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Episode #1062: In a first on this show, Paul does a live food review of Buddy’s Pizza, provided by Steve Greenfield. Plus, we talk about how Amazon is preparing to have humanoid robots jump into the last mile of package delivery.

Show Notes with links:

• A little over a week ago, Steve Greenfield was shocked to learn that Paul had never had a Detroit-style pizza. What followed on social media was a hotly debated post by Steve where the comments raged about which Detroit-style pizza was best. In the end, Buddy’s won.
  • True to his word, Steve sent Paul a pizza from Buddy’s so he could eat his first bite live while he and Kyle wish they were eating pizza too. Will Paul like it?
    
    
    

• Amazon is set to launch real-world tests of humanoid robots that could one day walk your packages from electric vans to your doorstep. It's a next-level experiment blending robotics, AI, and EV logistics.
  • A new report says that “Amazon hopes humanoid robots will be able to hitch a ride in the back of Amazon’s electric Rivian vans and spring out to deliver packages.”
  • Over 20,000 Rivian vans are in service; Amazon aims for 100,000 by 2030.
  • A “humanoid park” at Amazon’s San Francisco office simulates real-world delivery scenarios.
  • Robots from companies like Unitree are included, with Amazon developing proprietary software using DeepSeek-VL2 and Alibaba’s Qwen.

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 #1061: China’s rare earth restrictions are causing real pain for Europe’s automakers, Costco’s gas game and checkout tech are stepping up, and American shoppers are oddly calm about rising tariffs—at least for now.

Show Notes with links:

• China's tightened grip on rare earth exports is starting to squeeze Europe’s auto manufacturing sector. With critical materials stuck in red tape and only a quarter of export licenses approved, major OEMs and suppliers are bracing for broader production halts in the coming weeks.
  • CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, says hundreds of export license requests were submitted, but only 25% approved since April.
  • Parts plant shutdowns are already affecting suppliers to VW, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Bosch.
  • The slowdown stems from China’s April decision to suspend exports of rare earths and magnets amid a trade standoff with the U.S.
  • Delays in customs clearance and license processing are compounding the issue, say VDA (the German Automotive Industry Association) and CLEPA.
  • China may ease restrictions for certain European semiconductor firms, but auto remains at risk.
  • “Production delays and even production outages can no longer be ruled out,” said VDA President Hildegard Mueller.

• America’s third-largest retailer is leaning into its members-first model. Costco is expanding hours at gas stations, testing scan-and-go checkout tech, and adding flexible payment options to stay competitive in a tightening retail race.
  • Gas stations now open nationwide until 10 p.m., with select sites opening earlier too.
  • CEO Rob Vachris says the goal is to drive more foot—and fuel—traffic by boosting convenience.
  • Gas accounted for 12% of Costco's total sales in 2024, thanks to exclusive member access and competitive prices.
  • “Scan & Pay” via smartphone is being piloted to streamline checkout, competing with Sam’s Club's tech-forward edge.
  • Costco has also teamed with Affirm for monthly payment plans as shoppers look beyond credit cards.

• A new survey by Modern Retail highlights that while many Americans are concerned about rising costs and tariffs, their spending behavior has yet to shift significantly.
  • 76% of surveyed consumers said they were familiar with recent tariffs; over half believe tariffs increase prices for everyday goods.
  • Despite that concern, 40% reported no notable changes in their purchasing habits.
  • A majority of respondents said they were either delaying planned purchases due to higher prices or had already bought items early to avoid anticipated tariff-related cost increases.
  • Electronics and clothing were identified as the most likely categories to see reduced spending.
  • Over half of respondents expressed optimism about their financial outlook for the next six months.

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 #1060: Steve Greenfield sounds the alarm on rising repair and insurance costs, Tesla loses its charger deal on the New Jersey Turnpike, and Meta doubles down on AI-generated advertising—even as trust from brands wavers.

Show Notes with links:

• Collision repair costs are skyrocketing and insurance premiums are following suit. At ASOTU CON, Steve Greenfield broke down the challenges facing OEMs and dealers as vehicles become more complex, harder to repair, and more expensive to insure, saying “this has me more worried than anything else right now.”

• Tesla is pulling its chargers from the New Jersey Turnpike after the state awarded an exclusive deal to another provider. The decision led Elon Musk to cry foul, but the change seems more about contracts and control than conspiracy.
  • Tesla built 64 Superchargers across 8 Turnpike stations under a 2020 agreement.
  • NJ Turnpike Authority chose not to renew, awarding exclusivity to Applegreen.
  • Tesla calls the move disappointing but says it has 116 alternative stalls ready nearby.
  • Elon Musk called the decision “corruption” despite providing no supporting evidence.
  • Applegreen will now supply EV charging at all 21 Turnpike service areas.

• Meta is leaning hard into artificial intelligence, announcing plans to let brands generate entire ad campaigns with AI by the end of next year. While the potential for automation is high, many advertisers are questioning the transparency and reliability of Meta’s growing ad-tech empire.
  • Meta will allow brands to create full ad campaigns from a single product image.
  • Meta’s AI will personalize ads in real time based on user location and environment—e.g., showing a sneaker on a city street for urban users and on a hiking trail for rural ones.
  • This dynamic rendering aims to increase relevance and engagement, particularly for smaller advertisers with limited creative budgets.
  • Advertising made up 97% of Meta’s revenue in 2024, with much of it being reinvested back into AI.
  • Ad executives remain skeptical, with one saying, “No clients will trust what they spit out.”

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.

Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/

JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/