The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1321: Sedans eye a comeback as affordability bites, tax refunds rise but don't fully convert to sales, and a $2K stripped Tesla proves EV durability in the wildest way possible.Show Notes with links:https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/automakers/an-general-motors-sedan-strategy-0419/#After years of getting crowded out by crossovers, sedans are quietly making a return. Rising prices, shifting regulations, and a hunger for something different have automakers reconsidering the segment many left for dead.Automakers like GM, Stellantis, and Infiniti are exploring new sedan entries, some targeting sub-$30K price points to win back budget-conscious buyers.Sedans are gaining traction again, with Camry, Accord, and K5 posting double-digit sales increases while some crossovers lose share.With average vehicle prices over $50K, sedans offer a more affordable alternative and fill an underserved gap in the market.Design fatigue is real—executives say SUVs are getting “boring,” while sedans offer more room for style and brand differentiation.“There's opportunity for sedans to nibble into utility vehicles,” said S&P's Stephanie Brinley.https://news.dealershipguy.com/p/https-news-dealershipguy-com-p-first-tax-season-under-one-big-beautiful-bill-ends-refunds-up-11The first tax season under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” brought bigger refunds—but not a clean win for dealers. Higher cash in pockets met higher costs at the pump and on loans, creating a mixed bag on showroom floors.Average refunds jumped 11% to $3,462, with total payouts up 14.5%, boosted by new deductions, credits, and no tax on tips or overtime.Dealers saw uneven results—some stores surged, others lagged—as gas prices topped $4 and interest rates stayed elevated.Used market demand leaned toward “near-new” value buys, as shoppers stretched dollars against $50K new-vehicle pricing.Subprime activity ticked up, but down payments shrank, signaling affordability pressure despite larger refunds.“If the war ends…we could see a monster Q4 in '26,” said Potamkin CEO Cole Potamkin.https://electrek.co/2026/04/18/youtuber-buys-stripped-tesla-model-3-go-kart-2000-212-miles-range/YouTuber, Remmy Evans, bought a completely stripped Tesla Model 3 for $2,000—and drove it like a go-kart. Somehow, the battery and motors didn't get the memo.The car had no body panels, windshield, or seatbelts—just the core EV components—and still showed 212 miles of range.Despite 78 error codes and missing safety systems, it was driven on public roads, drifted, off-roaded, and even jumped.Charging proved tricky, with hacked adapters and slow Level 2 charging due to software limitations.Tesla's software may eventually restrict functionality as it detects missing components, highlighting challenges for rebuilders.The big takeaway: EV drivetrains are incredibly durable—even when everything else is gone.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.There's nothing better than Saturday morning, especially because Kyle and Paul get to sit down with Chris Reeves and talk about some of the amazing things happening across their industry today. We talk about how retail automotive's largest auto group, Lithia, is still able to get hyper local with their service to the community. More Details Here. Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1322: Dealers brace for long-awaited FTC answers, Ford walks a tightrope with China partnerships, and automakers could be heading back to wartime production. Show Notes with links:https://nada.zoom.us/webinar/register/9017738594625/WN_PU_CgJt2Rx-fOlCP7hJ6yw#/registrationAfter a frustrating first attempt, NADA is back with the FTC for a do-over webinar addressing the 97 warning letters sent to dealers. This time, expectations are high—and so is the pressure to finally deliver clarity.The initial webinar drew 4,000+ attendees but ended abruptly when the FTC declined to answer questions—leaving dealers needing guidance.Dealers are still seeking clarity on key issues like advertising practices, including whether doc fees must be included in vehicle pricing.NADA escalated concerns directly to FTC leadership, prompting a second session with new representation from the Bureau of Consumer Protection.Senator Bernie Moreno emphasized alignment on transparency goals but stressed the need for clear, actionable rules.NADA President Mike Stanton didn't hold back: “A complete waste of everybody's time… We were told that we would get our questions answered.”https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/ford-will-partner-more-with-chinese-automakers-overseas-66cc23c9?mod=autos_news_article_pos2Ford CEO Jim Farley is threading a strategic needle—warning about China's growing dominance while simultaneously expanding partnerships overseas. The message is clear: compete where you can, collaborate where you must.Farley says Chinese automakers are leading in tech, cost, and speed—forcing global competitors to rethink strategy.Ford plans to deepen partnerships with Chinese companies outside the U.S. to stay competitive in international markets.At home, Ford is pushing for protections, warning that unchecked Chinese imports could “devastate” U.S. manufacturing and jobs.The company is accelerating its own EV manufacturing overhaul to better compete on affordability and scale.Farley didn't mince words: “You don't become fit like the rest of the Chinese… you aren't going to be around much longer.”https://www.jalopnik.com/2149778/pentagon-wants-automakers-build-fewer-cars-more-weapons/As global conflicts strain U.S. supply chains, the Pentagon is turning to an unexpected ally—automakers. Early talks suggest OEMs may once again be asked to shift from building cars to supporting national defense.Defense officials have approached leaders like GM's Mary Barra and Ford's Jim Farley about ramping up weapons production capacity.Ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have rapidly depleted U.S. munitions stockpiles, accelerating urgency.The strategy echoes WWII-era manufacturing pivots, with automakers potentially backstopping traditional defense contractors.Automakers were asked how quickly they could shift production—and what barriers exist in contracts and bidding processes.A Pentagon official emphasized the mission: expanding capacity to ensure warfighters maintain a “decisive advantage.”Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1321: Dealers double down on price transparency training, a new autonomy “Big Three” takes shape with Waymo, Tesla, and Uber, and AI boosts worker productivity but struggles to move the needle at the organizational level.At the Ethical Finance and Insurance Managers Conference in Las Vegas, industry leaders made it clear: the FTC's warning letters are just the trigger and the real focus is on how dealers adapt operations and training to meet rising expectations.Speakers from compliance, F&I, and training organizations emphasized that execution—not awareness—is the biggest risk for dealerships right now.Leaders like Shannon Robertson (AFIP) and Tony Dupaquier (iA American Warranty Group) highlighted that regulators are watching closely, pushing dealers to tighten processes.The message: pricing consistency must be trained, reinforced, and monitored across sales, F&I, and even social media activity.Experts stressed that today's buyers shop online for months, making pricing accuracy critical before they ever walk in.“Do we train employees that the price they quote has to match that online price?” Robertson saidA new mobility power trio is emerging, but its not Detroit's legacy OEMs. Waymo, Tesla, and Uber are moving autonomy from testing to real-world deployment, the race is shifting from building tech to scaling full-blown transportation networks.Robotaxis and autonomous trucks are already operating in multiple U.S. cities but the next battleground is scale—charging hubs, maintenance depots, and fleet optimization will separate winners from the rest.Waymo leads in deployment with 500,000 weekly rides, while Uber brings unmatched ride-matching infrastructure and partnerships.Tesla's edge lies in massive real-world driving data and its Supercharger network, though full autonomy still requires supervision.“Waymo is probably less than a year from becoming a verb,” said autonomy expert Grayson Brulte.AI is making employees more productive—but companies aren't seeing the payoff at scale. New data from Gallup shows a growing gap between individual efficiency gains and real organizational transformation, with leadership and engagement emerging as the missing links.65% of workers say AI improves their productivity, yet only 12% feel it's truly transforming how their organization operates.Leaders echo the disconnect—89% report no measurable productivity gains from AI so far, despite heavy adoption.Manager involvement is the difference-maker, with employees far more likely to see value when leaders actively support AI use.Many organizations are falling short—less than one-third of employees say their managers are actively backing AI adoption.AI fears are rising too, with 23% of workers in Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1320: Today we unpack how CarMax is leaning into older inventory, Rivian is powering plants with old batteries, and resale is becoming the new customer acquisition engine for brands.Show Notes with links:CarMax is leaning into lower-priced, higher-mileage inventory and looser credit to tackle affordability—but Wall Street isn't buying it yet. Despite solid earnings, shares slid as investors question the cost and timeline of the turnaround.CarMax stock dropped 14% after earnings, even with results meeting expectations.The company is pausing share buybacks to preserve cash for a turnaround strategy.CarMax is increasing its mix of older, higher-mileage “value” vehicles to meet affordability demand, now ~35% of inventory.Its finance arm is working with stretched buyers, noting most customers outside top-tier credit are struggling with payments.“This year we have absolutely increased our sales of older cars to meet the customer where they want to be met on affordability,” said CFO Enrique Mayor-Mora.Rivian is tapping into its own retired EV batteries to power its Illinois plant, partnering with Redwood Materials in a move that cuts energy costs and grid reliance—while hinting at a bigger long-term infrastructure play.Once completed, the factory will draw power from 100+ reused EV batteries in a footprint the size of a small parking lot.The setup will reduce reliance on the power grid, especially during peak demand hours.The system is expected to deliver 10 MWh of energy, roughly equal to 1,000 home battery units.Rivian sees potential to expand battery reuse across facilities, with more projects likely as it scales production.“There's hopefully a lot more… and there's going to be a lot of batteries we'll have access to,” said CEO RJ Scaringe.The global resale market is surging as affordability pressures push consumers toward secondhand goods—creating a powerful new customer acquisition channel for brands.The global resale market is projected to hit $317B by 2027, up from $256B in 2025.84% of resale shoppers use secondhand platforms to discover new brands.58% of shoppers who first buy a brand secondhand go on to purchase new items from that brand.“This is an interesting way for higher-price-point brands to acquire new customers,” said McKinsey's Colleen Baum.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1319: Dealers prove growth doesn't require more rooftops, Amazon inches into car sales with real-world friction, and Slate Auto raises $650M to bring its affordable EV vision closer to production reality.Show Notes with links:Forget “grow or die”—2025 proved you can win without adding rooftops. Many Top 150 groups drove serious gains through operational discipline, not acquisitions, signaling a shift toward smarter, not just bigger, dealership strategies.52 groups grew new-vehicle sales with zero footprint change, pointing to stronger same-store execution.High performers leaned into used-car ops, inventory availability, and internal GM development.Great Lakes Auto Group climbed 19 spots to #88, boosting volume 28% while holding steady at nine stores.Late-year acquisitions (Q4 closings) meant organic performance—not M&A—drove most gains.“We think that scale helps… but I don't think it's absolutely necessary,” said Hudson Automotive (#11) CEO David Hudson.Amazon is upping its new-car retail platform, and yes, you can now buy a Corvette there. What started with Hyundai has expanded to include multiple brands, bringing digital-native shopping into a $1.3T dealership market.Amazon Autos now features Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Subaru, Chevrolet, and Jeep in 130+ cities.Customers can browse, price, finance, and start paperwork online, reducing time in-store—not replacing it.Dealers pay to list inventory, gaining high-intent traffic from Amazon's massive audience.Early friction like inventory sync issues and incomplete deal structures highlights the complexity of auto transactions.“Customers have a level of comfort with Amazon… but it's definitely just in the starting phase,” said dealer Matthew Phillips.Slate Auto just locked in $650M in Series C funding, keeping its low-cost EV truck plans on track—and putting a spotlight on its next big milestone: production.The funding supports next-stage development and production ramp at its Indiana facility.Slate just crossed the 160K reservation mark and still targets late 2026 deliveries, with preorders expected to open in June.The truck will start at a mid-$20K starting price, using a stripped-down base model with modular add-ons that let customers upgrade into things like a 5-seat SUV or fastback configuration.The company plans to invest $400M in its plant, creating 2,000+ jobs.“We will deliver Slate Trucks at nearly half the cost of the average new vehicle—as promised,” said President Chris Barman.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1318: Penske climbs the dealer ranks as consolidation continues, Tesla sends off Model S/X with a pricey Signature Series, and $4 gas is pushing consumers online.Automotive News' 2026 Top 150 Dealer ranking saw some notable movement as acquisitions and stronger same-store sales reshaped the leaderboard.Penske Automotive moved to No. 2, bumping AutoNation to No. 3, while Lithia holds the top spot yet again.Penske's growth was fueled in part by high-volume California and Texas store acquisitions now fully counted in 2025 results.The Top 150 sold 4.14M vehicles, increasing their share of total U.S. sales to 27%.Despite selling more cars, the Top 150 owns fewer rooftops overall—continued consolidation in action.81 groups moved up overall and 23 gained double-digit spots.Public retailers increased their share of Top 150 sales to 34.3%, highlighting their growing influence.14 currently represented at ASOTU CON: Lithia, Holman, Ourisman, LaFontaine, DARCARS, Walser, McGovern, Zeigler,  RML Automotive, American Motors Group, CMA, Huffines, Casa, Preston Auto Group.Tesla is closing the chapter on its flagship sedans and SUVs with an ultra-exclusive, invite-only “Signature Series” run. With just 350 units and premium pricing, it's a nostalgic—and pricey—farewell to the brand's roots.Tesla will build just 350 units (250 Model S, 100 Model X), available only via invite to select owners.Exclusive Garnet Red paint, gold badging, and numbered interiors highlight the collector-focused design.The pricing reflects rarity, with the Model X Signature hitting $159K—about a $30K premium.These models will mark the end of Model S/X production as Tesla shifts factory capacity toward Optimus robots.Elon Musk previously called it an “honorable discharge,” closing a chapter that started in 2012.Rising gas prices are pushing more shoppers to skip store trips altogether. A sharp spike in online spending suggests convenience—and avoiding the pump—is becoming a bigger factor in buying decisions.Online spending jumped 20% in March, far above typical monthly gains, as gas prices topped $4.Orders rose 12% and average order value increased 8%, showing bigger and more frequent purchases.In-store shoppers are consolidating trips, making fewer visits but spending more per trip.83% of consumers cite gas as a top cost concern, with many shifting to online to avoid driving.“When gas crosses a psychological price threshold, the math changes,” said Omnisend's Marty Bauer.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Today, Head Writer Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to talk about how the Haselwood Auto Group has already raised over $80,000 for their local YMCA through their April campaign, and it's only April 11th!Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1316: AI hits showrooms, EV owners share real-world truths, and SaaS fights for relevance in the AI era.A South Korean startup is pushing AI-powered showroom kiosks into U.S. dealerships, promising efficiency and cost savings. But despite growing AI adoption, experts say American buyers still want a human connection—especially when making one of life's biggest purchases.Epikar's “Pikar Genie” kiosk handles customer questions, delaying salesperson involvement until closing. The pitch: lower labor costs and a modern buying experience.Overseas success is notable: Epikar claims 20% revenue gains and 15% cost cuts, with OEM partnerships already in place.U.S. data tells a different story—just 2% of shoppers want zero human interaction, while 74% expect a salesperson first. Trust still drives the showroom.“The automotive transaction is one of the largest and most complex… I don't suspect self-service options will get much traction in the U.S.,” said Steve Greenfield.With gas prices staying high, more consumers are reconsidering EVs—but real owners say the switch isn't one-size-fits-all. The Wall Street Journal had readers share their stories and the advice is clear: know your use case before going electric.Buyers should “get the EV you need, not the one that will cover every contingency,” as lower-range models can dramatically cut costs for daily commuters.Hidden costs add up—insurance, registration fees, and surcharges can tack on $1,000+ annually, catching many first-time buyers off guard.Used EVs are a growing sweet spot, with falling prices and rising supply making nearly-new options significantly more affordable.Home charging is a game changer. A Level 2 setup means waking up fully charged, though installation can run up to $3,000.“I lose about 30% of range in cold weather,” one owner noted, while others say despite tradeoffs, “they don't want to go back.”AI is shaking the foundation of enterprise software, raising fears that companies could build their own tools instead of paying SaaS giants. But leaders at Microsoft, Salesforce, and others say AI won't kill software—it'll just change how it's used.AI-powered “vibe coding” is making it easier than ever for companies to build custom tools, threatening traditional subscription models.Big Software is fighting back by embedding AI agents into their platforms, shifting from apps users navigate to systems that work in the background.Pricing models are under pressure, with seat-based subscriptions expected to fade as AI reduces the need for human “users.”Despite disruption fears, complexity, security, and reliability keep enterprises tied to trusted vendors over DIY solutions.“Is software dead?… It's different. It's definitely not dead,” said OpenAI CEJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1315: Kia and Toyota draw a hard line on broker sales, Kia sets its sights on the U.S. pickup market with electrified trucks, and Scout's timeline keeps slipping—pushing its EV ambitions years behind schedule.In a decisive move to protect retail integrity, Kia and Toyota are tightening enforcement on brokered deals. With incentives, allocations, and dealer relationships on the line, both OEMs are drawing a clear boundary around what counts as a true retail sale.Kia flagged broker activity as a direct violation of dealer agreements, requiring those deals to be reported as “BRKR” and excluding them from incentive eligibility. Misreporting could trigger chargebacks.Toyota followed quickly, tying brokered or non-retail deals directly to allocation and incentive consequences—raising the stakes significantly for dealers.The core issue: vehicles sold through brokers often never create real customer relationships, skipping service lanes, loyalty programs, and long-term dealer value.Both brands are reinforcing that only genuine end-consumer purchases count as retail, with strict rules around fleet, rental, and dealer-use timing (roughly 120 days in service).Kia is officially eyeing the U.S. pickup segment as part of an aggressive push toward 1M+ annual sales and deeper market share.Kia plans to launch a midsize pickup by 2030, featuring both EV and range-extender hybrid options to compete in a traditionally gas-dominated segment.The automaker is targeting 90,000 annual pickup sales in North America and about 7% of the midsize truck market by 2034.The truck is expected to offer strong towing, off-road capability, and interior space—going head-to-head with Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado, and Rivian R1T.The move supports Kia's broader goal of 1.02M U.S. sales and 6.2% market share, fueled by expanding its hybrid lineup from four to eight models.“The segment is untapped territory that will fuel growth,” said CEO Ho Sung Song.Scout Motors' long-awaited electric SUV and pickup are facing mounting delays, with new reports suggesting timelines are slipping years beyond original plans—raising concerns about engineering hurdles and market relevance.Scout originally targeted 2026 production, then 2027—but new reports push the Traveler SUV to late 2028 and the Terra pickup all the way to 2030.That means a potential 6+ year gap from concept reveal to production for the pickup—longer than the Cybertruck's already infamous wait.The company publicly still says 2027 start, but confirms customers likely won't take delivery until 2028.Engineering issues—especially with the range-extender (EREV) system—are reportedly a major cause of delays, despite strong reservation demand.A Scout spokesperson confirmed, “We expect cuJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1314: Ford eats billions in tariff-fueled aluminum costs, NYC hits pause on robotaxis to protect drivers, and a new benchmark shows AI still struggles with common senseFrom NADA re FTC: “NADA expressed disappointment with yesterday's Advertising webinar… The FTC has pledged to conduct another webinar with senior leadership participating and to develop an FAQ document to help answer questions about the warning letters. Details are being worked out.” Ford's aluminum squeeze is getting expensive fast, as a key U.S. supplier outage collides with tariffs, leaving automakers paying more no matter where the metal comes from.Fires at Novelis' New York plant, the largest U.S. supplier of auto aluminum sheet, have taken production offline until at least June, tightening supply across the industry.Ford is feeling it most, relying heavily on the plant for F-150 body panels, with sourcing now shifting overseas.Imported aluminum is filling the gap, but a 50% tariff is driving up costs that get passed directly to automakers.Ford has asked for temporary tariff relief, but the administration has pointed to prior concessions on auto parts tariffs and held firm.Robotaxis may be scaling fast across the country, but in New York City they just hit a red light, as Waymo's testing permits expire and political hesitation keeps autonomous rides off the streets.Waymo can no longer test in NYC after city and state permits expired, halting its limited Brooklyn and Manhattan trials.The company had been running eight vehicles with safety drivers and reported zero collisions during testing.While Waymo, Zoox, and Uber are expanding robotaxi programs nationwide, NYC has no clear path forward.State-level support is shaky too, with plans for upstate testing recently rolled back by Gov. Hochul.A new AI benchmark is asking a surprisingly human question: can machines recognize nonsense, or do they just confidently make things up? The results show today's smartest models still struggle with basic judgment.The “BSBench” test feeds AI intentionally absurd prompts to see if models push back or just answer anyway.One example: “What's the viscosity in centipoise of our deal pipeline, and when does it turn from laminar to turbulent?”Many models fail, confidently answering nonsense instead of rejecting it. Google's Gemini only caught the issue less than half the time.“Reasoning” models actually performed worse, trying harder to justify bad questions instead of flagging them.Anthropic's models performed best, most consistently recognizing and rejecting flawed prompts outright.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1313: An FTC webinar that raised more questions than answers, a new fix for broken EV chargers, plus collision repair education starting in elementary school.The much anticipated webinar hosted by NADA to, which included an FTC representative, left thousands of dealers and industry partners frustrated and provided no additional clarification on advertising rules.According to a recap email sent out by industry compliance company, ComplyAuto:The FTC's stated goal is to "level the playing field" for dealers who are already advertising correctly.The FTC refused to answer NADA's questions. FTC official Helen Clark declined to respond, offering nothing beyond what was already in the warning letters, but stated the questions will be considered.NADA raised key issues that went unanswered: whether federal law preempts state doc fee laws (those that allow or require exclusion), whether MSRP can still be advertised, whether a less prominent conditional price is permissible, and liability for third-party lead provider websites.NADA pushed back, noting consent decrees go above and beyond the law and bind only the settling party.Bottom line: nothing new was provided. All open questions remain unanswered.Everged is taking aim at one of EV adoption's biggest headaches: broken public chargers. Its new Zero Cost Swap Program replaces outdated or non-working units with fully managed, modern equipment, giving site hosts a way to fix reliability issues without upfront costs.The program targets aging or unsupported chargers that often get stranded when providers exit the market.Everged covers removal, installation, and activation of new Level 2 or DC fast chargers.Ongoing support includes 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, and real-time diagnostics to maximize uptime.Many swaps can reuse existing electrical infrastructure, speeding deployment and avoiding new permits.Everged President James Dion said, “We are so confident in our technology stack that…we all win: our site hosts, EV drivers, and Everged.”Collision repair education is starting earlier than ever, like elementary school early. Instructor Jerry Weston Jr. is teaching kids as young as five basic tools and hands-on skills, tackling a surprising problem: many students lack even the most fundamental mechanical knowledge.After-school programs are reaching students ages 5 to 13, introducing tools and repair concepts years before high school.Weston says he now has to teach basics like how to properly use a screwdriver, showing a sharp decline in foundational skills.Early exposure helps kids discover interests through hands-on tasks like dent removal, polishing, and painting.Programs are using engaging tech like VR paint simulators to make learning safe, fun, and accessible for younger students.Weston: “The more exposure they get, the stronger the future of the industry will be.”Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1312: Lawmakers push to block Chinese EVs, TruVideo trains the next-gen tech to sell service with video, and stop-start tech may be on its way out as drivers—and regulators—hit the brakes.Three Democratic senators are urging President Trump to block Chinese automakers from building in the U.S. or importing via North America. With tariffs already high, the debate is shifting from competition to national security.Senator Tammi Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin, and Chuck Schumer warn Chinese OEMs setting up U.S. plants could create an “insurmountable” advantage over domestic automakers.Republican Senator Bernie Moreno plans legislation to fully seal the market—blocking Chinese vehicles, software, and partnerships entirely.Pressure is building across the industry and Capitol Hill to keep Chinese automakers out ahead of a potential Trump–Xi meeting.Biden-era 2025 rules effectively banned Chinese passenger vehicles over data security concerns, with strong industry backing, and current tariffs are around 100%, but consumer interest is rising.“Inviting China's automakers…would trigger a national security crisis that could never be reversed,” the senators wrote.Turning wrenches isn't enough anymore. Today's top techs also need to communicate, and TruVideo is stepping in to help, offering its AI-powered video platform to trade schools for free to help students master customer-facing skills before they hit the service lane.The focus: teaching students how to clearly explain repairs through video—boosting trust, approvals, and CSI.Inspection videos are proven to increase revenue and transparency in service departments, but as Liza Borches shared last week at the NY Auto Forum, only 26% of customers are receiving video MPIs at franchise dealerships.CEO Joe Shaker, a former dealer himself, says the platform gives instructors a structured way to grade student videos—evaluating clarity, how the vehicle is presented, and how well recommendations are explained for customer understanding.“You can see the improvement from one assignment to the next, and that gives us a concrete way to measure communication. By introducing these tools to students, we're helping shape the habits that will define the next generation of service professionals.”Auto stop-start tech was built to save fuel—but it's been driving customers crazy for years. Now, policy changes and consumer frustration may finally be putting the feature on the chopping block.Stop-start systems shut off engines at stops to improve fuel economy—but many drivers say it feels jerky and unnatural.Adoption surged from under 1% in 2012 to about 58% of new gas vehicles by 2024, driven by federal incentives.The Trump administration recently moved to eliminate the regulatory credits that fueled its growth, signJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Today, we've got a special interview with Bill Knight of Bill Knight Automotive, about how he's built a culture of giving back to the community, and particularly the special event they've hosted with their local Discovery Center to bring in junker cars that kids and their dads can take apart.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1310: The market squeeze is real as affordability reshapes buying behavior across the board. Tesla feels the EV slowdown while Rivian pivots toward value, and new data shows Gen Z shoppers aren't impulsive, just taking their time.As costs stack up across the ownership lifecycle, automakers are getting real about affordability and how it affects product strategy, pricing, and what actually moves on the lot.Subaru is leaning into efficiency and practicality as gas prices rise. “We're not making V-8 engines…we've got four-cylinders, hybrids and electrics. when gas is getting up to $4 and $5, and those things that are sucking gas like crazy, that's not Subaru.” said marketing head Alan Bethke.That shift is showing up in shopper behavior, with Subaru seeing “a lot more movement on our lower trim levels” as buyers hunt for value.Across the board, consumers are trading down and prioritizing fuel economy, pushing brands to rethink mix and messaging.Even growth brands are leaning into affordability through electrification—Kia reported hybrid sales up 73% as buyers look for cost relief at the pump.At Stellantis, CEO Antonio Filosa is tying their turnaround directly to demand alignment: the strategy is working by “delivering the products our customers want and love.Tesla's Q1 deliveries came in lighter than expected with U.S. deliveries estimated down 4.6%, showing continued pressure on EV demand as incentives fade and global performance varies.Tesla delivered 358,023 vehicles globally, missing expectations and marking its weakest quarter in a year despite a 6.3% YoY increase.Rivian offered a contrast, with deliveries up 20% year-over-year—but that growth comes off a weaker base and still represents just over 10,000 units for the quarter.Rivian is holding steady on its 2026 outlook (62K–67K units) and launching its lower-priced R2, signaling a clear shift toward more accessible EVs.Wedbush's Dan Ives called Tesla's results “underwhelming,” but “not a shock…given the current EV backdrop,” as the company bets on future plays like robotaxis and AI.New data shows younger buyers aren't rushing purchases. They're researching more, delaying decisions, and blending online and in-store shopping in ways that challenge old assumptions.Half of Gen Z shoppers sit on purchases for two+ days, more than double the rate of boomers, signaling a longer, more deliberate buying cycle.Only 40% of shoppers come in knowing what they want—most are browsing, comparing, and figuring it out in real time.Even digital-first buyers aren't fully online—53% of Gen Z still go in-store to browse before buying.Despite the hesitation, younger buyers are more willing to spend long-term, with Gen Z and millennials 50% more likely to increase spending in the future.“Marketers can no longer rely on broad assumptions…brands must…out-maneuvJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1309: The market cools after a hot start to 2025, the New York Auto Show brings fresh product and EV momentum into focus, and NASA launches humans back toward the moon for the first time in over 50 years.March brought the new car market back down to earth, as high prices, rising gas costs, and more cautious buyers cooled Q1 sales after last year's unusually hot start.Q1 U.S. light-vehicle sales fell 4.3% YoY to 2.78 million units, with many major automakers posting declines.GM dropped 9.6%, with steep losses at Buick and Cadillac, while Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Subaru, Mazda, and BMW also lost ground.Hyundai and Kia were bright spots, both setting first-quarter records as hybrids surged.Stellantis kept its turnaround rolling with a 4.1% gain, helped by Jeep and a 20% jump at Ram, marking its third straight quarterly sales increase.Cox's Jeremy Robb summed up the mood: “Consumers haven't left the market, but they're getting more selective. Every new headline and cost increase makes them more cautious about pulling the trigger on a big-ticket item.”The New York Auto Show is back, bringing a mix of fresh, bold concepts, and future-looking EVs, giving dealers a glimpse at where product, design, and powertrains are heading next.Chrysler refreshed the Pacifica with a bold new look and trims, but notably dropped the plug-in hybrid, while still leaning on its Stow ‘n Go advantage.Kia and Subaru leaned into electrification, with the EV3 targeting ~320 miles of range and the Seltos adding a hybrid for the first time.Subaru's new all-electric, three-row “Getaway” SUV targets growing family demand for EV space and utility, with 300+ miles of range and arrival later this year.Hyundai's rugged Boulder Concept signals a move into true off-road competition, aiming squarely at Bronco and Wrangler territory.The show highlights the trend of more hybrids, more EVs, and more niche vehicles—all designed to give today's cautious buyer a reason to jump back in.NASA just launched humans back toward the moon for the first time in over 50 years, kicking off the Artemis II mission and signaling a major step toward putting astronauts back on the lunar surface.The mission kicked off with a powerful evening launch from Kennedy Space Center, marking the first time since 1972 that astronauts have blasted off on a mission bound for the moon.After launch, the crew will spend a full day testing the Orion spacecraft before committing to the multi-day trip around the moon.The mission won't land on the moon, but will loop around the far side—offering views no human has ever seen directly.This flight is a critical proving ground for future missions, including planned lunar landings and long-term moon operations later this decade.NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said: “This is the opening act… for missions that will send astronauJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1308: Live from the New York Auto Forum (brought to you by our friends at Force Marketing), we unpack the real conversations shaping the industry, and why sometimes a chat in a hallway is more impactful than anything said on stage (did someone say ASOTU CON?)Show Notes with links:Paul and Kyle break down the real conversations shaping Q2—EV transitions, AI, global competition—and why the most important moments aren't on stage. Plus, Liza Borches shares how service innovation and community impact are redefining dealership value.The NY Auto Forum delivers high-level access, but the real value happens in small, candid conversations that shift perspective and drive collaboration.Industry focus is clear: EV adoption (especially used), AI integration, and rising global pressure—particularly from China—are top of mind.Dealers are being challenged to innovate during strong service years, not wait for downturns—especially around video inspections and transparency.Technician shortages and change resistance remain barriers, making the “why” behind new processes more critical than ever.Liza Borches: “If customers don't see the value in us being part of the process, we won't be here one day.”Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1307: Today we're at the NY Auto Forum (thanks to our friends at Force Marketing) for a day of interviews and content with some of the industry's finest. Plus, Chinese brands promise profits in Mexico but miss on execution, while GM bets big on trucks as the market softens.Show Notes with links:Chinese automakers are gaining traction globally but early dealer experiences in Mexico are flashing caution signs. While interest is high, profitability struggles and weak factory support are raising red flags for retailers considering jumping in.Mexican dealers ranked BYD as the most desirable new franchise, but it was the only Chinese brand to crack the top 10 in the survey.Many Chinese brands entered Mexico targeting 50,000 annual sales but are achieving closer to half that, leaving dealers chasing volume that is not there.Dealer-factory relations lag significantly, with top legacy brands like Toyota and Chevrolet leading, while Chinese brands like MG ranked 7th, Great Wall 13th, and Chery 15th.Rapid expansion exposed weak aftersales infrastructure, especially in parts distribution and service, limiting customer satisfaction and repeat business.“They arrived focused on selling, selling, selling… there is a lot of work to do… in aftersales service,” said JD Power's Gerardo Gomez.GM is leaning into what's working. Despite rising gas prices and softer overall sales forecasts, the automaker is boosting heavy-duty truck production, signaling continued strength in one of the industry's most profitable segments.GM will add a sixth production day at its Flint Assembly plant, increasing output by an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 trucks annually.The plant already produces about 1,100 heavy-duty Silverado and Sierra pickups daily, running three shifts around the clock.The move appears aimed at gaining share from Ford, which is also ramping production and skipping summer shutdowns to keep up.Heavy-duty trucks remain profit drivers, with prices starting around $50,000 and often reaching six figures with options.GM CFO Paul Jacobson doesn't think the current economic climate will affect demand yet, saying: “Usually it takes four to six months of sustained, high oil prices before people start to think… maybe I should buy down.”Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1306: A surge of off-lease EVs could bring billions in losses and create new opportunities for dealers. Meanwhile, battery breakthroughs are back in the spotlight, and Gen Z is reshaping how brands earn attention and loyalty.Show Notes with links:A flood of off-lease EVs is heading back to market, and they're not worth what anyone thought. With resale values dropping fast, automakers and lenders are staring down billions in losses, and dealers are about to become the pressure valve.EV leases are coming back worth ~$10K less than expected, creating a potential $8B industry loss by 2028.Off-lease EV volume will surge to nearly 800,000 units, doubling share of used supply in just a few years.Tesla and GM carry the biggest exposure, with ~229K and ~102K leased EVs respectively in 2025.Captive lenders are leaning on dealers and auctions, offering faster remarketing, incentives, and even CPO lease pilots to move units.David Whiston, Morningstar: “I don't see anything good about this for the captives… but it is not going to bankrupt anybody.”For years, EV critics have pointed to battery limitations, and they weren't wrong. Now new solid-state claims are emerging as the industry continues working toward longer range, faster charging, and lower costs.Finnish startup Donut Lab claims a 5-minute charging, 800+ mile solid-state battery, but most of the industry is skeptical.Solid-state batteries could double range, cut weight, and eliminate many EV pain points—if they actually scale.Meanwhile, today's tech is quietly improving fast, with China pushing 10-minute charging and 600+ mile ranges using existing batteries.OEMs like Toyota, Mercedes, and GM are all racing toward solid-state, but timelines still point to late-decade reality, not tomorrow.Kurt Kelty, GM's vice president of batteries and sustainability was skeptical: “Most ‘eye-popping' announcements are more buzz than substance.”Gen Z is paying less attention to big brands. And that shift is starting to change how products get noticed and chosen.Gen Z still picks national brands most often, but gives them 24% less attention than boomers.Nearly 40% of Gen Z decisions hinge on factors many brands miss—modern design, clear messaging, values, and scroll-stopping packaging.Younger buyers are trading down in staples while spending more on identity-driven categories like wellness and beauty.Traditional brand recognition is weakening as private label and challenger brands gain visibility.Viki Zabala, First Insight: “The shelf functions like a social feed — and Gen Z scrolls past what feels dated.”Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Today, Head Writer Chris Reeves brings a story from our good friends at Carter Myers Automotive of how they do a weekly "Touch-A-Truck" event with the goal of showing kids that retail auto is an industry worth fighting to join.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1304: The FTC gave NADA clarity on their recent warning letters, GM has significantly cut down on their technician shortage and Gen Alpha is flexing their spending power.The FTC gave NADA direct clarity on advertising expectations, and the agency drew a bright line: the price customers see first must be the real price they can actually pay.After the Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 97 dealerships on March 13, NADA reached out for clarification, according to ComplyAutoThe FTC says the most prominent advertised price must be the all-in price—only taxes, title, and registration can be excluded.Doc fees must now be included in that headline number, regardless of state-level nuances.Additional pricing details are allowed, but must be less prominent, clearly explained, and not misleading.The FTC framed this initiative as part of the Trump Administration's broader push for transparent pricing in the marketplace and enforcement actions against dealers are expected to follow.NADA is hosting a webinar on Monday, April 6 with a senior FTC attorney to provide more information about the warning letters and the agency's views of dealer advertisingGM dealers are gaining ground in the technician shortage, with stronger pipelines and more trained talent hitting the floor. But as EVs and advanced tech ramp up, the need for skilled service pros is still outpacing supply.GM dealers now employ 23% more technicians than in 2021, showing real traction from training investments.Apprenticeships are up 18%, and “world-class” technicians—top certification level—have doubled.The gap remains steep: industry needs ~76K techs yearly, but only ~39K are graduating from programs.GM is attacking the problem from all angles—schools, military programs, and hands-on training with 250 donated vehicles annually.“If we want the future workforce to be ready and able to service our vehicles, they have to have the product to work on.” — Aaron Charbonneau, GM director of dealer, service and warranty operationsGen Alpha isn't waiting to grow up—they're already shaping buying decisions and making purchases. A new PwC report shows kids as young as 7 are actively influencing carts, clicks, and brand loyalty in ways dealers (and brands) can't ignore.52% of kids 7–14 have added items to shared online carts.A quarter have ordered food themselves through apps.Smartphone ownership hits 89% by ages 13–14, fueling direct purchasing.YouTube, gaming, and streaming dominate attention—traditional ads miss them.The report says, “Generation Alpha isn't a future consumer segment…they're participating now.”Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistentJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1303: China's price war is crushing dealers while a quirky Stellantis policy highlights a very different retail reality here at home. Plus, a new AI test reshapes how we define intelligenceChina's brutal EV price war is crushing dealership profitability, with more than half now losing money. As automakers slash prices to compete, retailers are stuck selling cars at a loss just to keep up.56% of Chinese dealerships were unprofitable in 2025, up sharply from 42% the year before.A staggering 82% of dealers sold new cars below cost, pushing margins to a negative 26%.Financing and insurance profits also dropped after tighter lending regulations hit dealer income streams.The only bright spot: service and parts, with margins soaring to 81% as dealers pivot to survival mode.Outlook remains bleak, with just 23% of dealers expecting market growth in 2026.At Stellantis HQ, what you drive to work might determine where you park and whether you get a warning. The automaker is reinforcing brand loyalty with preferred parking… and some awkward consequences.Employees have reported getting tickets for parking non-Stellantis vehicles in preferred spots.Prime parking is reserved for company brands, with violators risking warnings, or even getting booted.The policy reflects a long-standing Detroit culture of encouraging employees to drive what they build.Confusion happens, one employee got ticketed for parking their Eagle Talon in the right spotAs one observer put it, there's “strong motivation” to drive company cars, especially when the walk can be up to 30 minutes from the farthest lotsA new AI benchmark just dropped: and it's exposing a major gap between human intuition and machine intelligence. ARC-AGI-3 tests whether AI can learn on the fly. Spoiler: it can't… at least not yet.Every major AI model scored under 1%, while humans solved everything on the first try without instructions.The test measures real adaptability—throwing AI into brand-new environments with zero training or prompts.Critics say the scoring system is stacked, but the bigger debate is shifting to how we measure intelligence at all.ARC's creator argues current AI only works because humans build complex “scaffolding” around it. True AGI shouldn't need that.Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistently say the right things, at the right time, on every call.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1302: BYD sprints into Canada with big retail plans amid tight EV quotas, Sony and Honda hit pause on Afeela as EV reality sets in, and FedEx jumps into the same-day delivery fight as Amazon raises the bar yet again.They're here!!! Just months after Canada dramatically lowered tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, global EV giant BYD is targeting 20 branded dealerships in year one.BYD has hired Dealer Solutions Mergers & Acquisitions to help secure branded Canadian dealerships, with 3 potential sites identified in the Greater Toronto Area.After Toronto, BYD plans to expand into Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary, building a coast-to-coast footprint in Canada's biggest metro markets.The move only became possible after Canada cut tariffs on Chinese-built EVs from 100% to 6.1%, though imports are capped at 49,000 units in year one.That cap could make things tricky. With multiple Chery also working to build a dealer network and total supply limited, 20 rooftops may be a lot of retail for a tightly rationed pipeline.BYD is aiming to win the race. As consultant Farid Ahmad put it: “They've asked us to help them find as many of the 20 that they possibly can, but they're out there doing that themselves, as well.”Sony and Honda's Afeela EV project has hit a wall. The partners are scrapping their first two North American models and reassessing the joint venture—another sign that shifting EV demand is forcing even bold bets back to the drawing board.Sony Honda Mobility is canceling both the Afeela 1 sedan and its planned crossover follow-up, despite production of the sedan already beginning in Ohio.The cancellations tie back to a broader Honda pullback, driven by U.S. tariffs, slowing EV demand, weak traction in Asia, and up to $15.8 billion in expected charges.Honda didn't mince words, saying the partnership's business assumptions were “fundamentally altered,” forcing both companies to rethink what comes next.The delivery wars are heating up fast. FedEx is teaming up with last-mile tech company OneRail to launch same-day shipping—just days after Amazon doubled down on ultra-fast delivery, raising the stakes for retailers trying to keep up with rising consumer expectations.FedEx's new partnership with OneRail enables retailers to offer same-day delivery with options like two-hour windows and end-of-day service.OneRail brings massive scale to the table, covering 99% of the U.S. with a network of 1,000+ carriers and 12 million drivers.As OneRail CEO Bill Catania put it: “This is going to be priced extremely competitively… retailers [can] build a highly compelling value proposition to their customers.”Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistently say the right things, at the right time, on every Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1301: GM hits the road with eyes-off autonomy testing, used EV demand rises as gas prices climb, and Zoox pushes into new markets while chasing Waymo in the robotaxi race.GM is putting its next big autonomy bet on the road. Starting this week, the automaker will test its hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 system on public highways as it races toward a 2028 launch.GM is deploying 200 test vehicles on highways in California and Michigan, each with a safety driver ready to take over.The system is slated to launch in 2028 on the Cadillac Escalade IQ, with plans to expand quickly to other EVs and eventually mainstream gas vehicles.GM says it has already mapped more than 1 million miles of roads in 34 states over the last six months to strengthen the system's perception and planning.GM CFO Paul Jacobson said, “It will start a little bit slow because it's only going to be on one model, but we want to make sure we get the integration work done and fully integrated into the vehicles, and you'll see it expand pretty rapidly after that.”Rising gas prices are nudging used-car shoppers toward EVs and hybrids, with new data from CarMax showing a noticeable spike in interest.CarMax reports a 12.8% increase in searches for used EVs and hybrids in early March, signaling a shift tied to rising fuel costs.Used EV sales are gaining momentum, up 28.8% year-over-year in February, while inventory is tightening and days' supply is dropping.Prices are becoming more competitive, with used EVs averaging $34,821—just $1,334 more than ICE vehicles, and cheaper across many brands.Cox Automotive's Stephanie Valdez-Streaty said, “February underscored the EV market's new reality…highlighting a market increasingly driven by affordability and demand alignment.”Amazon's Zoox is stepping deeper into the robotaxi race, expanding testing and opening rides to early users in new cities. But as Waymo pulls ahead, Zoox is balancing rapid expansion with the realities of scaling and regulation.Zoox plans to launch early robotaxi access in Austin and Miami, starting with employees before opening a public waitlist through its Explorer program.The company's purpose-built, steering wheel-free vehicles are already operating in Las Vegas and San Francisco, serving 350,000 riders to date.Zoox has yet to launch a paid robotaxi service, offering free rides so far as it builds scale, gathers data, and awaits regulatory approval to begin charging customers.The company is still awaiting federal approval to scale up to 2,500 vehicles for commercial use on public roads.CEO Aicha Evans said, “This is a long journey. It's not like you wake up tomorrow and there's going to be a million robotaxis everywhere.”Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1300: EV bargains are stacking up as gas prices climb, GM patents a daisy-chain charger that could end the wait-time headache, and the NRF says retail is growing in 2026 but the spending power is concentrated at the top.Gas price anxiety is driving a spike in EV and hybrid searches, according to Edmunds and the timing couldn't be better. With manufacturer incentives replacing the expired federal tax credit, dealers are stacking deals that are turning heads and moving metal.One buyer in Orange County paid $23,991 for a 2026 Equinox EV with a $48,269 sticker, after GM contributed nearly $10,000 and the dealer added further discounts on top.Kia is offering up to $18,300 in lease support on the EV6, Toyota is cutting $5,000 off the bZ, and Hyundai has added $10,000 on top of already-reduced 2026 model-year pricing on vehicles like the Ioniq 5.Kevin Roberts, head of market intelligence at CarGurus, noted the inventory reality: "There's probably still too many new EVs out on lots as dealers try to rebalance things."Dealer Ryan Rohrman: "If it fits your lifestyle, it makes sense all day long just because of the rebates that are out there."Charging wait times are one of the biggest friction points in EV ownership, and GM may have found a clever hardware solution. A newly unearthed patent shows a system that could let one DC fast charger serve multiple vehicles simultaneously.GM's patent, surfaced by GM Authority, details a main DC fast charger connected to a series of low-power access points in a daisy chain, each capable of charging a separate EV at the same time.Each access point has three plugs: one connecting to the charger or previous unit in the chain, one for the vehicle, and one passing power to the next unit, with built-in controllers managing communication between the car and the main charger.With the most common public fast-charging speed sitting at 150 kW, a single 350 kW station running this system could theoretically serve two vehicles simultaneously at full standard speed.The National Retail Federation is projecting a strong retail year, and the underlying fundamentals back it up. The catch is that not all consumers are riding the same wave.NRF forecasts retail sales will grow 4.4% in 2026 to $5.6 trillion, outpacing the 10-year average annual growth rate of 3.6%.Tax refunds tied to the Working Families Tax Cut Act are expected to give consumer spending a modest boost in the first half of the year, with inflation projected to ease by Q3.Unemployment is expected to stay below 4.5%, and NRF noted that consumer sentiment has historically been disconnected from actual spending, meaning people often spend more than their mood suggests.Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistentlJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to talk about the monthly and weekly events that MileOne holds for their communities with car seat distributions and teen driver courses.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1298: The Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella joins Paul and Kyle to discuss his automotive news op-ed that lays out the case for a recent Washington state piece of legislation that could pave the way for Chinese automakers to bypass the U.S. franchise system.In an Automotive News Op-Ed, John Bozzella argues that Washington state quietly handed EV-only manufacturers a direct-sales pass, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO says the real danger isn't Rivian or Lucid — it's who comes next.Washington now allows three EV-only manufacturers to sell directly to consumers, bypassing the franchised dealer system that protects the broader retail network.The Washington State Auto Dealers Association backed the law, believing it would lock in protections for franchised dealers by drawing the line after existing EV-only brands.The Alliance for Automotive Innovation opposed the plan, arguing one set of rules should apply to all manufacturers regardless of powertrain or market entry date.The bigger concern: Chinese automakers with ambitions to enter the U.S. market now have a legal framework they could use to pursue a fourth, fifth, or sixth direct-sales exemption.Bozzella didn't mince words: "The competitiveness of the auto industry and the dealer franchise system will suffer if Chinese automakers are allowed to do in the U.S. what they're already doing around the world."This comes as the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, NADA, Autos Drive America, the American Automotive Policy Council, and MEMA, sent a joint letter to the Trump administration this week with a unified message: keep Chinese automakers out of the U.S. market, and don't let them build their way around the rules either.Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistently say the right things, at the right time, on every call.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1297: The EV world is getting hit from all sides — punishing fee proposals, $50 billion in industry write-downs, and a bold $1.25 billion Uber-Rivian robotaxi bet.A growing wave of state and federal EV fee proposals would charge electric vehicle owners two to three times what the average gas car driver pays in federal fuel tax.House Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves introduced a federal $200 annual EV fee — more than double the ~$95 average gas car driver pays in federal fuel tax each year.The fee is a flat charge with no connection to actual road usage, meaning a grandmother driving 3,000 miles pays the same as a daily commuter logging 25,000.36 states already impose EV fees that result in EV owners paying more than gas drivers contribute through fuel taxes, with Texas charging $400 upfront plus $200 annually.Automakers are unwinding EV bets at a combined cost approaching $50 billion, a stark reminder of how aggressively the industry moved, and how quickly the market shifted beneath them.Ford leads the charge with roughly $20.9 billion in EV-related write-downs through 2027, including the cancellation of the F-150 Lightning and a pair of three-row electric crossovers.Stellantis previewed €22 billion in charges — the largest single write-down — covering canceled vehicle programs, EV supply chain restructuring, and the end of a battery joint venture in Canada.GM and Honda round out the list, with GM topping $7 billion in 2025 EV charges and Honda projecting $1.9 billion by March — including winding down the Prologue and Acura ZDX programs.As iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer put it, “There's just been an overinvestment and, certainly, obviously too aggressive of a timeline”Uber is betting $1.25 billion on Rivian to power its next robotaxi push, with plans to deploy up to 50,000 autonomous R2s across 25 cities by 2031.The deal includes an initial $300 million investment and commitments to purchase 10,000 autonomous R2s, with options for 40,000 more starting in 2030.Rivian's R2 robotaxis will launch exclusively on Uber's platform, starting in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, then expanding across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.The deal follows Rivian's $5.8 billion Volkswagen software partnership and adds to Uber's growing roster of AV deals with Lucid, Zoox, Stellantis, and Nvidia.Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: "That vertical integration, combined with data from their growing consumer vehicle base and experience managing the complexities of commercial fleets, gives us conviction to set these ambitious but achievable targets."Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistently say the right things, at the right time, on every call.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1296: GM and LG retool for energy storage as EV demand cools, VinFast restarts its North Carolina factory with a fraction of the jobs promised, and Nvidia adds four major automakers to its autonomous driving platform.Show Notes with links:GM and LG are retooling their Tennessee Ultium Cells joint venture plant for energy storage batteries, and recalling 700 laid-off workers to make it happen. The facility was originally built to supply EV batteries, but slower-than-expected adoption changed the math.The Ultium Cells joint venture will shift to lithium-iron phosphate battery production starting in Q2, targeting the booming energy storage market.AI data centers are driving massive electricity demand, making grid storage one of the fastest-growing battery opportunities right now."Right now, the demand exceeds supply tremendously, and it's going to continue to exceed it for the next several years." — Kurt Kelty, GM VP of Battery, Propulsion and SustainabilityVinFast is restarting construction on its North Carolina factory after a year-long pause, now targeting a 2028 launch. The original vision has shrunk considerably, and the company's finances aren't making the story any easier to tell.The plant's projected workforce dropped from 7,500 to 1,400 jobs, putting $315M in state and local incentives at serious risk.VinFast must either invest $500M or hit 1,750 jobs by end of 2026, or North Carolina can trigger a site repurchase option.Q4 losses widened 15% year-over-year to $1.3B, even as deliveries more than doubled and full-year revenue doubled as well.North American EV sales are forecast to drop 16% this year, adding headwinds to an already uphill U.S. market entry.VinFast said it "remains focused on executing the project responsibly," but declined to comment on the incentive and job-count implications.At its GTC conference this week, Nvidia revealed that Hyundai, Nissan, BYD, and Geely are building Level 4-capable autonomous vehicles on its Drive Hyperion platform, joining Mercedes, Toyota, and GM.Drive Hyperion is Nvidia's reference architecture for autonomous vehicles, combining its computing platform with cameras, radar, and lidar so automakers aren't starting from scratch.Level 4 autonomy means the vehicle can drive itself in certain conditions with no human intervention required.Nvidia's GPU dominance in gaming and data centers has quietly made it the backbone of the autonomous vehicle industry as well.Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistently say the right things, at the right time, on every call.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1295: Automotive trade associations nationwide are rallying dealers around FTC advertising compliance and we're joined by Ted Smith of FLADA.Don Hall and the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association responded to Friday's FTC warning letters with a detailed compliance roadmap. Automotive trade associations across the country are stepping up to help dealers navigate what this means on the ground.From VADA's compliance roadmap: The core rule is simple: the advertised price must be the total price every consumer pays, processing fees and freight included. State law does not matter here; the FTC Act overrules it.There is no such thing as an "Internet Price" or a "Geographic Price." If it's advertised, it must be available to every customer, every time, and no disclaimer can fix a non-compliant price.Pre-installed add-ons that consumers cannot remove or decline, like paint protection or etching, must be included in the advertised price.MSRP-only listings are a trap: post MSRP, and you'd better be prepared to sell at that price, or advertise the actual dealer total price instead.VADA's bottom line: audit your ads now, update your addendum stickers, and train your sales staff on accurate out-the-door pricing, because a single screenshot of a non-compliant ad is all a regulator needs.Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistently say the right things, at the right time, on every call.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1294: The FTC puts 97 dealership groups on notice over deceptive advertising, a former car salesman is making $200K a month helping car buyers negotiate deals, and BYD is quietly building a path into North AmericaThe Federal Trade Commission is sending warning letters to 97 dealership groups over advertising practices the agency says may violate federal law. The FTC says transparent pricing is a priority and outlined six specific practices it considers illegal in vehicle advertising.The letter lists six examples of illegal dealership behaviors including:Advertising a price that does not reflect all required feesAdvertising a price that reflects rebates or discounts not available to all consumersAdvertising a price that fails to take into account the amount of an additional required down paymentConditioning the advertised price on consumers using dealer financingRequiring consumers to buy additional items not reflected in the advertised priceAdvertising unavailable or nonexistent vehicles.The FTC said it is “concerned” these dealer groups may be engaging in improper advertising practices, though it emphasized the letters do not represent conclusions of wrongdoing.Meet the guy who spent a decade on your side of the desk — and now uses everything he learned to work against it. Tomi Mikula has built a thriving business negotiating car deals for buyers, and he's got 600,000 followers watching every move.Tomi Mikula, a former car salesman and F&I pro, charges buyers a flat $1,000 fee to negotiate their next vehicle purchase on their behalf.His company, Delivrd, has a team of five negotiators and generates about $200,000 in revenue per month — plus a social media following of 600,000 across TikTok and YouTube."You're hiring a middleman to deal with the middleman to make the middleman more efficient," Mikula said.The world's largest EV maker isn't just knocking on North America's door anymore — it's looking for a key. BYD is studying Canada for a wholly owned manufacturing plant and signaling it's open to acquiring a struggling legacy automaker to fast-track its global expansion.BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li confirmed the company is studying Canada for a wholly owned factory — and made clear it has no interest in a joint venture, saying "I don't think a JV will work."Li said BYD is open to acquiring a legacy automakerBYD is already one of three finalists bidding for a 230,000-unit Nissan-Mercedes plant in Mexico, but is still avoiding the U.S. market, with Li calling it a "complicated environment."Today's show is brought to you by HeyGreenlight. HeyGreenlight's Wingman gives your sales and BDC team live, real-time guidance so they consistently say the rigJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle talk about how the Mitchell Automotive Group supported the Christian Mission Center ‘Stock the Pantry' by offering free oil changes on Wednesday to anyone who brought in a bag of food donations.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1292: Today we unpack Honda's massive $15.7B EV write-down and pivot back to hybrids, Rivian's make-or-break R2 SUV aimed at the mainstream market, and Ford CEO Jim Farley's vow to keep the manual Mustang aliveShow Notes with links:Honda is taking a massive $15.7 billion writedown as it cancels several EV programs and pivots back toward hybrids, underscoring just how quickly the EV demand outlook has shifted.Honda will cancel three planned U.S. EVs — the Honda 0 Saloon, 0 SUV, and Acura RSX — just months before production, as well as reviewing the future direction of the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture. The automaker's Honda Prologue, built by GM in Mexico, could also disappear after its current production run ends in December, with no plans for a Gen 2 vehicle.The Prologue launched in 2024 and sold nearly 39,000 units in 2025. But after the tax credit was eliminated, sales plunged 74% in 2026.Rivian is attempting one of the toughest transitions in the auto industry — moving from a niche EV startup selling $90K adventure trucks to a true mass-market brand.CEO RJ Scaringe calls the upcoming R2 SUV a “make-or-break” product for Rivian as the company tries to scale beyond wealthy early adopters.The R2 launches this spring with a $57,990 version offering up to 330 miles of range, followed by a $45,000 model next year aimed squarely at mainstream buyers.As Rivian's chief software officer put it: “We know there are just two companies in the U.S. who know how to do it: Tesla and us.”While manual transmissions continue disappearing across the industry, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the Mustang will keep its third pedal for as long as the company has a choice.Speaking at the Australian Grand Prix, Farley doubled down on Ford's stance (although it wasn't the most natural phrasing): “Out of our cold, dead hands will we not have a manual Mustang.”Farley framed the decision as part of Ford's identity, saying the brand aims to serve “working people and enthusiast drivers” and keep building cars that aren't boring.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validation to smarter merchandising decisions, iPacket Value replaces guesswork with data-backed clarity.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1291: An activist investor pushes CarMax to overhaul its digital game, Carvana accelerates same-day delivery into Los Angeles, and Lucid rolls out CarPlay and Android Auto updates while resetting its software strategy. Activist investor Starboard Value is turning up the heat on CarMax's incoming CEO, arguing the used-car giant has plenty of untapped potential, and they've got a $350 million stake to back up that opinion.Starboard sent a letter to CEO-elect Keith Barr calling out CarMax for falling short, and pushing for a streamlined online trade-in process and better digital conversion rates.The firm wants SG&A expenses capped at 70–75% of gross profit, and believes modest price cuts of $100–$300 per vehicle could restore competitiveness.Starboard is also nominating two board members, including its own CEO Jeffrey Smith, signaling this is more than a suggestion.Analysts at Truist agree there's room to improve, but warn that gaining ground on Carvana while cutting costs at the same time won't be easy."If CarMax can get its flywheel moving again as Starboard talked about, then I think the stock would be drastically higher than it is today," said Morningstar analyst David Whiston.Carvana is taking its same-day delivery service to the City of Angels, and if you thought they were already moving fast, Los Angeles is about to find out what that really means.Carvana has rolled out same-day vehicle delivery to the Los Angeles metro area, letting eligible customers go from online checkout to driveway delivery in a matter of hours.Customers looking to sell can also get same-day pickup or drop-off after completing an online appraisal — making the whole transaction, buy or sell, a same-day affair.LA joins Sacramento and San Diego, making California one of the more saturated same-day markets, with Carvana now operating the service across 20 states nationwide.Lucid Motors is delivering some good news to Gravity SUV owners just in time for its investor day. After a rough few months of software headaches, it's a welcome update.Lucid is pushing a software update to North American Gravity SUV owners Thursday that enables Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with European and Middle East owners getting it in late March.The features have been available on the Lucid Air sedan for some time, but the Gravity has had a rocky software rollout, significant enough that Lucid's interim CEO issued a public apology to owners.Lucid recently parted ways with several top software leaders and last month laid off 12% of its workforce.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validation to smarter merchandJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1290: Guest host Jamie Butters joins as we cover New-vehicle inventory hits 3 million units but slower sales are aging the lot. Honda begins importing cars from four countries. And a startup will pay you $800 to spend a day bullying AI chatbots.U.S. new-vehicle inventory climbed to 3.02 million units in February—a 75-day supply heading into spring—but a slower selling rate is doing more work than the numbers suggest.Total inventory is nearly identical to a year ago, but days' supply jumped 10 days year-over-year as vehicles are simply taking longer to move off lots.Mid-range vehicles ($30K–$50K) are sitting an average of 73 days; luxury units above $80K are aging even slower at 80 days on lot.EV supply dropped sharply to 109 days from 132 the prior month; hybrids fell to 61 days; and ICE vehicles came in at 75 days—all trending in the right direction.Sedans remain the leanest segment at 60 days, while pickups and SUVs are hovering around 75–76 days.Toyota continues to run the tightest ship in the industry at just 27 days' supply—the only major automaker under 40 days.Honda has a brand problem in Japan—and its solution is becoming one of the country's biggest auto importers, shipping in vehicles from the U.S., China, Thailand, and India to win back buyers it lost chasing minicars.Honda went all-in on domestic minicars like the N-Box, which became Japan's top-selling minicar—but left buyers wanting larger Honda nameplates like the Accord, Odyssey, and CR-V that the company had quietly stopped making at home.To course correct, Honda is importing four new nameplates this year: the Acura Integra Type S and Honda Passport from the U.S., a new electric Insight from China, and the CR-V from Thailand.The U.S.-built models will ship in left-hand drive despite Japan's right-hand-drive norm, limiting their volume—but the move is more about brand signal than scale.Honda is now Japan's third-largest importer behind only Mercedes-Benz and Suzuki—a stunning reversal for a brand that imported just 39 vehicles into Japan as recently as 2015.A startup is paying $800 to hire a Professional AI Bully — no tech skills required, just a long memory for every time an AI forgot yours.The gig pays $100/hour for an 8-hour shift spent stress-testing the memory of popular AI chatbots — asking them to remember things, seeing what they forget, and documenting the frustration.The company behind it, Memvid, builds AI memory tools and says the stunt is designed to make a real problem visible: "People constantly have to repeat themselves to chatbots."No degree, no experience, no special skills needed — just an "extensive personal history of being let down by technology" and enough patience to ask the same question twice.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1289: GM revives the Bolt—but only briefly—as EV strategy shifts again. Scout Motors confirms its rugged Terra and Traveler won't reach customers until 2028. A new study finds heavy AI tool use may cause “AI brain fry.”Show Notes with links:GM is bringing back the Chevy Bolt—but not for long. The affordable EV is returning to production in Kansas, yet the company already plans to phase it out quickly as market realities, policy shifts, and demand changes reshape the EV strategy.The Bolt is planned as a “limited run.” Analysts expect production could end as early as next year as GM shifts the Kansas plant to build the gasoline-powered Chevrolet Equinox starting in 2027.The Bolt historically brought a huge number of conquest buyers—about 75% of owners were new to GM, and roughly 72% stayed within the brand when buying their next vehicle.Chevy still sees EVs as a key growth channel even as incentives disappear and demand cools. As Chevy VP Scott Bell told dealers: “You worked so hard to freakin' be No. 2. Why would you let it go?”Scout Motors fans hoping to get behind the wheel soon will need a little more patience. The revived off-road brand says its Terra pickup and Traveler SUV are still on track—but real customer deliveries likely won't start until 2028.Scout CEO Scott Keogh confirmed that while vehicles should begin rolling off the production line in 2027, customer deliveries are expected sometime in 2028.The company plans multiple prototype phases starting in 2026, building successive generations of test vehicles through 2027 to refine the platform, software, and production process.A February report from German outlet Der Spiegel had already flagged technical challenges causing delays, though Keogh pushed back on the framing: "There's no defining 'Oh my God' technical challenge that can't be solved. There are hurdles every minute of every day… Automotive startup business is what I see.”As AI tools flood the workplace, researchers are spotting a new side effect: “AI brain fry.” A Harvard Business Review study found that while AI boosts productivity, juggling too many tools at once can lead to mental fog, slower decisions, and cognitive overload for some workers.A study of 1,488 full-time U.S. workers found about 14% report symptoms of “AI brain fry,” including mental fog, headaches, and slower decision-making after heavy AI use.Productivity rises when workers use one or two AI tools, but gains flatten or decline when juggling three or more, as constant switching and verification increase cognitive load.The effect is most common in marketing (25.9%), HR (19.3%), operations (17.9%), and software engineering (17.8%), industries adopting AI tools fastest.Today's show is brought to you by iPaJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1288: Buy-sell activity ramps up as more dealerships and franchises change hands in Q4. Meanwhile, Volkswagen dealers launch a 600-store class action over Scout's direct-sales plan, and Ford patents a smart door system designed to prevent dents, injuries, and awkward parking lot moments.The dealership buy-sell market closed 2025 strong. Transaction count only ticked up slightly to 112, but the stores and franchises behind those deals hit multi-year highs — a delayed release from a slower first half shaped by tariff uncertainty and longer deal timelines.Dealerships trading hands jumped 19% to 163, while franchises involved surged 35% to 261 year-over-year.Stellantis led all brands with 25 CDJR stores changing hands — more than double Q4 2024Chevrolet came in second with 24 stores sold, driven by what Kerrigan Advisors calls "tremendous demand" tied to GM's domestic manufacturing position and relatively clean EV write-downsA group of VW dealers has filed a class-action lawsuit representing roughly 600 U.S. dealers, challenging Scout Motor's plan to sell vehicles directly to consumers.Dealer Fred Ippolito, didn't hold back, saying: “Volkswagen built their success on the backs of the dealer network, and now they're putting knives in the backs of the same dealers that helped them grow in this country.”Scout CEO Scott Keogh says the direct model is simply more efficient for modern automotive retail: “You can be dramatically more efficient with every single car that you make and exactly where that car goes.”VP of Commercial Operations Cody Thacker said the company repeatedly hears customers asking for direct sales, noting: “We have heard over and over again, ‘Please give me an alternative.' You see that there is very little trust in auto dealers today.”Ford may be trying to save your car door—and your neighbor's paint job. A newly surfaced patent reveals a smart door system designed to slow or stop a door before it hits nearby objects, combining sensors, software, and a mechanical brake.Ford's patented system uses accelerometers and obstacle sensors to detect how quickly a door is opening and whether something is in its path.If a collision is likely, a small mechanical brake with springs and pads engages to slow or stop the door—preventing dents, dings or worse.The design intentionally includes mechanical components to avoid the reliability issues sometimes seen with fully electronic systems.Door safety is getting more attention across the industry. Kia recalled 51,000 Carnival minivans after sliding doors continued closing on obstacles, causing several injuries.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validation to smarter merchandising decisions, iPacket Value replaces guessworkJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Today, Chris joins Paul and Kyle to share how DARCARS Automotive Group donated $230,000 to Montgomery County Public Schools to eliminate two years of outstanding student meal debt for hundreds of families — one of the largest single acts of dealer philanthropy in the region this school year.The donation was made through the MCPS Educational Foundation's Dine with Dignity Program, wiping out meal debt for families qualifying for the Free and Reduced-price Meals program.Since 2023, total student meal debt in the district has grown to more than $1.36 million — making the contribution a meaningful dent in a persistent problem.MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor called it more than a cleared balance: "It removes a barrier to student success."Owner Jamie Darvish framed it simply: "No student should have to worry about affording a meal while at school."Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1286: Scout Motors discovers that American truck buyers want a generator backup with their electrons, Flexcar bets big on Atlanta's appetite for flexible wheels, and UPS makes the largest buyout offer in company history as it braces for life after Amazon.Scout Motors set out to be a pure EV brand, but the market had other plans. Of 160,000 reservations for the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV, 87% of buyers chose the EREV version — blowing past CEO Scott Keogh's expected 60/40 split.The EREV pairs a ~63 kWh battery with a four-cylinder generator for roughly 500 miles of total range, compared to about 350 for the BEV — and Scout will launch the EREV version first given the demand, with pricing starting below $60,000.Scout isn't alone in this pivot: Ford, Ram, and Jeep all have EREVs arriving this year, making range-extenders the de facto off-road electrification strategy in the U.S.The brand's direct-to-consumer model is drawing legal fire from VW's existing dealer networkFlexcar, the subscription-based leasing company, is expanding its footprint in Atlanta.The company's model offers drivers a middle ground between leasing, renting and owning. The model lets customers pay one monthly fee covering insurance, maintenance, roadside assistance and registration—often with no long-term contract and the option to swap vehicles as needs changeThey are now expanding its Atlanta footprint with two new locations in Marietta and Morrow, adding more than 25,000 square feet of retail and lot space.The company says Atlanta members have already logged over 150 million miles in Flexcar vehicles, making it one of the platform's fastest-growing markets.Flexcar offers 200+ vehicle options locally, including popular models like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Nissan Altima and Volvo XC60.UPS just made the largest buyout offer in company history — sending voluntary severance packages worth $150,000 to more than 100,000 van drivers. It's the latest move in a major restructuring plan centered around one uncomfortable truth: Amazon, UPS's biggest customer, is becoming its biggest competitor.UPS announced plans to cut Amazon's package volume by 50% over 18 months, citing Amazon as "not our most profitable customer." Its margin, per CEO Carol Tomé, is "very dilutive to the US domestic business."As one supply chain professor put it: "Just because they lose Amazon doesn't mean there's nobody else out there. There's stuff to move, and there's warehouses that need to be filled."Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validation to smarter merchandising decisions, iPacket Value replaces guesswork with data-backed clarity.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1285: Today we unpack record negative equity making deals harder to pencil, service and parts lanes regaining momentum as dealers look for profit stability, and a surprising $56B productivity hit caused by generational friction and AI adoption inside modern sales teams.A growing number of buyers are rolling serious negative equity into their next vehicle purchase, creating real challenges for dealers trying to structure deals as lingering pandemic-era pricing continues to ripple through the market.Edmunds reports the average negative equity on trade-ins reached a record $7,214 in Q4, more than $1,000 higher than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.29% of new-vehicle buyers with a trade-in are underwater, up four percentage points from a year ago.Nearly 27% of underwater buyers carried at least $10,000 in negative equity, making deal structuring increasingly difficult for dealerships.Brian Maas of the California New Car Dealers Association summed it up: “At some point… even the most creative dealer can't figure out a way to help their customer get into a new car.”Our very own Chris Reeves did a deep dive in this morning's ASOTU daily email on how dealers can talk to customers about negative equity and real ownership cost.After a surprising dip late last year, dealer sentiment around service lanes bounced back in Q1 according to Cox Automotive, even as new-vehicle sales expectations remain flat.The Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index for fixed operations rose to 63 in Q1, up from 61 in Q4.While improved, the score still trails mid-2025 levels of 65 and 66, showing the service business hasn't fully returned to peak optimism.Dealer expectations for future fixed ops opportunities jumped to 69, up five points from last quarter's low.With Cox forecasting flat new-vehicle sales around 16 million in 2026, service lanes may become even more critical for dealer profitability.A new report says generational tension inside sales teams isn't just awkward—it's expensive. A report from SalesLoft and Clari estimates generational conflict between Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Z is costing companies about $56 billion a year in lost productivity as AI adoption reshapes how teams work.Nearly 39% of Gen Z sales reps say they'd rather be managed by AI than a human, while some Boomers say they'd prefer AI over working with Gen Z colleagues.The tension is pushing talent out: 28% of Gen Z reps are job hunting to avoid Boomers, while 19% of Boomers are considering early retirement due to frustrations with Gen Z.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validaJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1284: Today we're looking at Carvana quietly buying franchised dealerships, GM reshaping used-car sales around CarBravo, and Google's newest AI image model.Carvana is continuing its quiet march into the franchised dealer world. The online used-car giant just bought another Stellantis dealership near Boston—its sixth in about a year—raising eyebrows across the industry and hinting at a bigger strategy to capture inventory, service revenue, and customer proximity.The company has rapidly built a cluster of CDJR stores across the country including locations in California, Arizona, Georgia, and Texas, spending about $160 million on five of them.Stellantis recently added a rule limiting buyers to one CDJR dealership per year, a move some believe may be aimed at slowing consolidation from players like Carvana.Analysts say the strategy likely centers on access to trade-ins, parts, service revenue, and more used-car inventory to feed Carvana's core online business.CEO Ernie Garcia hinted at bigger ambitions saying: “The opportunities around us feel really, really, really big.”In a bid to compete with online disruptors like Carvana, GM is restructuring how its dealers sell pre-owned vehicles. The shift centers on pushing dealers toward GM's CarBravo platform and dramatically expanding what qualifies for a factory-backed warranty.GM is dissolving its long-running certified pre-owned program structure for Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC dealers, asking them to move used vehicle sales under its CarBravo national online marketplace starting in June.Dealers must use CarBravo if they want to sell used GM vehicles with factory-backed warranties, while Cadillac will keep its traditional certified pre-owned program.The program expands eligibility dramatically—even non-GM vehicles and cars up to 15 years old could qualify for warranties, far beyond today's typical five-year CPO limit.GM says the goal is to increase used-car inventory flowing through dealerships and capture demand in a market where 40M used cars sell annually vs. ~16M new vehicles.Mohawk Chevrolet president Andy Guelcher says the platform expanded reach: “I'm talking to people that I've never spoken to before.”Google just rolled out Gemini 3.1 Flash Image—aka Nano Banana 2—combining faster generation with the consistency needed for real production use.Google's Gemini 3.1 Flash Image merges the intelligence of its Pro image model with the speed of its Flash architecture, making high-quality image generation fast enough for everyday workflows.The model pulls real-time knowledge from the web, meaning generated images can reflect current information rather than static training data.It can maintain consistent characters across five people and track up to 14 objects, enabling multi-frame campaigns and repeatable branded assets.Today'Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1283: Oil markets are on edge as global conflict pressures fuel prices and supply chains. Meanwhile, BYD may have cracked the code on five-minute EV charging, and CarMax becomes the first U.S. auto retailer to launch a shopping app inside ChatGPT.Oil markets are on edge after military action involving the U.S. and Israel disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. While automakers aren't seeing immediate shutdowns, rising energy prices and potential shipping reroutes are adding another variable to an already complex year.Roughly 20 million barrels of crude flow through the strait daily, along with LNG, aluminum, steel inputs and key plastics used in vehicle production.Oil briefly jumped nearly 7%, with analysts warning prices could top $100 a barrel if the conflict drags on.Automakers rely heavily on Asia–Europe sea lanes for semiconductors, battery materials and electronics—any expansion into the Red Sea or Suez would be “significantly disruptive.”“It certainly adds risk [for OEMs] and you've got to be thinking about rerouting anything that's going to go through that part of the world,” said AlixPartners' Dan Hearsch.If range anxiety has been the headline problem for EV adoption, BYD may be attacking it at the source. The Chinese automaker is testing a 1,500 kW “flash charging” network that looks less like a parking lot and more like a traditional gas station.The demo site in Shenzhen features liquid-cooled charging guns and pull-through lanes, allowing drivers to plug in and roll out—no backing into stalls required.Leaked specs suggest up to 1,500 kW on a 1,000V architecture—potentially adding 249 miles in about 5 minutes. For context, most U.S. and European fast chargers top out at 350 kW.Testing is currently limited to select BYD models with a “Flash Charge” badge, with charging reportedly starting within 10 seconds of plug-in.Pricing at the demo site is around $0.18 per kWh, a fraction of many Western public charging rates.CarMax just became the first U.S. auto retailer to launch a car-shopping app inside ChatGPT, bringing both buying and selling tools directly into the AI platform. It's another signal that conversational commerce isn't coming—it's here.Customers can browse CarMax's 45,000+ vehicle inventory using natural prompts like “SUV with third row under $25,000” or “small AWD car with good tech.”The app also allows sellers to check their vehicle's value and connect directly to CarMax's online offer tool.CarMax says the goal is to reduce the overwhelm of used-car shopping by meeting customers on a platform they're already using.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validation to smarter merchandising decisions, iPacketJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1282: Honda leads the nation in fuel economy, destination charges quietly climb to $1,600 per vehicle, and a new Gallup report shows staffing shortages may be holding back customer experience across retail.If you had to guess the most fuel-efficient automaker in America, who would you pick? According to the EPA's newly released 2025 Automotive Trends Report, Honda just claimed the top spot—blending hybrids, smart engineering, and affordability into a winning formula.Honda posted a 31.0 mpg “real-world” fleet average for 2024—3.8 mpg higher than the industry average among full-line brands.The EPA ranking looks at automakers offering a complete mix of gas and electrified vehiclesHonda's efficiency dominance isn't new. The Civic topped the EPA's very first fuel economy rankings back in 1976.The average Honda transaction price in 2025 was $35,060—roughly $10,000 below the industry average.Honda also set a third straight annual electrified sales record, surpassing 400,000 units, led by CR-V, Accord, and Civic hybrids.There's a new line on the Monroney that's getting a second look: destination charges. These once-overlooked shipping fees are quietly adding billions to vehicle costs without technically raising MSRP.Buyers spent more than $26 billion on destination charges this year, an average of $1,600, according to Edmunds.Some increases are steep: F-150 fees jumped to $2,595, Tahoe rose to nearly $2,000; Toyota Sequoia's fee is up more than 50%.Automakers say the hikes reflect higher fuel, logistics, heavier SUVs and trucks—and now tariffs. Stellantis alone expects $1.9B in tariff costs in 2026.The charge is the same whether the vehicle traveled 10 miles or 1,000, and courts have ruled consumers shouldn't be surprised that it includes profit.John Morrill, Massachusetts dealer: “It's a way to raise prices that is, shall we say, less transparent to the consumer. Carmakers have raised them a lot, certainly faster than they've raised prices.”A new Gallup report highlights a growing gap in retail and beyond: employees feel deeply responsible for customer experience—but don't believe their companies can actually deliver on promises. And staffing cuts appear to be the biggest culprit.43% of workers strongly agree they feel responsible for customer experience (up from 38% last year), but only 23% believe their organization consistently delivers on its promises.Leadership is 10 points more confident than frontline employees that promises are being kept.Staffing is the top barrier to service, cited by 37% of workers—more than training, tools, or unclear standards combined.Today's show is brought to you by iPacket Value. From accurate MSRP validation to smarter merchandisJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.On this final day of February, Paul, Chris and Nathan sit down to talk about The Truth About Car Dealers season 2, why you should attend ASOTU Con, and how the Greater New York Automobile Dealer's Association donated thousands of coats to New York's Annual Coat Drive.It's a reminder that focusing on the people is always the right option.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1280: Steve Greenfield is back as guest host as Hyundai takes aim at Tesla in the humanoid robot race, Ford pushes dealers toward same-day service with factory-backed AI support, and Burger King launches an always-listening “AI manager”.The EV race may be evolving into a robotics race. Hyundai is positioning its Atlas humanoid robot directly against Tesla's Optimus, signaling that the next competitive edge for OEMs could be autonomous labor inside the plant.Both Atlas and Optimus are built on EV fundamentals: batteries, electric motors, advanced sensors, and AI. Hyundai's Atlas boasts a 50kg payload—more than double Optimus' cited 20kg—making it viable for heavier automotive assembly tasks.Hyundai plans plant deployment by 2028, starting with repetitive work like parts kitting before scaling into full assembly integration. Tesla is targeting similar in-house factory use for Optimus.Hyundai is investing $6.3B into a robotics factory and AI infrastructure, while Tesla maintains a cost advantage through vertical integration and in-house AI.Ford wants its franchised dealers fixing most vehicles the same day they arrive. Through a new initiative called Uptime Assist, the OEM is stepping deeper into service operations—targeting faster repairs, better parts flow, and stronger uptime for retail and fleet customers.Uptime Assist monitors every repair order opened by enrolled dealers. If a repair stretches beyond two days, Ford proactively reaches out with technical or parts support.70% of Ford repairs take less than 48 hours, but the network average repair time is still about five days. Since launching, the program has reduced repair times by 10–15%.Dedicated hardware and software hotlines now route dealers directly to specialists, cutting some diagnostic resolution times from eight hours to 20 minutes.Burger King is rolling out an AI-powered platform called BK Assistant that monitors nearly every aspect of restaurant operations—from inventory levels to employee-customer interactions—raising big questions about how AI oversight may reshape frontline work.The system aggregates POS data, inventory, equipment status, scheduling, and even drive-thru conversations into one dashboard for managers.A voice-enabled AI named “Patty” lives inside employee headsets, answering questions and flagging issues in real time.The platform generates a “friendliness score” by listening for phrases like “welcome to Burger King,” “please,” and “thank you.”Today's show is brought to you by ESi-Q. ESi-Q measures employee satisfaction and provides actionable insight into what's driving emplJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1279: Today we break down CarEdge's new Dealer Transparency Index shaking up pricing accountability, GM's MobileService+ reboot with lower-cost gas crossovers, and a fresh bump in consumer confidence that could signal steadier showroom traffic ahead.CarEdge just launched a new public report card for dealers—and it's aiming straight at pricing transparency. The AI-powered platform unveiled its Dealer Transparency Index, grading over 4,600 U.S. dealerships on how “real and honest” their pricing practices actually are.The Dealer Transparency Index (DTI) scores dealers on a 100-point scale, translating into A–F grades based on real out-the-door quotes.Scores are built from 40,000+ verified OTD quotes using CarEdge's AI negotiation platform. Dealers can't pay to improve their grade.The formula weighs doc fees (30%), add-ons (30%), dealer markups (30%), and quote data quality (10%).CarEdge lists 4,957 dealers in their search. 2,403 are graded A, 306 are graded F.CEO Zach Shefska clarified the mission: “We're not anti-dealer. We're anti-deception…"GM is retooling its MobileService+ strategy after dealers pushed back on the original $150,000 BrightDrop EV vans. Now, gas-powered crossovers are stepping in to power the next phase of at-home service—and dealers say this version actually pencils.Starting Q2, GM will offer upfitted 2026 Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain and Cadillac XT5 models for mobile service.The move follows the cancellation of BrightDrop 600 production and dealer concerns over cost, size and battery range.Upfront costs are expected to be cut by at least half compared to the $150,000 EV van. Dealers can even self-install the service kit in 6–8 hours.The setup allows stores to remove the equipment and resell the vehicle later—far more flexible than the “one-and-done” BrightDrop approach.MobileService+ Director Chris Hornberger said the new models hit the mark: “This, we feel, is the sweet spot, exactly what the dealers are looking for.”Consumer confidence edged higher in February, snapping a January slide as Americans felt slightly better about jobs and the labor market. While optimism is still well below last year's peak, expectations for the months ahead are starting to firm up.The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index rose 2.2 points to 91.2, beating economist expectations of 87.The labor market differential improved, with more consumers saying jobs are “plentiful” versus “hard to get.”Today's show is brought to you by ESi-Q. ESi-Q measures employee satisfaction and provides actionable insight Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1278: We've got Steve Greenfield joining the show today as a dealership-born AI platform lands a full cash exit and gears up for U.S. expansion—while China's red-hot EV market hits a margin-crushing price war.A Dubai-born AI platform built by former dealership operators just scored a full cash exit. AlgoDriven has been acquired by San Francisco-based Emergence, delivering a full exit to investors including Oman Technology Fund, 500 Global, Social Capital, and Automotive Ventures.Founded in 2017, AlgoDriven provides AI tools for used-car appraisal, pricing, damage detection, and inquiry management—now used in 1,000+ dealerships across 10 countries.The platform analyzes over $25 billion in used vehicles annually and claims one in three used cars sold in Australia runs through its tech.The acquisition fuels expansion into the U.S. and Latin America while accelerating advanced AI development across valuation, inventory, and customer engagement.CEO Glenn Harwood said, “We built the product we wished we'd had ourselves… bringing data, intelligence, and automation to the used-car lifecycle—helping dealers price better, trade smarter and respond to customers faster.”China's EV juggernaut is hitting turbulence. Even as BYD surpasses Tesla in global EV sales, investors are backing away. A brutal price war, shrinking subsidies, and 400 competing models have turned the world's hottest EV market into what analysts are calling an industry “wartime” shakeout.BYD's stock has fallen roughly 40% from its May peak, as January EV deliveries dropped 33% year-over-year and overall Chinese EV sales slid nearly 20%.Nearly 400 EV models are now for sale in China—more than double 2019 levels—with 100+ launched in just the past two years, fueling margin-crushing competition.Government incentives are fading. China reinstated half of its 10% vehicle purchase tax this year, with the full tax expected to return after 2027.Analysts estimate up to 40% of China's auto production capacity is sitting unused, creating excess supply and accelerating the price spiral known locally as “involution.”Scott Kennedy of CSIS said the industry is entering a “wartime period,” predicting the field will shrink from hundreds of EV makers to just a handful long-term.Today's show is brought to you by ESi-Q. ESi-Q measures employee satisfaction and provides actionable insight into what's driving employee engagement and turnover - before employees leave.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1277: The Supreme Court narrows emergency tariffs—but most auto duties remain, reshaping pricing and payments. Lamborghini shelves its EV plans in favor of hybrids. And Gen Z is ditching smartphones for iPods, chasing simpler tech in a distracted world.In our ASOTU daily email this morning, the team broke down the recent tariff news and what they mean for dealers. While one layer of trade pressure is gone after the Supreme Court's ruling, most auto-related tariffs affecting dealers and buyers remain in place.The ruling targeted emergency tariffs under IEEPA, not those imposed under Sections 232 and 301—where most auto exposure still sits.Steel and aluminum levies remain active, keeping pressure on parts, repair costs, and supplier pricing.VIN-level data shows uneven price impact: Canada-built vehicles up nearly $4K, Japan-built up ~$3.3K, Germany-built ~$2.8K, and Mexico-built over $1.5K.Pricing is largely baked into 2026 MSRPs, so expect stabilization—not rollbacks. Incentives and allocation will move before stickers do.Bottom line for dealers: focus on payment certainty, availability, and clear next steps—not promises of price drops.Lamborghini is officially backing away from its all-electric ambitions. CEO Stephan Winkelmann says the brand's customers just aren't ready—and going all-in on EVs risks becoming an “expensive hobby.”The Lanzador EV, first shown in 2023, has been quietly canceled after internal debate stretching into late 2025. Instead, by 2030, every Lamborghini will be a plug-in hybrid.Winkelmann says the “acceptance curve” for EVs among Lambo buyers is flattening and “close to zero.”Gen Z is rediscovering the iPod—and not just for the nostalgia. With schools banning connected devices and digital burnout on the rise, Apple's discontinued music player is becoming a low-tech escape hatch from the algorithm-driven chaos of smartphones.Google Trends shows 2025 searches for iPod Classic and Nano up 25% and 20% year-over-year.Refurbished iPod sales have climbed an average of 15.6% annually since 2022, according to Back Market.Students are using iPods as a workaround in phone-restricted schools—offline music without the distraction.The vibe shift? A simpler, distraction-free tech era that “felt more hopeful”—and a reminder that sometimes less tech is more freedom.Today's show is brought to you by ESi-Q. ESi-Q measures employee satisfaction and provides actionable insight into what's driving employee engagement Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1276: The 2026 dealer census shows fewer franchise points but stronger per-store sales. Tesla resale values rise while other EVs slide post-tax-credit. And consumers are shifting away from big-ticket purchases, focusing instead on repairs, durability and value.The latest Automotive News dealer census shows a network that's slimming down—but getting stronger. As OEMs right-size their footprints, throughput is climbing and single-brand stores are on the rise.The U.S. starts 2026 with 18,300 dealerships—just 11 fewer than last year—but total franchise points dropped 1.5% to 29,387.Exclusive, single-brand stores rose 1.2% to 13,351 locations as automakers continue network consolidation strategies.Buick (-20%), Lincoln (-9.9%) and Jaguar (-25%) all shrank networks intentionally, boosting per-store performance in the process.Average franchise throughput across the industry climbed 4.1% to 532 vehicles in 2025, with Toyota leading at 1,736 units per store, up 8%.19 brands improved throughput in 2025 — but 24 saw declines, including 12 brands down more than 10%. As networks shrink, the gap between healthy franchises and struggling ones is widening fast.When the $7,500 EV tax credit disappeared, most used EV prices fell. Except Tesla. While mainstream electric models lost value and OEMs started discounting hard, Tesla resale prices actually climbed — changing the whole picture.Used Tesla prices rose 4.3% since the credit ended, while other used EVs dropped an average of 3.6%.Because Tesla makes up such a big slice of the market, overall used EV prices actually rose 3.5% — but that's a bit of a mirage.Lower-cost EVs like the Kona Electric, ID.4, Niro EV and Mach-E all lost around 5–6% in just a few months. The Porsche Taycan was the only non-Tesla model to see a price increase, at 4.1%Used EV market share fell 20% in four months, suggesting mainstream buyers aren't rushing in — even with heavy new-EV discounts.Consumers are still spending — just not on the big stuff. Higher interest rates and tight housing turnover pushed shoppers towards smaller upgrades and essential repairs in 2025 — a trend expected to continue through 2026.Spending slowed across income groups late in 2025, especially households under $40K and over $150K.Large discretionary purchases like furniture and mattresses slowed sharply, while décor, kitchen items and maintenance held up.Home improvement spending softened for a third straight year but remains above pre-pandemic levels.Today's show is brought to you by ESi-Q. ESi-Q measures employee satisfaction and provides actionable insight into what's Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Today on the show, Chris Reeves joins Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier (with a brief appearance by Producer Nathan Southwick).After they remind Nathan of how many days are in February, they get into the story of how the West Herr Automotive group recently served a mathematically unlikely family: quintuplets. A family of nine, suddenly trying to answer one simple, real-world question: “How do we fit everybody?”So West Herr stepped in with a 2026 Chevrolet Suburban and took “transportation” off the list of things a mom with five babies in the NICU should have to solve alone.That's the thing we'll keep reminding the world about: dealers don't just sell cars.Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1274: Today we unpack Carvana's push toward 3 million annual sales and what ADESA means for scale, a new study showing used EVs winning on long-term ownership math in a firm wholesale market, and Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro raising the stakes in the accelerating AI arms race.Carvana is doubling down on its bold goal of selling 3 million retail units annually by 2030–2035 — and ADESA is the engine under the hood. After a record 2025, the company says the runway is real.Carvana sold 596,641 vehicles in 2025, up 43%, with revenue jumping 49% to $20.3B. Net income hit a record $1.9B, and Q4 adjusted EBITDA reached $511M.CEO Ernie Garcia outlined a four-part plan: increase staffing, integrate retail production lines into more ADESA sites, build new lines, and eventually develop greenfield inspection centers.The company plans six to eight new ADESA integrations in 2026, with full buildouts costing $30–35M per site and adding 40,000 units of annual capacity each.We've got something a little tactical from this morning's Automotive State of the Union email: A new University of Michigan study says three-year-old EVs now deliver the lowest seven-year total cost of ownership in the U.S. And in today's firm Q1 wholesale market, that early depreciation story matters even more.Researchers reviewed 260,000 used listings across 17 cities, modeling price, depreciation, financing, insurance, maintenance, energy, and resale. In most cases, used BEVs came out cheapest to own.The key? Front-loaded depreciation. EVs drop harder in years one through three, lowering second-owner acquisition cost. After that, curves normalize — with battery warranty remaining as a major variable.With more off-lease EV volume coming, the opportunity is simple: buy where depreciation already did the heavy lifting and let the second buyer win on the math.Google just dropped Gemini 3.1 Pro, and early benchmarks suggest it may be one of the most powerful large language models yet. As the AI arms race heats up, the leap in “agentic” performance is turning heads across tech.Gemini 3.1 Pro is currently in preview, with general release coming soon. Observers say it's a significant jump from Gemini 3, which was already considered highly capable last November.On independent benchmarks — including Humanity's Last Exam — Google says the new model significantly outperformed its predecessor.Today's show is brought to you by ESi-Q. ESi-Q measures employee satisfaction and provides actionable insight into what's driving employee engagement and turJoin Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/ JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/