Ford’s Profits Hit by Tariffs, Commercial EVs Still Growing, CheatGPT

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Episode #1109: Today we’re digging into Ford’s $3B tariff troubles, why commercial EV fleets are booming even as consumer demand cools, and how OpenAI’s new “Study Mode” could change the way students learn (without just handing out the answers).

Show Notes with links:

• Ford Motor is bracing for a tougher financial year as U.S. tariffs on vehicles, steel, and aluminum cut deeper than expected. Shares dipped 3% after the automaker raised its tariff cost estimate by half a billion dollars.
  • Q2 results were down $800 million from tariffs, less than GM’s $1.1 billion hit.
  • Full-year tariff cost now projected at $3 billion, up from $2.5 billion.
  • Ford sees 80% of U.S. sales from domestic production, cushioning some impact.
  • CFO Sherry House said tariffs on Mexico and Canada stayed higher for longer than expected, with steel and aluminum levies adding to the strain.
  • CEO Jim Farley: “We see there’s a lot of upside depending on how the negotiation goes with the administration.”
• While consumer EV demand has cooled, the commercial EV market is charging forward, with fleet operators driving massive growth. The shift presents new opportunities — and challenges — for dealers, utilities, and policymakers.
  • Commercial EV registrations soared 274% to nearly 25,000, led by delivery vans, utility trucks, and big rigs.
  • Class 2 EVs used for work jumped 69%, while light consumer EVs slipped 2%.
  • Amazon already runs 25,000 Rivian vans, building its own charging network of 32,000+ stations.
  • Dealers remain a critical link, but many fleets report visiting stores where sales teams weren’t ready to support EV conversions.
  • Calstart’s Jacob Richard said state incentives and programs are key “When looking at that total cost of ownership, you kind of need to have those upfront incentives in the near term.”

• OpenAI is taking a swing at the “CheatGPT” label with a major update designed to help, not hand out answers. The new “study mode” in ChatGPT aims to guide students through learning rather than doing the work for them.
  • Study Mode is live for all users now, with ChatGPT Edu access coming soon.
  • It uses Socratic questioning and scaffolded responses to build understanding.
  • Offers personalized support and quizzes for deeper learning.
  • Students are calling it “a live, 24/7, all-knowing office hours.”
  • OpenAI is partnering with Stanford to evaluate its real educational impact.
  • “It helped me finally understand a concept I’d struggled with for months,” said one college tester.

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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