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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
1219 episodes
Carvana is Stellantis, Mexico Blocking China, Tesla Robotaxi in Austin
Episode #1219: Carvana adds another CDJR store as its retail expansion heats up. Mexico hits Chinese auto imports with a crushing 50% tariff. And Tesla tests its first fully driverless vehicle on the streets of Austin — no humans required.<...
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13:08
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Showing Up To A Fire Department With Holiday Cookies
Episode #1218: Kyle Mountsier and Chris Reeves jump into the middle of December to talk about the all-team in-person meeting that More Than Cars had this past week.Then they talk about a simple act of giving back. Carla Cosenz...
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8:19
Ionna Ramps Up EV Charging, VW Adds Range Extenders, Waymo Baby
Episode #1217: Ionna ramps up charging despite slumping EV demand, VW rethinks its electric strategy with range extenders, and a Waymo ride turns into a delivery room as a newborn arrives before first responders.Show Notes with links:
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11:38
Sub-$25K New Vehicles Disappear, Nissan’s Turnaround Plan, Shop Target In ChatGPT
Episode #1216: Today we dig into the tightening-but-shifting new-car inventory landscape, explore Nissan’s bold attempt to rediscover its “North Star”, and watch Target leapfrog competitors by baking full-on AI shopping directly into ChatGPT.
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16:21
Record Average Car Payments, VinFast Dealer Count Shrinks, The Social Media Anti-Trend
Episode #1215: Today we break down why monthly payments keep climbing despite improving fundamentals, VinFast’s shrinking U.S. footprint as it pivots overseas, and VaynerMedia’s Anti-Trend Report showing why trend-chasing is officially dead in ...
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14:25
Asbury’s New CEO, Ford Teams Up With Renault, Will Kei Cars Come To America?
Episode #1214: Asbury sets the stage for its next leadership chapter, Ford teams with Renault to regain momentum in Europe, and the President’s kei-car wish sparks a reality check on what it would take to bring microcars to U.S. dealerships.
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13:34
Scout Goes Heavy on Service, Carvana Into S&P 500, Waymos Get Aggressive
Episode #1213: Today we’re talking Scout’s aggressive service-first launch strategy, Carvana’s stunning rise past Detroit’s giants as it joins the S&P 500, and Waymo’s shift from polite AV to confidently assertive city driver.
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13:01
Live with COO/General Manager Ed Roberts of Bozard Ford Lincoln
Episode #1212: Today we welcome our good friend Ed Roberts onto the show, to catch up on his new role and how he’s approaching the challenges of 2026.Show Notes with links:A major leadership shift is underway at Bozard ...
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13:13
Dealer Confidence Dips, Mazda Levels Up, Shoppers Trust Each Other
Episode #1211: Today we break down fading dealer confidence heading into 2026, hear how Mazda’s retail-led strategy is boosting margins despite tariff headwinds, and look at why holiday shoppers are leaning on real human reviews over influencer...
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14:02
Trump Tries To Tackle Affordability, Hybrids Carry the Month, ChatGPT Hits Code Red
Episode #1210: President Trump moves to unwind fuel-economy rules, hybrids surge while EV sales stumble across major brands, and OpenAI hits “code red” as the AI race heats up.Show Notes with links:The Trump admini...
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10:42
Live From The National Press Club with John Bozella, Remembering Tim Kintz
Episode #1209: Today, we remember and honor Tim Kintz for the massive impact he’s had on the automotive industry. Plus, we welcome in John Bozella, President and CEO for the Alliance for Automotive Innovation as we get set to cover ...
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10:38
Guest Host Todd Caputo, Consumers Feel New Prices, The Rise of All-Terrain
Episode #1208: Today we’re joined by guest host Todd Caputo and break down why car buyers are finally pushing back on pricing and how BMW and Audi are muscling into the booming off-road segment.Show Notes with links:
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21:29
Black Friday Brings West Herr-level Generosity!
Episode #1207: Paul and Chris come to you on this Black Friday to talk about our favorite part of this season, how dealers are giving back.West Herr stepped up big this week, donating
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11:19
What Paul and Kyle Are Thankful For This Year
Episode #1206: Happy Thanksgiving from the More Than Cars Crew! Today, we're talking about our Thanksgiving plans and what we're thankful for this year.Most of all, we're thankful for you, everyone who is living out the More T...
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7:33
OEMs Rethink Supply Chains, Stellantis In-Car Ads, Cost of Thanksgiving
Episode #1205: We break down how automakers are strengthening supply chains, why Stellantis is pushing out in-car ads, and what’s driving up the overall cost of Thanksgiving this year.Show Notes with links:After fi...
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12:22
Scout Shows Off, Amazon Auto Retail Results, Target Smiles At Everyone
Episode #1204: Scout Motors accelerates toward 2027 as test mules and plant prep hit major milestones. Amazon’s push into vehicle retail gains real traction with new brands and first-time buyers. And Target rolls out a strict “10-4” greeting ru...
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14:28
EV Subscription Service Expands, Foxconn: The Battery Supplier, Labor Market On Ice
Episode #1203: Autonomy expands its EV subscription fleet with new brands, Foxconn doubles down on becoming a global EV battery powerhouse, and the U.S. labor market enters a “Great Freeze” that’s keeping both hiring and firing on ice.
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12:47
The16 with Amit Chandarana of Curbee, LA Gifts For Paul and Kyle
Episode #1202: Day 2 from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show, and we host Amit Chandarana, CEO of Curbee to talk about how there are now 16 independent repair shops to every 1 franchise dealership.. Plus, Paul and Kyle get gifts to welcome the...
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11:06
LIVE from AutoMobility LA, Affordability Gets Worse, MRC Recap
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...
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9:27
Brian Benstock on Leading Through Change
Episode #1200: Paul sits down with Brian Benstock for a focused conversation on how AI is reshaping dealership roles, why strong leadership matters in uncertain markets, and how competition, democracy, and global collaboration all influence the...
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14:48
Ford Sells CPO on Amazon, Hyundai Off-Road EV, Netflix House Wins
Episode #1199: Ford launches CPO sales on Amazon—but the dealer keeps the keys. Plus, Hyundai teases a high-riding electric concept for the off-road segment, and Netflix pivots to a massive experiential retail strategy.Sho...
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12:47
Audi To Build At Scout Plant, Used EVs Sell Fast, Ford’s New HQ
Episode #1198: Audi taps Scout Motors to build its first U.S.-made SUV, the used-car market cools while EVs heat up, and Ford trades “The Glass House” for a high-tech headquarters built for its next century.Show Notes with lin...
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11:47
HOW Many Pairs of Socks Did Car Dealers Donate?
On this Saturday episode, Paul and Chris highlight how NADA Academy students and staff collected over 13,000 new socks during their Socktober campaign to support shelters across Virginia and Washington, D.C., showing how future dealership leade...
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9:19
Mazda’s First EV, Impel Invests in Automotive Ventures Fund II, Major Stair Fail in China
Episode #1196: Today we’re talking about Mazda finally going all-in on EVs, Impel investing in the next wave of auto-tech innovation, and Chery’s viral stair-climb stunt that went downhill…literally.We’ll be at Automobility LA...
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11:48
Toyota Makes MORE Hybrids, Waymo Hits The Highway, and Chat GPT Gets More attitude
Episode #1195: Toyota doubles down on hybrids with a $14B battery bet. Waymo hits the freeway ahead of Tesla in the autonomy race. And OpenAI unveils a “warmer” GPT-5.1 with customizable personalities and smarter responses.We’ll be at Au...
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10:43