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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
1339 episodes
Chinese OEMs Ready For Canada, Dealer Ad Spend Hits $9B, Cozy Coupe EV
Episode #1336: Chinese automakers quietly prep a Canadian invasion, dealers ramp up ad spend amid tariff uncertainty, and even the Cozy Coupe gets an EV twistShow Notes with links:Chinese automakers are lay...
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Hybrids The Hottest Ticket, Hertz Goes Full Online Retail, Delta Nixes Snacks
Episode #1335: Inventory tightens as hybrids fly off lots, Hertz leans into retail with an eBay storefront, and Delta redraws the snack map—cutting service on shorter flights while upgrading longer ones.Show Notes with...
Group 1 Cuts Jobs, Ford Retooling To Compete With China, Harley Goes Affordable
Episode #1334: Dealers face workforce cuts as Group 1 trims costs, Ford’s secret EV project reveals how it plans to hit a $30K price point, and Harley-Davidson shifts back to entry-level bikes to drive volume, boost dealer profits, and reconnec...
Top 100 Used Dealers, Ford Discounts Go Wide, Audible Listening IRL
Episode #1333: Used-car consolidation accelerates as the biggest dealer groups tighten their grip, Ford opens up employee pricing to drive volume, and Audible tests a bold physical retail concept. It’s all about scale, strategy, and finding new...
How Vehicles For Change Has Supported Reliable Transportation for Over 28,000 People
On today's show, Chris joins Paul and Kyle to talk about our ASOTU CON charity partner Vehicles for Change and the amazing impact that they have because of partnering with dealers.
Bill Introduced To Ban Chinese Cars, Rivian Trims GA Factory, AV Traffic Tickets
Episode #1331: Lawmakers push to block Chinese autos amid affordability and security concerns, Rivian reshapes its Georgia plant strategy while betting big on the R2, and California moves to hold autonomous vehicles accountable with new enforce...
Carvana’s 6Q of Growth, OEMs To Get Billions In Tariff Refunds, Retail Media Ad Accountability
Episode #1330: Carvana keeps its growth streak alive with record sales and profits, automakers book billions in tariff refunds (on paper), and AI is forcing retail media to evolve from impressions to real, measurable outcomes....
Chinese Vehicles At The Border As Lawmakers Push a Ban, What Makes A Company Trustworthy
Episode #1329: Lawmakers push to block Chinese vehicles as they sit just miles from the U.S. border. Meanwhile, those same brands are gaining attention from American drivers. Plus, a new “most trusted companies” list shows how perception is sha...
Greenfield on The Fight For Legacy OEMs and Cheap Chinese EVs
Episode #1328: We’re joined by guest host Steve Greenfield to talk about Ford's CEO sounding the alarm on a make-or-break moment for legacy automakers, while China’s ultra-affordable EVs show just how intense—and fast—the global competition has...
Quick Lubes Beating Dealers, EVs Hold Their Range, US Consumers Want Chinese EVs
Episode #1327: Dealers lose service share to quick lubes, EVs prove stronger range retention, and Chinese vehicles gain global credibility at the Beijing Auto Show.Dealership service lanes are losing ground as
Test Drives For The Local Children's Hospital
On this last Saturday of the month, we're talking about how the Sames Auto Group donated $10 for every test drive to their local children's hospital. They have a goal of 2000 test drives on the month and we'll check back into see how they're do...
Cox To Acquire Fullpath, April Sales Show Strong Forecast, AI Upskilling For Hours
Episode #1325: Cox Automotive makes a major AI acquisition, April sales show resilient demand under affordability pressure, and developers everywhere are racing to keep up with AI.Show Notes with links:Cox Auto...
Gas Prices Drive EV Rentals, Negative Equity Climbs Again, AI Adoption Tracker
Episode #1324: Rising gas prices are pushing renters toward EVs, negative equity hits near-record highs, and JPMorgan’s AI tracking shows how fast workplace expectations are shifting.Show Notes with links:Rising ga...
Carvana Keeps Growing While GM and Sony-Honda Hit the EV Brakes
Episode #1323: Carvana keeps buying rooftops while Stellantis slows consolidation. GM delays its next-gen EV trucks amid weak demand, and Sony-Honda scale back Afeela.Show Notes with links:Carvana just scoo...
FTC Wants Dealers To Snitch, Cybertruck Powers California, Apple’s Next CEO
Episode #1322: The FTC wants dealers to report rule-breakers, Tesla turns Cybertrucks into grid assets with a simpler V2G play, and Apple announces a historic CEO transitionShow Notes with links:The FTC is n...
Sedans Return, Tax Season So Far, Tesla Go-Kart
Episode #1321: Sedans eye a comeback as affordability bites, tax refunds rise but don’t fully convert to sales, and a $2K stripped Tesla proves EV durability in the wildest way possible.Show Notes with links:https://www.autonews...
How A Really Big Company Gets Very Local
There's nothing better than Saturday morning, especially because Kyle and Paul get to sit down with Chris Reeves and talk about some of the amazing things happening across their industry today. We talk about how retail automotive's largest auto...
FTC Re-do, Making Sense of Farley, Auto Makes Weapons
Episode #1322: Dealers brace for long-awaited FTC answers, Ford walks a tightrope with China partnerships, and automakers could be heading back to wartime production. Show Notes with links:https://nada.zoom.us/webinar/regis...
Price Transparency Training, Autonomy Big 3, Organizational AI Disconnect
Episode #1321: Dealers double down on price transparency training, a new autonomy “Big Three” takes shape with Waymo, Tesla, and Uber, and AI boosts worker productivity but struggles to move the needle at the organizational level.
CarMax Goes Older, Rivian Reuses, Resale Finds New Buyers
Episode #1320: Today we unpack how CarMax is leaning into older inventory, Rivian is powering plants with old batteries, and resale is becoming the new customer acquisition engine for brands.Show Notes with links:<...
Top 150 Grew Without Adding Rooftops, Amazon Autos Adds OEMs, Slate Ramps Toward Production
Episode #1319: Dealers prove growth doesn’t require more rooftops, Amazon inches into car sales with real-world friction, and Slate Auto raises $650M to bring its affordable EV vision closer to production reality.Show ...
Auto News Top 150 Dealer Rankings, Tesla Signature Series, Gas Prices Send Shoppers Online
Episode #1318: Penske climbs the dealer ranks as consolidation continues, Tesla sends off Model S/X with a pricey Signature Series, and $4 gas is pushing consumers online.Automotive News’
How To Find The Center of Your Community and Create A Long-Term Partnership
Today, Head Writer Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to talk about how the Haselwood Auto Group has already raised over $80,000 for their local YMCA through their April campaign, and it's only April 11th!
AI-Powered Sales Kiosks, What To Consider When Buying An EV, SAAS vs AI
Episode #1316: AI hits showrooms, EV owners share real-world truths, and SaaS fights for relevance in the AI era.A South Korean startup is pushing
Broker Sales Aren’t Retail, Kia Plans US Pickup, Scout Delays (Again)
Episode #1315: Kia and Toyota draw a hard line on broker sales, Kia sets its sights on the U.S. pickup market with electrified trucks, and Scout’s timeline keeps slipping—pushing its EV ambitions years behind schedule.In a d...