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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
1258 episodes
When a Dealership Becomes First Responders
On this Saturday before NADA, Chris and Nathan join Kyle to talk about a recent car crash where a dealership jumped into action.When
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10:17
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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 nearl...
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17:36
Optimus Ousts Model X/S, EV’s Outsell Gas in EU, and Starbucks Turnaround
Episode #1256: Tesla IS phasing out its legacy models X and S to make room for humanoid robots. EV sales just passed petrol cars for the first time in the EU. Finally, Starbucks is brewing a comeback under a new CEO, but margins are still...
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12:24
Rideshare Wars Rage, Auto Brands Skip Bowl, Experience Beats Price
Episode #1255: Waymo gains ground on rideshare rivals as Tesla undercuts them all. A global study shows bad CX drives customers away faster than high prices. And automakers pull back from Super Bowl ads, choosing more flexible, efficient buys.<...
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15:22
GM’s Costly Quarter, Auto Hackers Cash In, Surprising Airline Rankings
Episode #1254: GM takes a multibillion-dollar EV hit but says 2026 looks brighter, white-hat hackers cash in by cracking EV chargers and infotainment systems, and the airline industry gets its annual report cardGeneral Mo...
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12:08
Service Is King, AI Gets Paid, Ford Wears Carhartt
Episode #1253: Today we’re digging into why fixed ops is carrying the dealership profit load, how dealer-focused AI just landed serious funding, and why Ford teaming up with Carhartt is about a lot more than merch.With new-c...
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10:20
Three Dealers Teaming Up To Support Mental Health, Autism Services, and Animal Rescue
These three dealers used to work together, and now they are teaming up to make a real difference.Charlesglen Toyota, 5th Avenue Volkswagen, and Lexus of Royal Oak worked with their teams to raise $265,000 for local charities, matching em...
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10:18
Recapping Public Policy Day, Driverless Robotaxis In Austin
Episode #1251: Today’s show comes to you from Washington, DC as Public Policy Day wraps and the auto industry’s biggest themes take center stage.Autonomy is no longer theoretical — Tesla has begun limited robotaxi rides in Aus...
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10:16
Dealers v Scout, Insurers v Drivers, Lemonade Saves The Day
Episode #1250: Colorado dealers filed suit on VW-backed Scout’s direct-sales license, insurers face political heat as profits soar and affordability cracks, and Lemonade rolls out Tesla Full Self-Driving-based insurance, hinting at a future whe...
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12:51
Affordability Not EVs, Agentic Shopping, and a Dealership Takes Center Stage
Episode #1249: We dig into why affordability—not EV tech—is the real sales bottleneck heading into 2026, how agentic shopping is reshaping the idea of ‘merit’ across retail, and why Jeff Daniels’ new stage play about a struggling dealership is ...
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10:25
Dealer Sentiment Cools, Wawa Supercharger Logo, A Sphere in D.C.
Episode #1248: Dealer confidence takes a hit as affordability pressures and tighter margins creep into Q4, even as fixed ops and F&I try to hold the line. Meanwhile, Wawa goes all-in on Tesla charging, and the Vegas Sphere model heads to DC...
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12:34
Canada Allows Chinese EVs, Don’t Call it an EV Slowdown, GPT Ads are Here
Episode #1247: Canada slashes EV tariffs in a controversial China deal, OpenAI kicks off its ad-supported ChatGPT Go plan, and Recurrent CEO Scott Case calls out the real EV story: a booming used market dealers can’t afford to miss....
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12:17
Life Hit Hard. The Dealer Community Hit Back.
Today, Head Writer Chris Reeves joins the show to share how the Super Chevy Dealers of Baton Rouge and Our Lady of the Lake came together to honor Vietnam veteran and former police officer Michael King with a new 2026 Chevy Equinox RS—proof tha...
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7:25
Honda’s New Logo, Tesla’s New Lithium Factory, Workers Staying Put
Episode #1245: Honda unveils a brand-wide logo reboot, Tesla brings its massive Texas lithium refinery online, and U.S. workers pump the brakes on job-hopping—opting for stability and side hustles instead. Show No...
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12:05
More Buyers Approved for Loans, FSD Goes Subscription-Only, Loyalty Expectations Rise
Episode #1244: Today we're talking about Tesla's FSD flip to subscription-only, the continued softening of auto credit conditions, and a loyalty report that says your customers are expecting way more. Sho...
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10:43
Trump’s Middle Finger Overshadows Ford Visit, Smarter Recon Strategies, Gen Alpha Spends
Episode #1243: We’re talking about a viral moment at Ford’s Dearborn plant, a smart strategy for turning old trade-ins into profit, and surprising insights into the real buying power of Gen Alpha.Show Notes with links:...
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12:36
All Things CES with Steve Greenfield
Episode #1242: Today we have a very special edition of The Automotive State of the Union.It’s All Things CES with Steve Greenfield. After walking many miles on the show floor, Steve will be sharing all the insights, surprises, a...
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20:08
CarMax Hits Reset, Hilux BEV, Walmart Drone Delivery
Episode #1241: CarMax leans on price cuts and marketing to spark sales, Toyota takes its iconic Hilux electric in Europe, and Walmart keeps scaling drone delivery as demand grows.CarMax is shifting
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10:35
Is January Almost Half Over? Let's Feed Some People.
Today, Paul Kyle, and Chris Reeves are together again after a bunch of guest hosts and holiday episodes. They argue over whose New Year's Eve was more boring and whether or not you should actually prepare for tornadoes. But most importantly, we...
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11:14
Ford Wins Most Iconic, Stellantis Cancels PHEVs, Humans Winning at AI
Episode #1239: Ford earns top honors as America’s most iconic company, Stellantis drops every PHEV from its 2026 lineup, and McKinsey’s CEO reminds us there are still a few things humans do better than AI. A day of big shifts, bold moves,...
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9:19
No Eyes, No Techs, No Docs
Episode #1238: Ford is promising eyes-off driving by 2028. But back in the bays, finding top-tier techs is still a $160K challenge. OpenAI wants to be your new health co-pilot with ChatGPT Health.Show Notes with links:
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13:01
AI Showdown, Sedan Comeback, and ChatGPT’s Legal Curveball
Episode #1237: Today we’re talking about BMW and Mercedes battling it out at CES with next-gen AI, a surprising sedan surge in the used market, and how ChatGPT is causing headaches for doctors and lawyers alike.Show Notes with links:
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10:58
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://ww...
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12:27
AI Takes the Wheel, Dealer Trust Shifts, Retail Isn’t Dead
Episode #1235: Welcome to the first news show of the new year! CES puts autonomy and AI front and center as EV plans cool. Dealer sentiment improves—but trust gaps threaten CDJR and Nissan valuations. And despite years of doom-and-gloom, physic...
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13:47
Damon Lester on The Reality of Mental Health | 2026 Strategy Sessions
Episode #1234: Kicking off 2026, Paul and Kyle welcome Damon Lester for a deeply personal conversation about burnout, mental health, and leadership in retail auto. Damon opens up about his own breaking point—and why hustle culture may be costin...
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16:49