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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.
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Automotive State of The Union
The State of Dealership Cybersecurity, Chevy’s EV Affordability, 100 Years of Goodyear’s Blimp
Episode #1144: Dealers face rising cyber threats, Chevy launches big EV incentives, and the Goodyear Blimp marks 100 years over Detroit.
Show Notes with links:
- Proton Dealership IT’s Cybersecurity 2025 report shows auto retailers are still being hit hard by organized cyberattacks. Activity remains 150–250% higher than before mid-2024’s massive outage, with new tactics targeting dealership websites, employees, and customer data.
- December 2024 saw a 110% year-over-year increase in dealership cyberattacks.
- A March 2025 supply chain breach slipped malware into dealership website photos.
- Criminals time attacks around holidays and off-hours, boosting ransom success.
- Stolen passwords and remote access put payroll, banking, and OEM systems at risk.
- Proton urges dealers to enforce MFA, deploy Managed Detection & Response, and train staff against phishing.
- “Attacks are targeting dealerships every single day. How well those dealerships are protected makes a difference,” Proton warns.
- Chevrolet is going all-in on affordability this month with new incentives across its Equinox, Blazer, and Silverado EVs—just in time before the federal EV tax credit dries up.
- The Equinox EV, dubbed “America’s most affordable 315+ mile range EV,” now leases for as low as $249/month.
- Chevy is offering up to $3,000 in customer cash on the Equinox and up to $4,000 on the Silverado EV.
- Costco members can save an additional $1,250 on top of existing offers.
- Financing deals include 0% APR for 60 months or the $7,500 tax credit applied at the point of sale.
- Senior Vice President and President, North America, Duncan Aldred: “We will almost certainly see a smaller EV market for a while, and we won’t overproduce. Still, we believe GM can continue to grow EV market share.”
- If you spotted the Goodyear Blimp flying over Detroit this week, it wasn’t covering a touchdown or home run—it was celebrating a milestone.
- The Goodyear Blimp “Wingfoot One” was in town for the 2025 Automotive News Congress in Detroit.
- Goodyear and Automotive News are both celebrating their 100th anniversaries this year.
- Rides were offered to Congress attendees from Willow Run Airport on Sept. 10. And on Sept. 11, the blimp soared over the city in honor of the industry event.
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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