Automotive State of The Union
Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier don’t just read headlines, they make the most important connections across car dealerships, general retail, tech, and culture. The goal? To help automotive leaders think clearer and move faster in a world that refuses to slow down. Whether you’re running a rooftop, building a brand, or just trying to keep up with everything shifting in the business of selling cars, this is your regular stop for a shot of news, insight, and a little bit of chaos…always rooted in people-first thinking. From the showroom to Silicon Valley. From Wall Street to Main Street. Paul and Kyle connect the dots, keep it real, and make it make sense. Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
Episodes
Episode #1159: Today we dig into how Ford and GM are stretching the $7,500 EV lease credit, why used EVs are suddenly flying off lots, and how ChatGPT just became a digital storefront.
- With the federal $7,500 EV lease incentive ending today, GM and Ford are using a strategic workaround to extend the benefit for customers—and keep EV momentum alive—into Q4.
- To skirt the deadline, both automakers’ finance a...
Episode #1158: EV sales spiked before the tax credit expired, but a slowdown looms. J.D. Power names the brands best at keeping loyal customers. And Apple quietly tests a Siri revamp while leaning on Google to stay in the AI race.
Show Notes with links:
- U.S. auto sales stayed stronger than expected this summer, but analysts now warn the industry may face a softer fourth quarter as affordability challenge...
On this Saturday, Chris Reeves join Paul and Kyle to talk about the upcoming launch of the next phase of the More Than Cars movement.
Chris shares the story of how Greenwood Chevrolet’s team showed up. 180 employees joined Panerathon 2025, raising $3,145 for the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center. Business Manager Tracy Briden led the charge, proving that when leadership buys in, the rest of the team follow...
Episode #1156: Ford’s Jim Farley warns America about jobs and trades in the AI era. Subaru reveals its first dealership redesign in nearly two decades. And the once-hyped “vibe coding” boom may already be running out of steam.
Ford CEO Jim Farley says America’s economy is at a crossroads. As AI threatens to eliminate millions of office jobs, he warns the U.S. is overlooking the “essential economy” of trades and ...
Episode #1155: Overfuel calls out dealership websites for failing performance tests, RunSafe says cybersecurity is now a dealbreaker for buyers, and ChatGPT becomes a top traffic driver for retailers — while Amazon charts its own AI path
Show Notes with links:
Overfuel’s second annual study of top 50 dealer group websites reveals a major gap in digital performance. Despite increasing online shopper behavior, ne...
Episode #1154: Ford gets creative to close Q3 with a subprime rate push on F-150s. New Jersey locks in fair pay for techs doing recall work. And Chick-fil-A jumps into the specialty drink race with a fresh new concept.
Show Notes with links:
- Ford is making a bold push to close Q3 strong by offering promotional interest rates to subprime borrowers—an unusual but calculated move that underscores growing af...
Episode #1153: Carvana expands its dealership experiment in Dallas, Berkshire Hathaway closes the books on its massive BYD bet, and Amazon steps up its AI game with a chat assistant for advertisers.
Show Notes with links:
- Carvana is making another big move into franchised new-car sales, and this time it’s happening in Dallas. The company has agreed to acquire Park Cities Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram-Fiat, marking ...
Episode #1152: Today we’re talking Hyundai and GM’s detailed game plan for their collab, Stellantis’ new EV tech that sheds weight and adds power,, and why Americans are going bigger than ever on Halloween—even with higher prices haunting their budgets.
Show Notes with links:
- Hyundai and GM’s strategic collaboration will co-develop five vehicles aimed at growing their presence in the Americas while containing...
Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to discuss fall vibes, plus how Shanehan Westphal and Herrin-Gear Infiniti hosted a car show and raised an incredible $29,280, all of which will go to Children’s of Mississippi.
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...
Episode #1150: Today we’re looking at the story that led Lithia to become the powerhouse it is today, showing a sneak peek of an upcoming interview with Alex Lawrence and talking about Meta’s latest tech.
Show Notes with links:
- From one small Dodge store in Oregon to the largest dealership group in the U.S., the DeBoer family’s journey with Lithia Motors is a case study in vision, timing, and relentless growt...
Episode #1149: We’re live outside of EV Auto in Brentwood. Today, we look at how automakers have relatively kept car prices normal despite rising tariffs. Plus, Waymo and Lyft are teaming up to bring autonomous rides to the streets of Music City.
- Automakers have kept price hikes at bay despite billions in tariff-related costs from the Trump-era trade war. But the pressure is building—and price increases may be ju...
Episode #1148: Buyers rush to lock in EV tax credits, Toyota builds an app to hack your habits, and Walmart’s HR chief taps AI for top talent.
- Legacy automakers saw a sharp EV registration bump in July as buyers rushed to lock in the $7,500 federal tax credit before it expires at the end of September. However, Tesla, Rivian, and VinFast didn’t share in the win.
- EV registrations jumped 27% for legacy bran...
Episode #1147: Today we’re covering a first-of-its-kind Stellantis store acquisition backed by Ellenae Fairhurst’s trust, a new AI tool that negotiates car deals for shoppers, and the latest U.S.-China framework over TikTok
- The late Ellenae Fairhurst’s legacy lives on as a Stellantis store in Virginia has new owners, in a new approach to dealership ownership.
- Fairhurst Automotive, backed by the Ellenae Fa...
Episode #1146: Automotive News's 100th anniversary Congress celebrated industry icons and looked towards the future, Elon Musk bets big on Tesla, shoppers get overwhelmed by too many choices (sound familiar?)
Show Notes with links:
- At its 100th anniversary Congress, Automotive News celebrated legacy while tackling the industry’s most pressing challenges—from EV adoption to geopolitical threats.
- Centen...
On this Saturday, Chris joins Paul and Kyle to talk about the power of remembrance and how Carla Cosenzi and TommyCar Auto Group are connecting people in a meaninful way through the 17th Annual Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament.
- Founded in memory of Tom Cosenzi, the event supports Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the incredible work of Dr. Wen and his team.
- Golfers, sponsors, and volunteers ...
Episode #1144: Dealers face rising cyber threats, Chevy launches big EV incentives, and the Goodyear Blimp marks 100 years over Detroit.
Show Notes with links:
- Proton Dealership IT’s Cybersecurity 2025 report shows auto retailers are still being hit hard by organized cyberattacks. Activity remains 150–250% higher than before mid-2024’s massive outage, with new tactics targeting dealership websites, employees,...
Episode #1143: Today, we pause and reflect on the state of the union, in light of September 11th and the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
This industry is about More Than Cars, and its our job to carry that light and that hope forward in how we serve our employees, customers and our communities.
- US EV sales hit another milestone in August pushing EVs to a record 9.9% share of new car sales. With tax credits e...
Episode #1142: Stellantis and GM double down on Canadian production with third-shift revivals. U.S.–South Korea trade tensions threaten key EV investments after a Hyundai-linked ICE raid. Plus, Kyle and Steve share takeaways from the NCM Digital Success Workshop.
Show Notes with links:
- It’s a good day for Canadian auto workers as both Stellantis and General Motors announce plans to extend or reinstate third s...
Episode #1141: Tesla drops a philosophy-heavy master plan that barely mentions EVs. Palmer Luckey becomes the first to fly the Jetson One eVTOL. And McKinsey pushes back on AI job fears with a boost in entry-level hiring.
- Tesla’s “Master Plan Part IV” is here, and it might just be the most philosophical of the bunch. With barely a mention of actual cars, the company appears to be pivoting hard toward artific...
Episode #1140: Today we’re talking about Toyota’s big ethanol play in Fukushima and California lawmakers slamming the brakes on “Leno’s Law” for classic cars. Plus, Paul’s back with some unexpected retail takeaways from his vacation travels.
Show Notes with links:
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