Cars Commerce Leadership Transition, Lucid Debuts Used Car Program, Consumer Joy Deficit

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Episode #1223: Cars Commerce lines up its next CEO as a new chapter begins for dealer tech. Lucid’s factory-backed used pricing puts EV depreciation in plain sight. And even as consumers keep spending this holiday season, a growing “joy deficit” reveals how tired—and cautious—shoppers really are.

Show Notes with links:

• Our good friends at Cars Commerce are teeing up a major leadership transition. Longtime CEO Alex Vetter will hand the keys to Tobias “Tobi” Hartmann in early 2026, marking the end of an era and signaling a renewed push around growth, digital tools, and AI for dealers.
  • Hartmann brings 25+ years of experience leading global marketplaces, most recently as CEO of Scout24 and previously at HelloFresh and eBay Enterprise.
  • Alex Vetter, who has been with Cars.com since its 1998 launch, will step down after transforming the company into a vertical SaaS and marketplace platform for dealers.
  • Under Vetter, Cars Commerce expanded through acquisitions like Dealer Inspire, AccuTrade, and DealerClub, strengthening its dealer-facing tech stack.
  • Alex Vetter: “I’m confident that Tobi will continue our momentum for the next chapter of firsts. He will be a tremendous leader for this next phase of growth.”

• Lucid just launched its first factory-backed used-car program, and the pricing is doing more talking than the marketing.
  • Lucid Recharged is the brand’s certified pre-owned program for the Air sedan, with the Gravity SUV coming later.
  • Eligible cars must be single-owner examples under 62,000 miles and pass a 160+ point factory inspection.
  • Pricing is the headline: a 2023 Air Pure with ~20,000 miles can land in the mid-$40Ks versus a new MSRP just under $71K.

• Consumers are still spending this holiday season—but they’re not exactly enjoying it as a new Retail Dive report says shoppers are leaning heavily on credit and BNPL.
  • Katie Thomas of the Kearney Consumer Institute summed it up bluntly: there’s a “real joy deficit for consumers,” driven by high prices and constant anxiety-focused messaging.
  • Despite steady spending, consumers are fatigued, stressed, and increasingly reliant on credit, resale, and “dupe” gifting to get through the holidays.
  • Shoppers feel stuck in an echo chamber of stress—online, in ads, and in daily life—where everything is expensive and brands keep reminding them of it.
  • “Getting emotional doesn’t have to be serious,” Thomas noted

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

6:05 Cars Commerce Announces Leadership Transition

9:52 Lucid Launches CPO Program

12:31 The Joy Deficit In Retail

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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.

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