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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
1184 episodes
The Nexperia Chip Crisis, Dealer Employee Satisfaction Rises, Gen Z Mystery Shops Hotels
Episode #1184: Today we cover Toyota’s response to potential chip shortages, new research showing improved employee satisfaction at dealerships, and what Gen Z travelers want most from their hotel stays.Show Notes with link...
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12:44
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Rebuilding After Aluminum Fire, Tekion Welcomes Competition, The Skills CEOs Need
Episode #1183: Today we’re talking about the billion-dollar blaze disrupting Ford’s aluminum supply chain, Tekion’s confident response to new DMS rival Pinewood.AI, and why the retail world’s record CEO shuffle says more about skill sets than b...
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14:17
Slate Taps Independent Service, China Ditches EV Subsidies, PayPal Integrates In ChatGPT
Episode #1182: Today we’re talking about Slate Auto’s bold move to use independent repair shops instead of dealers, China pulling back EV subsidies to let the market decide, and PayPal teaming up with OpenAI to turn ChatGPT into a next-gen shop...
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10:25
EV Market Recalibration, Home Charging Is Just Fine, Amazon Cuts Thousands and Invests Billions
Episode #1181: Today we’re talking about an EV market hitting the brakes post–tax credit, why most electric drivers are just fine charging at home, and Amazon’s billion-dollar bet on future jobs—while cutting tens of thousands of its own.
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14:23
More Than Cars In Kazakhstan, Delivery Fees Skyrocket, Rivian and GM Trim Workforce
Episode #1180: Fresh off a global adventure, Paul and Kyle return with stories from Kazakhstan, a look at why destination fees are climbing faster than car prices, and how Rivian and GM are tightening up their EV operations as the market cools....
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13:45
Q4 Strategy Sessions: Ryan Rohrman on How To Stop Wasting 30% of Your Marketing
Episode #1179: We close out Q4 Strategy Week with Ryan Rohrman, CEO of the Rohrman Auto Group. He breaks down how cleaner data, connected systems, and smarter marketing decisions can save you money, sharpen your efficiency, and help you finish ...
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13:40
Q4 Strategy Sessions: Joe Castelino on Fixed Ops Cycle Times, Tech Tools, and Holiday Chaos
Episode #1178: We dive into Q4 service strategy with Joe Castelino, VP of Fixed Ops at American Motors Group. From holiday PTO and campus ebb-and-flow to tech-enabled check-ins and bay visibility, Joe shows how disciplined processes and smart t...
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11:53
Q4 Strategy Sessions: Andy Guelcher on The Used EV Wave That’s Coming
Episode #1177: Q4 Strategy Week rolls on with EV operator-extraordinaire Andy Guelcher. We dig into life after federal credits, the coming surge of affordable used EVs, New York’s eye-popping BrightDrop incentives, and why dealers must become “...
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10:55
Q4 Strategy Sessions: RussFlipsWhips on Social Media That Sells
Episode #1176: Day two of Q4 Strategy Week brings social media powerhouse Russell Richardson — aka Russ Flips Whips — to talk about how dealers can turn content into car deals. He shares real-world results, easy-to-start strategies, and why emp...
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10:43
Q4 Strategy Sessions: Patrick Abad on Leading Through the Holidays
Episode #1175: It’s Q4 Strategy Week on The Automotive State of the Union! Paul and Kyle sit down with Patrick Abad of Beaver Toyota and Mazda to talk about leading your team through the holidays — when emotions run high, sales run hotter, and ...
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15:00
Newsom Says No, Tesla Goes Mad Max, Home Depot Path to Pro
Episode #1174: Gov. Newsom vetoes a dealer doc fee hike, Tesla unleashes “Mad Max” mode amid mounting scrutiny, and Home Depot opens free training lanes to fuel America’s next generation of skilled pros.Show Notes with links:<...
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10:11
Painter Back as TrueCar CEO, Old Used Cars Are In, AI In The Freelance Economy
Episode #1173: Scott Painter steers TrueCar back to private ownership, CarGurus says buyers are going older to stay on budget, and freelancers navigate the double-edged sword of AI—faster work, smaller paychecks, and a whole lot of “good enough...
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10:04
Live with Dealer Tim Pohanka of Tour Detour, Stellantis’ $13B Investment, New NADA Chair
Episode #1172: Stellantis bets big on American production with its largest investment ever, NADA makes history with a new vice chair, and three Nissan dealers take the scenic route to prove the CVT isn’t the punchline anymore....
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18:11
Ford’s Aluminum Woes, Rivian (Still) Rejects Carplay, Gen Z Rotary Phones
Episode #1171: Ford scrambles after a supplier fire halts SUV production, Rivian doubles down on AI instead of Apple CarPlay, and young people rediscover the joy of “hanging up”... literallyFord is
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15:18
California’s CARS Act, Chargers Fail 30% of the Time, Nvidia and xAI Make a Deal?
Episode #1170: California’s new CARS Act sets tough transparency rules for dealers, a new report exposes EV charging’s reliability gap, and Elon Musk’s xAI looks to raise $20 billion—with Nvidia both selling the chips and buying in.<...
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14:21
Signatures That Save Lives
Today, writer Chris Reeves joins Kyle to talk Fresno Acura’s annual #PinkAcura campaign is back for its 12th year, turning a bright pink car into a traveling symbol of hope.Each fall, the Pink Acura visits schools, fundraisers, and ...
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9:00
Best Dealerships To Work For, Record Sub-Prime Delinquency, Ferrari’s Electric Guitar Engine
Episode #1168: Today we’re covering how top dealerships are building stronger workplace cultures, why subprime auto delinquencies are rising, and how Ferrari’s first EV aims to keep its signature sound authentic.The Autom...
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12:43
GM Kills EV Credit Hack, New Bolt is $29K, Nissan Dealers Go Top Gear
Episode #1167: GM kills its creative EV tax credit plan while Ford plays coy, the Chevy Bolt returns faster and cheaper than ever, and three Nissan dealers take their high-mileage heroes on a 1,500-mile proving ground through the American West....
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14:12
Tesla’s “Affordable” Illusion, Ford’s RTO Fallout, Mattel Meets AI
Episode #1166: Tesla’s new “affordable” EVs aren’t quite the bargain they seem, Ford’s return-to-office mandate sparks employee backlash, and Mattel teams up with OpenAI’s Sora 2 to reimagine how toys come to life.Show Notes w...
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12:52
100-Year-Old Dealerships, Mobile EV Chargers, ChatGPT Controls Apps
Episode #1165: Today we’re talking about dealerships hitting the 100-year mark and how they’re still family-run, Lincoln Electric’s new portable EV charger that brings dead batteries back to life, and ChatGPT’s new integrations that let it cont...
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12:09
Charger Boom, Tesla’s Tease, Why Everyone’s Talking Sora 2
Episode #1164: Today we’re talking America’s EV charging boom just as electric sales cool, previewing Tesla’s October tease for a cheaper Model Y, and diving headfirst into Sora 2.Show Notes with links:Just as EV s...
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15:20
The Cultural Antidote To AI Slop Is Your Local Dealership
Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to share how the Jeff Wyler Auto Group gave away a car to a homeless veteran.The Jeff Wyler Automotive Family rolled out the red carpet for 34-year-old veteran Theron Bell, surprising him wi...
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10:42
Tesla’s Big Rebound, $1K Car Payments Surge, AI Chats Into Ad Fuel
Episode #1162: Tesla posts a surprise Q3 sales record, $1,000 car payments are becoming the new normal, Meta plans to use AI chats to make ad targeting more personal than ever.Show Notes with links:Tesla delivered ...
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12:19
Dealers Ready For EV Reset, Hertz Sells Digital, OpenAI’s TikTok Competitor
Episode #1161: Today we’re talking about the end of the EV lease credit frenzy and how dealers and OEMs are adjusting. We’ll also hit Hertz’s big push into e-commerce with Tom Brady, and OpenAI’s bold play to challenge TikTok with AI video....
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14:59