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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
Automotive State of The Union
Chinese EVs Take Over Europe, NADA AI Preview, A Very Nervous Consumer
Episode #1257: Chinese automakers are taking real share in Europe, AI at NADA is growing up fast, and U.S. consumer confidence just hit a decade low.
- Chinese automakers just hit a milestone in Europe, capturing nearly one in 10 new-car sales. Fueled by competitive EVs and hybrids, strong battery tech, and rapid expansion, Chinese brands are moving from disruptors to serious incumbents across the continent.
- Chinese brands claimed 9.5% of Europe’s total car market in December, a record share.
- Electrified vehicles are the growth engine, with Chinese automakers now holding 16% of Europe’s EV and plug-in hybrid market, more than double last year.
- Europe’s auto industry is under strain, with over 110,000 jobs lost in 18 months, as domestic brands face shrinking share at home and abroad.
- “The progression of Chinese cars in Europe is massive… It’s a matter of survival for our industry,” said Roberto Vavassori, head of Italy’s Anfia trade group.
- AI is everywhere in dealer tech talk, but 2026 is shaping up as the year it moves from buzzword to baseline. At NADA in Las Vegas, expect fewer “wow” moments and far more conversations about integration, maturity, and ROI.
- More than 40 AI-specific exhibitors are registered for NADA 2026, up from just 10 last year, with many more vendors baking AI into existing platforms.
- Expect AI centered on lead engagement, chat, marketing automation, inventory, pricing, service prediction and more
- Dealers are showing up with sharper questions, focusing on cost savings, productivity, and ROI, not shiny add-ons or disconnected tools.
- “Everybody has the same ice cream. It’s just flavored a little bit different,” said Cox Automotive’s Mo Zahabi, summing up what dealers should expect on the floor.
- America’s economic mood just took a sharp turn south. Consumer confidence fell to its lowest level in more than a decade in January, with households rattled by rising prices, job anxiety, and geopolitical noise—setting up an uneasy backdrop for spending as 2026 gets underway.
- The Consumer Confidence Index dropped to 84.5, its lowest reading since 2014 and well below economist expectations, signaling broad-based unease.
- Inflation remains front and center, with consumers citing food, gas, electricity, insurance costs, and tariffs as top concerns.
- “The K-shaped economy is great for the top 20%, but many middle-class Americans are barely keeping up,” said Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union.
- This episode of the Automotive State of the Union is brought to you by Amazon Autos: Meet custo
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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