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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
1080 episodes
Penske Wins Centennial Award, States Win Charging Funds, AI Wins Copyright Suits
Episode #1080: Today we’re talking about winners - how Roger Penske was honored with the Automotive News Centennial Award, how 14 states have won back $5B in EV charging funs and how Meta and Anthropic both won copyright lawsuits.
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12:50
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AI Blackmail, Hertz Scans for Scrapes, and Wholesale Prices Chill
Episode #1079: Today we’re talking AI gone rogue under pressure, Hertz’s new damage detection tech that might cost renters big, and signs of normalcy returning to wholesale vehicle prices.Show Notes with links:Whol...
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16:13
Nissan CEO Feels the Heat, EV Factory Tours Booming, Cheating with AI at Work
Episode #1078: Today we’re talking stormy shareholder meetings at Nissan, the EV factory tours drawing crowds in China, and the Gen Z men getting caught outsourcing their work to AI.Show Notes with links:Nissan’s <...
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14:03
How Stellantis is (Not) Changing, Tesla Robotaxis Go Live, AI Changing Speech
Episode #1077: Today we’re talking about Stellantis’ cautious leadership shuffle, Tesla’s Robotaxi rollout with safety monitors in the passenger seat, and how AI is quietly shaping the way we talk—even if we don’t realize it....
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13:02
In A World On Fire, Light a Flame of Empowerment
Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to talk about how sourcing stories is like sitting by a river with little sailboats going down it. Then they talk about how Shelly Hux from Herrin-Gear Automotive Group wrote in to share how she's been em...
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8:55
Carmax Crushes Q1, When EV Tax Credits Will Go Away, Honda Takes on Rockets
Episode #1075: Today we’re talking CarMax’s record-setting quarter, Congress clashing over EV tax credits, and Honda’s surprising success in rocket science. Yep, you read that right—Honda landed a rocket.Show Notes with links:...
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10:19
One Year Later, Waymo Takes on NYC, Digital Humans Sell More
Episode #1074: We’re diving into CDK’s post-attack transformation, Waymo’s bold NYC ambitions, and China’s booming AI-driven live commerce, where digital humans are outselling their creators.Show Notes with links:A...
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11:45
Actually American-Made, Tesla Pauses Production, Crypto Goes to Congress
Episode #1073: Six EVs crack the top 10 of Cars.com's American-Made Index, Tesla pauses Cybertruck and Model Y production, and the U.S. Senate gives crypto a win with new stablecoin regulations, clearing the path for mainstream adoption....
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12:43
Ferrari Feels EV Slowdown, LAZ Parking Adds 50K Chargers, TikTok AI Influencers
Episode #1072: Ferrari eases off the EV pedal, LAZ Parking launches a game-changing 50,000-charger rollout, and TikTok’s AI influencers threaten to upend the creator economy. Show Notes with links:Welcome to t...
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15:42
Top 100 Service and Parts, EV Registrations Fall In April, Consumer Sentiment Up
Episode #1071: In today’s episode, we unpack April’s surprising EV registration drop, spotlight top dealership strategies driving service and parts growth, and break down a fresh consumer sentiment boost that still comes with caution.
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13:12
Raptor Rally Makes Wishes Come True
Today on the show, we've got Daniel Govaer joining Paul, Kyle and Chris to recap the Raptor Rally that he helped host. Together with Leif Johnson Ford and Rally Ready Ranch, they brought the high-performance Ford Raptor community together...
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17:59
Auto Tariffs To Go Up?, Gen Z Shops With Google, Veo 3 Makes Cheap Ads
Episode #1069: Trump eyes higher auto tariffs and axes California’s EV rules, Google quietly gains ground with Gen Z shoppers, and an AI-generated NBA Finals ad shows how fast, cheap, and creative the future of advertising can be.
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15:37
Goodbye EV Tax Credit, Toyoda Sticking Around, Hello Handyman Mr. Beast
Episode #1068: Congress considers sweeping reforms to EV and emissions incentives, while Toyota tightens its corporate family ties with a bold $33B buyout—cementing Akio Toyoda's hold at the top. Plus, Lowe’s gets into the creator game with Mr....
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12:47
Trump Says China Deal Is Done, Tesla Robotaxi To Launch on June 22, Major Carplay Update
Episode #1067: We’re covering how President Trump announced that China will provide rare earth minerals in a new trade deal. Plus Tesla’s push toward a robotaxi launch in Austin and what it means for the future of autonomy and Apple brings a ma...
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11:27
May Incentives Up, Lucid’s US Battery Supply Chain, Meta Targets Gen X
Episode #1066: Today we’re looking at the May economic data from Cox Automotive, how Lucid is reducing its dependence on foreign battery materials and how Meta has increased its ad revenue without increasing volume through targeting....
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15:39
Rivian Builds Platform for VW, Waymos on Fire, Back to School in Summer
Episode #1065: Today we’re breaking down Rivian’s big win with VW, a wild scene in LA as Waymo vehicles go up in flames, and how back-to-school shopping is creeping into summer.Show Notes with links:The ...
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10:49
How Charles Ingles has influenced the Auto Industry.
Paul, Kyle, and Chris realize their shared aspiration identity...Charles Ingles from Little House on the Prairie. They laugh about how ironically he is a representation of what it is to steward your community. When Hurricane Milton ...
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10:31
Are Trump Musk Broke Up, V8 Redemption, AI on Your Lock Screen
Today we’re talking about political fireworks as Trump and Musk’s bromance blows up, Ram’s surprising V8 comeback after admitting they “screwed up,” and Samsung phones getting a dose of AI-powered fashion ads, right on your lock screen.
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14:20
Greenfield Gives Paul First Detroit Pizza, Amazon Rivian Robot Delivery
Episode #1062: In a first on this show, Paul does a live food review of Buddy’s Pizza, provided by Steve Greenfield. Plus, we talk about how Amazon is preparing to have humanoid robots jump into the last mile of package delivery....
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11:19
Rare Earth Squeeze in EU, Costco Leans In, Consumers Chill On Tariffs
Episode #1061: China’s rare earth restrictions are causing real pain for Europe’s automakers, Costco’s gas game and checkout tech are stepping up, and American shoppers are oddly calm about rising tariffs—at least for now.Show...
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13:05
Steve Greenfield’s Biggest Worry, Applegreen > Tesla, Meta’s AI Ads
Episode #1060: Steve Greenfield sounds the alarm on rising repair and insurance costs, Tesla loses its charger deal on the New Jersey Turnpike, and Meta doubles down on AI-generated advertising—even as trust from brands wavers.
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16:04
Sluggish Q1 Buy-Sell, Waymo’s World, Boomerang Hires
Episode #1059: Today we’re talking about the strength of dealership valuations despite sluggish buy-sells, Waymo's exponential takeover of the robotaxi race, and why your old boss might be your next one.Show Notes with links:<...
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11:15
Auditing Trashcans with Baxter Subaru
Episode 1058: It's the last day of the month and today Kyle is joined by Head Writer Chris Reeves to talk about how Baxter Subaru of Omaha, Nebraska reduced its trash output from 96 yards a week to 8. They’re now recycling over 90% of th...
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8:54
Nissan Faces $5B in Debt, Illegal Tariffs?, GM #1 EV Seller in Canada
Episode #1057: Nissan eyes a fire sale to survive, Trump’s tariff plan hits legal trouble, and GM claims Canada’s EV crown from Tesla—at least for now.Show Notes with links:As CEO Ivan Espinosa wraps up his first q...
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11:42
Musk Exits DOGE, EREV Excitement, Amazon Shopping Voice Assistant
Episode #1056: Today we’re talking about Elon Musk’s dramatic exit from government, the rising appeal of extended-range EVs as a hybrid-EV mashup, and how Amazon wants to talk you into your next purchase—literally—with AI-generated aud...
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17:25