Automotive State of The Union

LIVE from AutoMobility LA, Affordability Gets Worse, MRC Recap

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Episode #1201: Today, we’re coming at you from sunny Los Angeles, where we’ll be hosting interviews at Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show. We look ahead to all the conversations we’re going to be able to have, plus Kyle gives us a recap of the Modern Retailing Conference, and Cox Auto signals affordability is getting worse.


This episode is brought to you by our Press and Content Partner Curbee, the fastest growing mobile service technology platform for dealerships.



Show Notes with links:

  • Cox Automotive’s affordability index says October got a little worse… again.
    • Average new-vehicle payment: $766.
    • Weeks of income needed: 36.43, inching up.
    • Incentives dropped, rates stayed high-ish, and prices barely eased.
    • Your customer is doing this math long before they meet your desk manager. If your strategy assumes “they’ll figure it out,” that’s not a strategy.

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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