Hello, N2K’ers!

Boy George once flew via Concorde to London to make sure he could arrive just in time to join pop stars to perform on the historic Band Aid single back in the early 1980s.

Nowadays, he wouldn’t be able to make the trip in time because the last supersonic commercial jet flight happened in 2003. Or did it? We caught up with Blake Scholl, founder of Bada Boom Supersonic, and asked him if he would make our dreams come true and once again enable Boy George to ask the world: 🎶 Do they know it’s Christmas time at all? 🎶 

He would indeed! Although he had no ideas for resurrecting Michael Jackson, sadly. But supersonic plane travel remains a firm “yes.”

—Matt Davis, Need2Know Chedditor

News You Need2Know

• Nvidia stock bada booms on China export news

• Give me gin and tonic, feeling supersonic

• The big surprises and snubs in the Emmy noms

• Rolls Royce expanding its South Carolina plant

• Tesla enters Indian market with $70K Model Y

What’s the stock market up to, eh?

$SPX ( ▼ 0.03% ) $DJI ( ▼ 0.37% ) $NDX ( ▲ 0.02% )

Companies mentioned in today’s newsletter

$NVDA ( ▼ 0.67% )  $UAL ( ▲ 1.29% )  $AAL ( ▲ 0.48% )  $RLLCF ( 0.0% )  $TSLA ( ▲ 3.57% )  

Nvidia stock bada booms on China export news

Nvidia $NVDA ( ▼ 0.67% ) has regained approval to sell its H20 artificial intelligence chips to China. An earlier ban imposed by the U.S. government in April is now set to be reversed, pointing to a tentative de-escalation in the prolonged trade war between Washington and Beijing.

The company’s stock shot up 5% after it shared the news in a blog post Monday night, revealing that it is filing applications with the U.S. government to finalize the export licenses for the chips. The company noted that U.S. officials have assured them the licenses will be granted, signaling a shift in policy. “The lifting of this ban allows Nvidia to better serve customers in China while maintaining compliance with government regulations,” the post read.

The decision could open significant revenue opportunities for Nvidia while addressing the growing demand in one of the world’s largest AI markets.

Song of the day: Black Country, New Road’s ‘Concorde’

This song by a British experimental rock septet came out in 2022 and has an extremely weird video. The band broke up shortly after the song’s release, which I can’t say is all that surprising given how bonkers it is. Still, it might liven up your Thursday morning!

Give me gin and tonic, feeling supersonic

Fasten your seatbelts. Blake Scholl, CEO of Boom Supersonic, calls the company’s journey "an overnight success ten years in the making," starting in his basement. Remember the Concorde? Well, Scholl thinks we "gone backwards" and it's "time to fix" that. Now, thanks to Boom's "boomless cruise" technology (yes, he’s figured out how to get rid of the sonic boom), you could "leave New York at 9 a.m. and land in San Francisco at 9:30 a.m. San Francisco time." Imagine that! Or, as Scholl gleefully put it, "three and a half hours to Europe." Airlines like United $UAL ( ▲ 1.29% ) and American $AAL ( ▲ 0.48% ) are already, let’s say…on board, because, as Scholl explains, "airlines were a high growth industry" when planes were speeding up. The first passengers are expected in "about four years,” he says.  

Today on the ‘gram: This is cool!

Post of the day: But Jesus wasn’t in Genesis

Quote of the Day

The big surprises and snubs in the Emmy noms

Colin Farrell was always going to win an Emmy for wearing a fat suit in “The Penguin.” Likewise, “Severance” was always going to win big, and “The White Lotus” was also a shoo-in, scoring seven nomination nods for cast members in the recent season.

What about the surprises? Well, Katherine LaNasa was the only actor nominated in “The Pitt”, which is a shame because the show was better than many of those that did better, I thought. Bunker dystopia show “Paradise” earned multiple nominations, including a drama series nod, alongside acting accolades for Sterling K. Brown and James Marsden. Conversely, notable snubs dampened the excitement for fans of Alison Janney (“The Diplomat”) and Natasha Lyonne (in “Poker Face”) — many felt both of them delivered some of the most memorable performances of the year. Comedy nominations also showcased unpredictability, with Kristen Bell (“Nobody Wants This”) scoring a nomination, but Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”) fell off the list.

Should you check your 401(k) today?

👍️ 

Yes.

Rolls Royce expanding its South Carolina plant

Fun fact, my granny’s cousin used to drive a gold Rolls-Royce. He was also crazy.

Anyway. British aerospace and defense giant Rolls-Royce is diversifying its portfolio and strengthening its industrial presence in the U.S. with a $75 million investment to expand its engine manufacturing facility in Aiken, South Carolina. The move highlights the company’s growing focus on energy and power systems, shifting beyond its traditional expertise in aerospace.

The expansion will significantly boost production of the mtu Series 4000 diesel engines, which are key components in backup power systems for data centers and other critical infrastructures. Adam “Would He?” Wood, managing director for Rolls-Royce’s power systems division in America, emphasized the importance of this investment: “The increased investment strengthens our ability to serve our U.S. customers — especially in the fast-growing American data center industry.”

The expansion doesn’t just bolster output; it brings new jobs and capabilities to the region. Rolls-Royce confirmed that 60 new jobs will be created and additional components will be machined locally instead of being imported from Germany. Adam “I sound like I should be in the 1960s Batman TV show with this name” Riddle, CEO for North America, expressed enthusiasm about the company’s mission: “We are proud to support America’s growing demand for reliable, domestically made energy systems that strengthen our nation’s energy independence and security.”

Production is scheduled to kick off in July 2027.

Tesla enters Indian market with $70K Model Y

Tesla is finally entering the Indian market, launching its popular Model Y. Although the cars cost around $70,000 (a mere 6 million rupees), Tesla has opted to import vehicles despite India’s steep tariffs, which CEO Elon Musk has long criticized. "We are here to create the ecosystem to invest in the necessary infrastructure, including the charging infrastructure," said Isabel Fan, Tesla’s regional director, during the launch event in Mumbai.

Tesla’s move targets India’s niche luxury EV market, which accounts for just 4% of the country’s overall car sales. Competing with premium automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Tesla’s strategy is focused on high-end buyers rather than the mass-market. The company has opened its first showroom in Mumbai and plans another in New Delhi, alongside the installation of superchargers at key locations.

Grappling with high import duties—which exceed 100%—Tesla plans to “build from 0 to 100” in India, it says, emphasizing long-term goals for infrastructure and growth.

Poll of the Day: You be the judge!

Poll Results: You don’t like this Starbucks thing

We asked: Is it fair for Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol to work remote while mandating that his staff return to the office 4 days a week?

You answered:

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Yes, the company's stock is up 27% in a year. He can work from the moon if he wants to. (115)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 No. Company CEOs shouldn't ask their staff to do things they're not prepared to also do. It's about values and leadership. (1033) 

1148 Votes via @beehiiv polls