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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
1117 episodes
Dealers Gear Up 7000 Backpacks for Students
On this second Saturday of month, Paul is joined by Chris and Nathan to share all the amazing things dealers are doing in communities across the nation.This back-to-school season, Toyota-Lexus-Minority Owner Dealers Associatoin partnered...
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10:10
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CarOffer To Shut Down, Ford’s EV Affordability Plan, GPT-5 Is Here
Episode #1116: CarGurus shuts down CarOffer, trimming its wholesale tech reach. Ford opens a Long Beach EV hub to take on low-cost rivals. And OpenAI’s GPT-5 rolls out to all ChatGPT users, promising smarter, faster AI for everyone.<...
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11:29
Ford’s “Model T” Moment, Cybertruck Target Practice, Rivian’s Charging Retreat
Episode #1115: Ford’s ready for its “Model T moment,” the Cybertruck heads to military testing, and Rivian turns EV charging into a Hamptons-style retreat.Show Notes with links:Ford is gearing up for a major EV pus...
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10:51
Fain Under Fire, Silverado Goes The Distance, Gen Z Job Struggles
Episode #1114: Shawn Fain’s own union members want him out. Chevy’s Silverado EV clocks an unbelievable 1,059 miles on a charge, and as AI reshapes white-collar work, Gen Z is finding job security in scrubs, not suits.Show Not...
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11:22
Amazon Sells Used Cars, Rivian Sues Ohio, Ikea Inside A Best Buy
Episode #1113: Today we cover Amazon’s push into used car sales, Rivian’s legal battle to sell direct in Ohio, and Ikea’s first-ever retail partnership with Best Buy. Show Notes with links:Amazon Autos now...
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13:36
Carvana’s Wild Ride Continues, 25% of Loans Have Negative Equity, The Gen X Factor
Episode #1112: Carvana’s stock hits jaw-dropping highs while negative equity haunts car buyers. At the same time, a new report says Gen X may quietly be the most powerful consumer group of the next decade.Show Notes with l...
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12:48
A Sasquatch, A Fire Department And A Mud Run
On this Saturday, we're highlighting a fun mud run/competitive mud run put on by the Rohrman Auto Group to benefit their local fire department.
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10:35
Latest Tariff Roundup, Robotaxi With A Driver, Agentic Checkout
Episode #1110: Today we cover Trump’s sweeping auto tariffs, Tesla’s not‑so‑autonomous “Robotaxi” rollout, and the rise of agentic checkout in online retail.Show Notes with links:President Trump’s
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11:32
Ford’s Profits Hit by Tariffs, Commercial EVs Still Growing, CheatGPT
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)...
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11:00
How Dealers Are Deploying AI Today, Tariffs Can’t Stop Toyota
Episode #1108: Today we’re joined by Ben Hadley to talk about Toyota’s exports to the US rising in June, and get Ben’s thoughts on AI use by dealers and tech partners.Show Notes with links:Despite U.S. tariffs on J...
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19:17
Used EV Prices Slide, Cybertruck Sticks, Search Goes Zero‑Click
Episode #1107: Today we dive into why used EVs — especially Teslas — are losing value fast, how a Cybertruck hung 6,600 pounds on a patch of glue, and what AI search’s rise in impressions but drop in clicks means for auto dealers looking to sta...
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13:18
EU Gets 15% Tariffs, Toyota’s EV Roadmap, AI Privacy Privilege
Episode #1106: Today we’re looking at a U.S.-EU trade deal that gives European automakers some relief, Toyota’s ambitious product roadmap with EVs and freshened favorites, and why Sam Altman says your ChatGPT chats aren’t nearly as private as y...
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14:38
Two Steinway Pianos Stuffed Full of Money
Episode #1105: Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to share the who, what, where, why and how of auto dealers giving back to their communities.Fred Martin has spent decades in the car business, but his latest gift is
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10:38
EV Service Woes, Honda Sells Service, Walmart Nixes Search Bars
Episode #1104: EV service frustrations rise as electric sales grow, Honda steps into the insurance game, and Walmart unveils Sparky—its bold AI move to replace the search bar.Show Notes with links:Electric vehicle ...
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11:36
Start-Stop Stopping, Tesla In The Rough, Southwest Seat Selection
Episode #1103: Today we’re talking about backlash against stop-start tech, Tesla’s rocky second quarter and robotaxi dreams, and Southwest’s historic shift to assigned seating.Show Notes with links:Stop-start engin...
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11:35
Auction Reinvention, Trade Tension, and AI Pricing for Flights
Episode #1102: Today, we're unpacking the Detroit 3's tariff turmoil with Japan, exploring how "Auction 2.0" is reshaping used-car sourcing, and tracking Delta's AI-driven pricing turbulence as Senators demand answers. The U.S. auto...
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11:12
AI Layoff Deception, GM’s Earnings Dip & Truck Refresh, California Tech Apprenticeships
Episode #1101: Today we talk about how AI is quietly reshaping the workforce under the guise of “restructuring.” GM reports a profit dip but revs up electrified truck updates to meet shifting demands. Finally, California launches an innovative ...
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9:40
Q2 Auto Profits Surge, China Gets EV Bronco, Tesla Goes Retro
Episode #1100: Franchised dealerships saw a 22% profit surge in Q2, led by strong gains in import and domestic brands. Ford unveiled a high-tech electric Bronco, but it’s only for China. Meanwhile, Tesla opened its retro-style diner and drive-i...
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14:06
Love Doesn’t Stop With The Car
Episode #1099: It’s Saturday, which means Chris Reeves is back in the studio with another story that brings all the feels.This time it’s about Speedway Subaru in Indianapolis. When a service advisor found out a longtime customer h...
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10:37
Rivian’s Southern Roots, Ford’s Hero Reward, ChatGPT Gets a Job
Episode #1098: Rivian is laying foundations in Georgia with a new East Coast HQ and massive EV factory. A brave deacon turns his F-150 into a life-saving shield, and gets rewarded. And OpenAI's latest ChatGPT upgrade puts real-world task man...
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12:15
Franchise Law “Holy War?”, Stellantis Scraps Hydrogen, Popular Pop-Ups
Episode #1097: In today’s episode, we dig into why the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and NADA are in disagreement on state franchise laws, Stellantis’ quiet hydrogen retreat, and why pop-up shops are punching above their weight in moder...
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11:37
GM’s Gas-Powered Comeback, 112-Year-Old Dealership Sold, AI Eyes Wall Street
Episode #1096: We cover GM’s shift away from EVs at Orion, the end of a 112-year family legacy at Ohio’s oldest Ford dealership, and how new AI tools are challenging the finance industry’s most iconic software.Gene...
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12:00
Volvo’s Tariff Hit, Nissan’s EV Switch, Ford’s Generous Heart
Episode #1095: Volvo takes a $1.2B charge as EV costs and tariffs bite. Nissan shifts gears in Mississippi, shelving EV plans in favor of SUVs and pickups. And Ford steps up in Texas, donating $1.25M and deploying people and vehicles to aid flo...
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13:48