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Episode #1072: Ferrari eases off the EV pedal, LAZ Parking launches a game-changing 50,000-charger rollout, and TikTok’s AI influencers threaten to upend the creator economy.

Show Notes with links:

• Welcome to the franchise side, Benji Urra! A seasoned dealer since 1985, Benji is entering the franchise world after nearly 40 years in the independent auto business.
  • He acquired Bravo Nissan of Victoria, TX, from Bravo Autos' Raymond Palacios and Alex Flores.

• Even the prancing horse isn’t immune to the EV slowdown. Ferrari is postponing its second electric vehicle—originally planned for 2026—by at least two years, signaling ongoing hesitance in the high-performance luxury EV market.
  • Ferrari’s first EV, a larger, atypical model co-designed by ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive, will debut in October with 2026 deliveries starting at over $500,000; it's seen more as a symbolic milestone than a volume play.
  • Internally, the second EV is viewed as the true strategic launch, with targets of 5,000–6,000 units over five years.
  • That second model has now been delayed twice, with no real demand yet from Ferrari’s core enthusiast base.
  • The delay also gives Ferrari time to refine its proprietary EV tech while competitors like Lamborghini, Porsche, and Maserati similarly reevaluate or scale back their EV timelines.
  • “Real, sustainable demand is non-existent for an electric sports car,” said a source close to the matter.

• In one of the largest EV infrastructure deployments in North America, LAZ Parking is installing 50,000 Level 2 chargers at its facilities—bringing EV access directly into the daily routines of city dwellers and commuters.
  • The rollout spans over 4,000 locations across 43 states and 536 cities, integrating charging into where people live, work, and park.
  • LAZ is partnering with Epic Charging and Autel Energy, with Autel providing the preferred hardware for the project.
  • The initiative avoids the highway model of fast-charging stops, instead embedding EV access into residential and urban life.

• TikTok is stepping deeper into the AI marketing game, unveiling new tools that let brands generate influencer-style videos using synthetic avatars—potentially redefining who gets paid to promote.
  • The Symphony AI ads platform now lets advertisers create virtual avatars that model clothes, demo apps, and showcase products.
  • These avatars mimic human influencers in both look and behavior, offering content at scale without contracts or shoot days.
  • For brands, it means lower costs and faste

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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Episode #1071: In today’s episode, we unpack April’s surprising EV registration drop, spotlight top dealership strategies driving service and parts growth, and break down a fresh consumer sentiment boost that still comes with caution.

• Automotive News’ Top 100 Service and Parts Dealer Groups show that there’s no single path to growing service and parts revenue—but that tailored strategies, tech investments, and a laser focus on training can deliver huge results.
  • Murgado Automotive boosted revenue 45% by empowering service directors and emphasizing speed, transparency, and convenience.
  • Holman’s 48% increase stemmed from employee training, technician retention, and use of myKaarma software across all stores.
  • Kunes Auto Group drove a 33% bump through acquisitions and leveraging DealerFenix to standardize metrics and processes.
  • All three groups focused on increasing customer-pay work, tire sales, and throughput efficiency.
  • “It’s all the little things that add up to the big things later on,” said Murgado CEO Mario Murgado.
  • Top 10 - Autonation, Penske, Lithia, Hendrick, Asbury, Group 1, Sonic, Morgan, Holman, Ourisman
  • Other friends - 13 - McGovern, 27 - Ciocca, 33- RML, 35 - Bergstrom, 44 - Premier Automotive, 47 - Walser, 66 - Sam Pack, 69 - CMA, 74 - Rohrman

• For the first time in over a year, U.S. electric vehicle registrations fell in April. While some brands like Chevrolet saw gains, overall adoption continues to hit a ceiling amid consumer hesitation.
  • EV registrations dropped 4.4% year-over-year to 97,833, marking a 6.6% market share.
  • Tesla saw a 16% decline, with major drops in Model Y and Cybertruck registrations.
  • Chevrolet more than tripled its numbers, led by strong demand for the Equinox and Blazer EVs.
  • S&P’s Tom Libby notes the EV segment is hitting a “demand ceiling” around 5,000 units/month per model.
  • “There’s a lot of influences working against EVs right now,” Libby said, citing charging concerns and wavering government support.

• After half a year of sliding confidence, American consumers are feeling a bit more upbeat. A new report shows a sizable sentiment jump in June—but lingering doubts about the broader economy are hard to ignore.
  • According to the University of Michigan, consumer sentiment rose 15.9% from May to 60.5, the highest level since December 2024.
  • The increase was across age, income, region, and political affiliation, with expectations for both short and long-term business conditions seeing the steepest gains.
  • Analysts credit a perceived easing of tariff pressure and slowing inflation for the positive shift.
  • However, consumer sentiment, opinions on current economic conditions, and consumer expectations for the future are all still down YoY
  • “Despite this month’s notable improvement, consumers remain guarded and conc

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Today on the show, we've got Daniel Govaer joining Paul, Kyle and Chris to recap the Raptor Rally that he helped host. Together with Leif Johnson Ford and Rally Ready Ranch, they brought the high-performance Ford Raptor community together to benefit Central Texas Make-A-Wish.

It went so well that the Make-A-Wish team left before all of the kids and families did, because of how well it was going.

A poignant reminder of the amazing impact that auto can have on life's defining moments.

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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Episode #1069: Trump eyes higher auto tariffs and axes California’s EV rules, Google quietly gains ground with Gen Z shoppers, and an AI-generated NBA Finals ad shows how fast, cheap, and creative the future of advertising can be.

Show Notes with links:

• In a high-energy speech, President Trump proposed raising auto tariffs and celebrated a legislative rollback of California’s EV mandates — a double-down on his strategy to protect domestic auto manufacturing and consumer choice.
  • Trump suggested raising auto tariffs above the current 25% level to encourage automakers to produce more vehicles domestically.
  • He pointed to GM’s $4 billion investment in U.S. plants as a positive result of existing tariff policies.
  • The President signed legislation last week that rolls back California’s zero-emissions vehicle mandate, which would have banned new gas car sales by 2035.
  • Dealer and manufacturer groups applauded the repeal, arguing it protects affordability and nationwide regulatory consistency.
  • “Customers don’t want the government telling them what kind of car to buy,” said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
  • Eleven states, led by California, have filed a legal challenge against the repeal, calling it an overreach that undermines state-level emissions standards.

• Google is making gains with Gen Z shoppers, chipping away at Amazon’s dominance in product search. New data shows young consumers are increasingly turning to Google — not just for browsing, but even when they know exactly what they want to buy.
  • Morgan Stanley data shows a rise in 16–24-year-olds using Google for product research, both general and specific
  • As of March, 30% of Gen Z shoppers who knew what they wanted still started on Google — up from 21% last fall.
  • Meanwhile, Amazon’s share dropped from 41% to 34% over the same period.
  • Analysts suggest Google's generative AI tools, like AI Overviews and Google Lens, may be fueling the shift.
  • “The volume of commercial queries on Google Search has increased with the launch of AI Overviews,” said Google’s Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler.

• An AI-generated ad made in just two days aired during the NBA Finals, showing how creators can now move faster and cheaper than ever before. Using Google's Veo 3 and a lean workflow, one filmmaker delivered a national commercial at a fraction of traditional production costs.
  • AI filmmaker PJ Accetturo produced a 30-second TV spot for betting platform Kalshi in just two days using Veo 3 and Gemini.
  • His process involved AI-assisted scripting, iterative prompt generation, and rapid video output, yielding 15 usable clips from 300–400 generations.
  • The entire production cost came in at roughly $2,000 — a 95% reduction from traditional ad budgets.
  • Editing was done with tools like CapCut and Premiere, allowing f

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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Episode #1068: Congress considers sweeping reforms to EV and emissions incentives, while Toyota tightens its corporate family ties with a bold $33B buyout—cementing Akio Toyoda's hold at the top. Plus, Lowe’s gets into the creator game with Mr. Beast and other social stars.

Show Notes with links:

• Congress is fast-tracking a comprehensive budget bill before a self-imposed July 4 deadline, with proposed changes to fuel economy standards, EV tax credits, and even regulations on artificial intelligence.
  • The Senate Commerce Committee proposes eliminating fines for automakers that fail to meet CAFE fuel economy standards.
  • The House version of the bill would terminate the $7,500 new EV credit and other clean vehicle benefits by the end of 2025.
  • A new tax deduction for up to $10K in auto loan interest could be introduced, applying only to U.S.-assembled vehicles and excluding commercial fleets.
  • Proposed limits on AI regulation would block state enforcement for a decade, with critics warning this could endanger public oversight and safety.

• Toyota shareholders have re-elected Akio Toyoda as chairman, reinforcing support for the automaker’s leadership even as a proposed $33 billion buyout of Toyota Industries—its original parent company—faces backlash from global investors.
  • Toyota Industries, founded in 1926, originally birthed Toyota Motor Company and now focuses on manufacturing forklifts and key automotive components.
  • Toyota Motor plans to fully acquire Toyota Industries in a ¥4.7 trillion deal that includes Akio Toyoda investing ¥1 billion of personal funds.
  • Toyoda, the founder’s grandson, was not opposed as chairman by proxy advisers this year for the first time since 2021.
  • He is estimated to receive at least 96% of the vote—up from last year's 72%, his lowest ever.
  • “There are many ways to achieve growth, but unity under shared values has always been Toyota’s strength,” Toyoda said earlier this year

• Lowe’s is breaking out of the hardware aisle and into the influencer economy with its new Creator Network, headlined by none other than YouTube megastar MrBeast.
  • The network kicked off with over 17,000 beta participants and includes big names like DadSocial and Chris Loves Julia.
  • Creators can earn commissions, access training, and build custom storefronts linking directly to Lowes.com.
  • MrBeast will showcase his favorite tools and DIY picks via a curated storefront featuring obstacle course kits and backyard builds.
  • Lowe’s red vests are also helping construct “BeastCity” for season two of MrBeast’s Beast Games on Amazon Prime.
  • “We wanted to go even bigger and over-the-top... and we found the perfect partner to help us achieve that goal,” said Jeff Housenbold, CEO of MrBeast’s brand team.

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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Episode #1067: We’re covering how President Trump announced that China will provide rare earth minerals in a new trade deal. Plus Tesla’s push toward a robotaxi launch in Austin and what it means for the future of autonomy and Apple brings a major refresh to CarPlay in iOS26.

• President Trump just announced the deal is “done” regarding a sweeping trade agreement that positions China as the upfront supplier of rare earths to the U.S.—a major shift with big implications for auto and defense manufacturing.
  • Trump says China will supply magnets and rare earths “up front” under a trade deal.
  • U.S. to grant concessions like college access to Chinese students.
  • The deal still requires final sign-off by Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
  • Tensions had escalated after China restricted exports critical to auto and defense.
  • “WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%,” Trump wrote on Truth Social

• Tesla’s long-awaited robotaxi service is almost here. Elon Musk says it could officially launch in Austin on June 22—with an emphasis on “tentatively.” It’s a make-or-break moment for Tesla’s autonomous ambitions.
  • Tesla is testing unmodified Model Ys with a new FSD system that has ~4x more parameters than the current version.
  • The service will launch in a geo-fenced area of Austin with a small internal fleet supported by human teleoperators.
  • A trailing car with a safety driver has been spotted following the autonomous vehicles during testing.
  • The company just started truly driverless tests in late May—weeks ahead of the projected launch.
  • "The vast majority of valuation upside looking ahead for Tesla is centered around the success of its autonomous vision," said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.
• Apple is rolling out iOS26 with its biggest CarPlay update in years, bringing a sleek new look and features that aim to put your car’s native OS to shame.
  • CarPlay gets a new “Liquid Glass” design with glossy, semi-transparent icons and tabs.
  • Widgets come to the homepage, allowing real-time views of calendars, smart home tools, and weather.
  • Messaging gets streamlined with voice-activated emojis (Tapbacks) and pinned conversations for quicker access.
  • Incoming calls now appear in a compact banner, no longer hijacking your entire display during navigation.
  • Live Activities—real-time countdowns and status updates—are now embedded in CarPlay for things like food orders or airport pickups.

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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Episode #1066: Today we’re looking at the May economic data from Cox Automotive, how Lucid is reducing its dependence on foreign battery materials and how Meta has increased its ad revenue without increasing volume through targeting.

Show Notes with links:

• May's economic and automotive data show a market adjusting to tighter consumer budgets and lingering workforce shifts. Retail remains steady, but pricing sensitivity is driving realignment in both new and used inventory strategies.
  • Employers added 139K jobs in May, topping forecasts, but downward revisions led to a net 95K job loss.
  • Auto dealer employment rose by 2,100 jobs, though it's still 1.1% below pre-COVID levels.
  • New-vehicle SAAR dropped to 15.6M in May, down from 17.8M in April. Retail SAAR outpaced last year’s.
  • Incentives averaged $3,297—the highest discounting level in five years, and the average price paid dropped to 95.7% of MSRP.
  • Used-vehicle sales dipped 3% month-over-month, but are up 4% year-over-year
    
    
    
• With all the buzz around China’s dominance of EV battery raw materials, Lucid surprised us with a plan to source all of its materials domestically.
  • Lucid’s agreement with Graphite One kicks off natural graphite production in 2028 from Alaska’s Graphite Creek site.
  • They’ve layered this with a 2024 synthetic graphite deal and a 2026 supply agreement with Syrah Resources in Louisiana.
  • All three deals align with IRA requirements, boosting eligibility for EV tax credits and reducing reliance on China, which supplies 90%+ of the world’s anode materials.
  • Graphite One’s Ohio facility will produce enough anode material for up to 2 million EVs per year.
  • Lucid’s Interim CEO said the U.S.-focused strategy “supports our efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of our vehicles.”

• Meta might be all-in on Gen Z vibes, but it’s the boomers and Gen Xers footing the bill. A new Barclays report reveals that older Facebook users see far more ads—because they’re the ones clicking.
  • Facebook shows more ads to users aged 45+ due to higher purchasing power.
  • Those aged 45-54 see the highest ad load at 22%; teens only see 4.3%.
  • Dynamic ad tech like Andromeda and Lattice tailors volume by user value.
  • 97% of Meta’s revenue comes from ads.
  • Meta has actually increased ad revenue without upping total ad volume by targeting high-value users—a shift analysts call “arguably the most bullish development.”

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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Episode #1065: Today we’re breaking down Rivian’s big win with VW, a wild scene in LA as Waymo vehicles go up in flames, and how back-to-school shopping is creeping into summer.

Show Notes with links:

• The tech partnership between EV upstart Rivian and legacy automaker Volkswagen just took a major leap forward. Rivian’s upcoming R2 SUV platform won’t just support Rivian’s own vehicles—it’s about to become the backbone of every new EV under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.
  • All VW brands—Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Scout, Skoda, Seat—will share the R2 tech stack.
  • VW’s ID Every1 will be the first to launch using Rivian’s off-the-shelf zonal architecture.
  • The partnership helps VW replace its troubled Cariad software division with a proven modular platform.
  • Rivian’s Chief Software Officer confirmed all VW EVs will use the same scalable architecture, calling it “the digital brain” of the portfolio.
  • Each brand keeps its unique identity via custom UI, tuning, and features, but the tech core is unified.

• At least five Waymo self-driving I-Pace EVs were destroyed during violent protests in Los Angeles over the weekend—representing a possible 5% loss of its local fleet.
  • The unrest followed ICE raids and escalated into clashes with police and vandalism.
  • Rioters reportedly summoned Waymo vehicles, slashed tires, smashed windows, and set them on fire.
  • Fire crews couldn’t access the scene in time, and the vehicles burned completely.
  • Waymo operates about 100 cars in LA and over 1,500 nationwide.
  • Waymo has suspended service in the area, saying, “We will not be serving any rides in the protest area until it is deemed safe,”

• Back-to-school deals have crept into early summer, with brands and retailers scrambling to catch up to shifting consumer habits—and to tariff-driven inventory pressures.
  • Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Wayfair kicked off fall prep as early as Memorial Day.
  • Prime Day in the middle of July now marks the unofficial start of the back-to-school shopping season.
  • This year’s shoppers are favoring essentials and budget-friendly items over big-ticket dorm splurges
  • “Consumers are looking for the best discount, the best sale, the best value...” — Kassi Socha of Gartner

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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