lucid, betting that dedicated fleets will deliver emissions reductions faster and more predictably than incentives for its distributed driver base.

Climate pledges now face tougher path

Uber has committed to becoming a zero-emission platform in the U.S., Canada, and Europe by 2030. Cutting EV incentives raises questions about whether it can meet those goals, especially if driver adoption slows. The company maintains that autonomous electric fleets will help keep it on track, but critics say the transition may now require more aggressive regulatory or industry pressure.

Reward the person working hard to get your packages delivered this holiday

• Say Alexa, thank my driver on any Alexa device or in the Alexa app, or type thank my driver in the Amazon search bar to trigger the $5 tip

• Amazon sends $5 (from Amazon, not you) to the driver from your most recent U.S. delivery made within the last 14 days, one thank you per delivery

• You cant undo a thank my driver, and order problems (missing or damaged items) still need to be handled through Your Orders, not this feature

Amazon quietly launched a little feature that lets you actually send money to the person who drops boxes on your porch all year. This is a limited time thing that Amazon launched specifically for this years busy holiday season.

Every time you use Thank My Driver the right way, your driver gets $5 from Amazon, at no cost to you. Its Amazons way of letting customers show appreciation and also connecting drivers with the people they serve.

How to thank your driver in 10 seconds

Youve got a couple easy ways to trigger the thank you on the Amazon platform:

1. Use Alexa

Say: Alexa, thank my driver.

This can be said to any Alexa-enabled device connected to your Amazon account or through the Alexa app on your phone.

Alexa will send the thank you to the driver who delivered your most recent package (as long as it was delivered within the last 14 days).

2. Use the Amazon app or website

You can also simply open the Amazon app or go to Amazon in your browser.

In the search bar, type: thank my driver.

Then just follow the prompt, and it will thank the driver for your most recent delivery and give them $5.

Thats it, Amazon has kept it really simple. No order number, no form, nothing complicated.

Who can you thank (and how often)?

A few basics so you know how it works behind the scenes:

Which drivers are eligible?

Any driver who delivers Amazon packages in the United States can receive a thank you.

Which delivery gets the thank you?

The thank you goes to the driver who handled your most recent delivery, and that delivery has to be within the last 14 days.

Can you thank the same delivery more than once?

You can say thank my driver multiple times for the same delivery, but the system will only count one thank you per delivery for that driver.

So, if you really loved your last driver, you can talk about it all you want, but theyll receive one official thank you for that stop. Your best option is to wait until their next delivery andthank them again and theyll get another $5 added to their paycheck.

No Echo? No smartphone? You still have options

You dont need a house full of smart speakers to use this feature.

If you dont own an Echo device:

Just can use the Alexa app on your smartphone:

• Open the Alexa app
• Tap the Alexa button
• Say, Alexa, thank my driver.

If you dont own a smartphone at all you can still participate:

• Go to amazon.com on a computer
• Type thank my driver in the search bar and follow the prompts

The bottom line is thisif you can get to the Amazon website, you can thank your driver.

What if something went wrong with your order?

Thank my driver cant be undone once youve initiated it, and keep in mind that its not meant for complaints.

If you have an issue with your order (missing item, damaged box, wrong product), go to Your Orders on Amazon and use the normal feedback and support options there.

Critics say the measure could harm Social Security's long-term financial prospects

Americans urged to slow down, stay vigilant and ask questions

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• FBI urges Americans to take a beat before responding to high-pressure demands for money or personal information

• AI-powered are surging, with more than 9,000 complaints filed in the first seven months of 2025

• Older adults face the greatest financial losses, with victims over 60 encouraged to seek support if theyve been targeted

As scammers lean heavily on pressure tactics and rapidly advancing artificial intelligence to steal billions from Americans, the FBI is urging consumers to protect themselves and to protect one another during the busy holiday season.

If you feel pressured to act fast, pay money, or turn over personal information, take a beat, said FBI Director Kash Patel. Stop and assess if what you're being told is real. Talk to your families. Protect each other from . Scammers are banking on the fact that you'll feel too embarrassed to come forward and report the crime to the FBI. Don't let them win.

Cyber-enabled fraud now dominates the scam landscape, fueled by increasingly accessible AI tools. From January to July 2025 alone, the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 9,000 AI-related complaints, spanning every major scam type.

Growing AI role

Fraudsters are using AI to create:

• Fake social media profiles

• Voice clones mimicking real people

• Realistic identification documents

• AI-generated videos impersonating public figuresor even loved ones

These technologies make far more convincing, often leaving victims unaware theyve been targeted until money has already been transferred.

A growing and costly crisis

Newly released IC3 data underscores the scale of the problem:

• 535,314 complaints were filed last year

• $13.7 billion in losses were reportedan average of $25,700 per victim

• Between 2020 and 2024, total reported losses reached $50.5 billion

• People over 60 suffered the highest losses and submitted the most complaints

Older adults who need help filing a complaint can contact the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

Talk to family members

The FBI is specifically urging Americans to talk to relativesespecially older family membersabout common scam red flags. The agency stresses that individuals should never:

• Share sensitive information with people theyve only met online or by phone

• Send money, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other assets to unknown parties

Anyone who experiences suspicious or fraudulent activity should file a report at ic3.gov and include as much detail as possible, such as:

• Identifying information about the scammer or company

• Methods of contact (websites, emails, phone numbers, social media accounts)

• Details of financial transactions, including payment type, account numbers, financial institution information, or crypto wallet addresses

• A description of interactions with the scammer

More than 80% of all new 2024 Dodge Hornet Plug-in Hybrid models remain unsold

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Dealers are struggling to clear out leftover 2024 models especially from Stellantis brands

• Some models still have more than 80% of their 2024 inventory unsold, creating major price-cutting opportunities

• EVs and luxury SUVs are also lingering on lots, giving shoppers unusual leverage heading into year-end

Car dealers usually roll out special deals on cars and trucks for the end-of-the-year holidays. This year, the deals may be the best in years, thanks to slow car and truck sales during 2025

A surprising number of 2024 vehicles are still sitting on dealer lots as 2025 draws to a close. According to a new iSeeCars analysis, several Stellantis models, along with a mix of SUVs, EVs, and luxury vehicles, have unusually high leftover inventory, signaling that dealers may be open to aggressive price negotiations.

Stellantis leads the pack in leftovers

They may be last years models but theyre still new cars, with some selling at close to used car prices. The most striking finding: 82.1% of all new 2024 Dodge Hornet Plug-in Hybrid models remain unsold, compared to an industry average of just 0.4%. That means supply has far outpaced demand for the compact SUV.

Other Stellantis brands are also struggling:

• Jeep Grand Cherokee: 70.8% still on lots

• Alfa Romeo Tonale Hybrid: 46.8% remaining

• Dodge Hornet (gas version): 26.3% unsold

These high leftovers likely give buyers more bargaining power. Dealers are now sitting on significant 2024 inventory for vehicles like the Dodge Hornet, creating a window where aggressive pricing or other incentives are the only way to move those cars, said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer.

Top 10 models with the most leftover 2024 inventory

1. Dodge Hornet Plug-in Hybrid 82.1% (Avg. $41,166)

2. Jeep Grand Cherokee 70.8% (Avg. $64,014)

3. Alfa Romeo Tonale Hybrid 46.8% (Avg. $51,917)

4. Chevrolet Malibu 31.0% (Avg. $26,760)

5. Dodge Hornet 26.3% (Avg. $31,799)

6. Jeep Grand Wagoneer L 24.1% (Avg. $92,497)

7. Genesis GV60 21.8% (Avg. $57,764)

8. Dodge Charger 20.9% (Avg. $59,388)

9. Nissan Z 18.8% (Avg. $53,289)

10. Jeep Wrangler Plug-in Hybrid 18.2% (Avg. $60,740)

In total, 23 models show significantly above-average leftover inventory.

Luxury SUVs go begging

Seventeen SUVs have at least 5% of their 2024 supply still unsold, and 12 of them cost more than $50,000 on average an indicator that price may be driving slower sales.

Notable examples:

• Jeep Grand Wagoneer L: $92,497 average price

• Maserati Grecale: $89,870 average price

Even though SUVs remain popular, many shoppers are clearly resistant to paying luxury prices for an outgoing model year.

For consumers seeking a deal on a new SUV, especially premium models over $50,000, there are plenty of options to consider, Brauer said.

EV buyers have rare negotiating power

Electric vehicles also show higher levels of leftover stock, averaging 1.3% more than triple the overall 2024 average. Four EVs in particular still have 5% to 22% of their 2024 inventory available:

• Genesis GV60 21.8%

• Dodge Charger EV 20.9%

• Chevrolet Silverado EV 11.9%

• GMC Hummer EV SUV 5.5%

Even with the $7,500 federal EV tax incentive, many of these models failed to sell quickly. This is an opportunity for EV buyers to negotiate, Brauer said.

2025 models may also become leftovers

The study also examined which 2025 models may soon slip into leftover status. Twenty-two vehicles currently have 60% to 90% of their 2025 inventory still on the lot a sign dealers may want to clear space ahead of 2026.

The biggest standouts include:

• BMW i4 89.2% of inventory remaining

• Lexus GX 550 87.8%

• Subaru BRZ 87.1%

• Lexus LX 600 83.9%

As December 31st approaches, dealers are motivated to hit month-, quarter-, and year-end sales targets, Brauer said. Buyers may be able to negotiate lower prices on these vehicles.

For consumers, this unusual backlog of inventory may bea rare opportunity.