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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
Afeela SUV Surprise, Hyundai’s Robot Army, EV Fire At A Gas Pump
Episode #1236: We’re continuing our coverage of CES with headlines on Hyundai’s humanoid robot plans and Sony Honda’s SUV twist on the Afeela. Plus, a dramatic EV fire at a gas station is stopped cold by some simple, new tech.
https://www.autonews.com/technology/an-ces-2026-hyundai-robotics-strategy-0105/
Hyundai is jumping headfirst into the humanoid robot race, revealing a bold new plan to deploy thousands of AI-driven robots at its factories, starting with its Georgia Metaplant.
The timeline? Hyundai aims to produce 30,000 Atlas humanoid robots per year by 2028.
The robots will begin by handling parts-sequencing tasks at the Georgia plant.
Developed by Boston Dynamics, Atlas can lift 110 pounds and is built for rugged environments.
Hyundai’s roadmap includes complex assembly work by 2030, supported by AI from Nvidia and Google DeepMind.
“Robotics brings many different domains of machine learning together… That makes robotics a frontier application of AI,” said Carolina Parada of Google DeepMind.
https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/sony-honda-mobilitys-afeela-prototype-2026-puts-an-suv-spin-on-its-too-familiar-sedan-at-ces-043927882.html
Sony Honda Mobility is back at CES with another Afeela concept — this time, it’s an SUV. The new Afeela Prototype 2026 offers familiar styling with a taller twist, signaling the joint venture’s attempt to better cater to American preferences.
The SUV prototype mimics the Afeela 1 sedan, complete with nose-mounted LCD.
Targeted release is “as early as 2028,” though 2029 is more likely.
Meanwhile, the Afeela 1 sedan is still set to launch at the end of 2026 — but only in California.
Starting at $90K, the sedan offers 300 miles of range and promises future Level 4 autonomy yet only charges at 150 kwh…half of what most Teslas and Hyundai’s can do
“You could drive in Gran Turismo 7 while your car drove you to work,” Sony Honda Mobility teased.
https://www.jalopnik.com/2068144/firefighters-blanket-turtle-ev-fire/
In an ironic turn, an EV caught fire at a gas station . Thanks to quick-thinking cops and some seriously clever firefighting tech, it didn’t turn into a Hollywood-style explosion. This near-disaster in Minnesota gave emergency responders a chance to flex some new tools built just for EV fires
A burning Kia EV6 was parked at a gas pump — yes, a gas pump.
First, Police used cruisers to push the smoking EV away from the pump to a safe location.
Then, firefighters used a giant fire blanket to control vapors and smoke.
Finally, they also deployed the “Turtle” — a shell-shaped water cannon developed by Jersey City Fire Captain Howard "Buddy" Hayes after he discovered the shortcomings of his department's existing equipment in battling EV fires.
The Turtle pumps 500 gallons per minute to cool EV battery packs from underneath avoiding ‘thermal runaway’ that looks more like those crazy EV fires you’ve seen
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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