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Today we’re talking about political fireworks as Trump and Musk’s bromance blows up, Ram’s surprising V8 comeback after admitting they “screwed up,” and Samsung phones getting a dose of AI-powered fashion ads, right on your lock screen.

• A once-powerful political-tech alliance is in tatters as Elon Musk and Donald Trump clash in a very public, very messy breakup. From social media jabs to threats of canceled contracts, the drama is shaking up D.C., Wall Street, and possibly the International Space Station.
  • Trump and Musk traded barbs online after Musk denounced Trump’s spending bill and left his government role.
  • Tesla stock nosedived over 14%, losing $150 billion in value—the worst single-day drop in the company's history.
  • Musk hinted at decommissioning SpaceX’s Dragon over subsidy threats, but later pulled back.
  • The White House gave mixed signals on whether a reconciliation call would happen between the two.
  • “Without me, Trump would have lost the election,” Musk posted on X.

• The V8 is back! Ram is reversing course on its engine strategy, bringing the 5.7-liter Hemi back to the 2026 Ram 1500. After a bumpy ride with their all-six-cylinder lineup, they’re owning the misstep—and listening to the roar of the customer base.
  • Ram reintroduces the 5.7L Hemi V8 for 2026 models, available as a $1,200 option on most trims.
  • CEO Tim Kuniskis admits dropping the Hemi was a mistake: “We own it and we fixed it.”
  • A special “Symbol of Protest” badge will adorn V8-equipped trucks.
  • The reintroduction was fast-tracked by an internal team, cutting development from 18 months to six.
  • “Make it exactly the way it was,” Kuniskis said, streamlining the return by skipping recertifications.
• Samsung Galaxy users are about to get an unexpected addition to their phones—a generative AI-powered shopping app from Glance AI that brings fashion suggestions straight to the lock screen. Whether you asked for it or not, it’s coming... with a side of dystopia.
  • Glance AI is partnering with Samsung to roll out a lock screen shopping platform to U.S. Galaxy phones.
  • The feature uses gen AI and selfies to visualize outfits you can buy, right from your lock screen.
  • It's opt-in for now, but the rollout begins today for Galaxy S22–S25 models.
  • While ads aren’t yet part of the U.S. version, Glance’s history in India suggests that could change.
  • “I will absolutely throw my phone into the sea the first time I see an ad on my lock screen,” wrote reviewer Allison Johnson.

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 #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/

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Episode #1059: Today we’re talking about the strength of dealership valuations despite sluggish buy-sells, Waymo's exponential takeover of the robotaxi race, and why your old boss might be your next one.

Show Notes with links:

• The Q1 2025 Haig Partners Report says that despite solid performance metrics, dealership buy-sells dropped to the lowest first-quarter level in a decade, reflecting uncertainty in a year shaped by economic and political headwinds.
  • Only 68 rooftops were sold, as public groups largely sat out; a sharp contrast to recent high-activity periods.
  • Public dealers averaged $1M in Q1 pre-tax profits, with trailing 12-months at $3.9M—nearly double pre-pandemic levels.
  • Blue sky values held firm at $20.7M, down just 1% from Q4 2024 and still nearly double pre-2020 benchmarks.
  • Tariff concerns, election-year volatility, and OEM pricing strategies have many sellers in a wait-and-see mode.
  • “These are often short-term fluctuations in what is ultimately a long-term business,” the report notes.

• What started as a quiet experiment has exploded into a transportation revolution. Waymo’s self-driving service is scaling at a staggering pace, reshaping rider habits and leaving competitors scrambling to catch up.
  • The ride-hailing company passed 10 million cumulative rides, with 20 million projected by year’s end. Weekly rides jumped from 10K in 2023 to over 250K by mid-2025.
  • March alone saw a 27% spike in San Francisco usage—a major behavioral shift.
  • Expansion continues in Phoenix, LA, SF, and Austin; plus, Waymo is mapping 10+ new cities including Tokyo.
  • Tesla is set to launch its own robotaxi service, using a camera-only, AI-first approach—far cheaper but less tested than Waymo’s sensor-heavy, safety-first model.
  • “This isn’t science fiction. It’s not the future. It’s happening now,” said Co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana.

• As economic uncertainty lingers, both workers and employers are turning to familiarity. The share of new hires who are former employees—aka boomerang workers—is climbing again, especially in tech and media.
  • March data shows that 35% of hires were returning employees, particularly in the information sector.
  • Employers value boomerangs for cultural fit, performance history, and quick onboarding.
  • Job seekers face longer searches and more layoffs—making old employers more appealing.
  • Experts say your exit matters—managers increasingly view resignations as a potential pause, not a goodbye.
  • “You want to get the best bang for your buck, and often it’s a returning employee,” said ADP Chief Economist Nela Richardson

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 1058: It's the last day of the month and today Kyle is joined by Head Writer Chris Reeves to talk about how Baxter Subaru of Omaha, Nebraska reduced its trash output from 96 yards a week to 8. They’re now recycling over 90% of their waste.

It started with a full-blown trash audit (sounds gross but was actually genius), followed by smart signage, training videos, peer accountability, and leadership that wasn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and sort through the junk themselves.

Thanks to Mandy Wood for sharing that story with us!

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 #1057: Nissan eyes a fire sale to survive, Trump’s tariff plan hits legal trouble, and GM claims Canada’s EV crown from Tesla—at least for now.

Show Notes with links:

• As CEO Ivan Espinosa wraps up his first quarter in charge, Nissan’s financial stability hangs in the balance, with a massive debt wall looming and rumors of a fire sale to raise cash.
  • Nissan has $5.12 billion in debt due in 2026 and plans to refinance up to $4.15 billion of that.
  • Espinosa’s turnaround strategy involves slashing 20,000 jobs, closing seven global factories, and cutting $3.46 billion in costs by 2028.
  • To free up capital, Nissan may liquidate high-value assets—including its stake in Renault, prime real estate in Japan, and even its iconic Yokohama headquarters, which could be sold and leased back.
  • With nearly half of its U.S. sales coming from imports, Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier is leading a $2B cost-cutting push focused on boosting retail sales, margins, and managing tariff risk.
  • “We are not yet at the stage where we have to do something desperate,” said a board source.

• A federal court ruled Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs was illegal—but for now, those tariffs remain while the legal battle unfolds.
  • The U.S. Court of International Trade said Trump exceeded authority under the IEEPA, targeting tariffs not tied to a valid national emergency.
  • IEEPA-based tariffs targeted a wide range of imported consumer goods not tied to national security—covering electronics, clothing, and some vehicle accessories.
  • The ruling gave the government 10 days to unwind the tariffs, but an appeals court temporarily paused that order.
  • Tariffs under Section 232—covering cars, parts, steel, and aluminum—remain, keeping vehicle prices elevated.
  • Retailers like Walmart warn prices may rise further, though Trump has publicly told them to “eat the tariffs.”

• GM claimed the top EV spot in Canada after more than doubling its electric vehicle sales in Q1, driven by fresh model launches and Tesla’s sharp drop.
  • GM sold 5,750 EVs in Q1, led by the Chevy Equinox EV and new Cadillac OPTIQ, outpacing Tesla’s volume.
  • Silverado EV and Hummer EV variants also contributed, with Hummer Pickup sales up 232%.
  • Tesla’s registrations in Quebec plunged 87%, impacted by paused EV rebates at both federal and provincial levels.
  • Despite year-over-year gains, GM’s Q1 total is well off the 15,000 units sold in Q4 2024.

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 #1056: Today we’re talking about Elon Musk’s dramatic exit from government, the rising appeal of extended-range EVs as a hybrid-EV mashup, and how Amazon wants to talk you into your next purchase—literally—with AI-generated audio highlights.

Show Notes with links:

• Elon Musk has exited his role as a special government employee under the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), after a controversial 130-day crusade to slash federal spending.
  • Musk's off-boarding began suddenly, without a direct talk with Trump.
  • His DOGE plan aimed to cut $2 trillion but claimed only $175B in savings—an unverifiable figure.
  • He aggressively targeted federal telework policies and agency redundancies, prompting both voluntary exits and court challenges.
  • Clashes with cabinet members and critiques of Trump’s tax plan sped his exit.
  • Musk, reflecting on the challenge: “The federal bureaucracy situation is much worse than I realized.”

• With hybrids on the rise and EV momentum cooling, automakers are revisiting a once-overlooked technology: the extended-range electric vehicle (EREV). Acting like an EV with backup, EREVs offer consumers a new kind of compromise.
  • EREVs run on electric motors exclusively; the gas engine charges the battery, not the wheels.
  • Sales in China are up, and new models are coming stateside from Ram, Nissan, Ford, and Scout.
  • Ram’s 2025 Ramcharger boasts 145 miles of electric range and a total of 690 with the gas engine.
  • ZF and other suppliers are betting big on smaller, smarter range-extender systems launching globally.
  • “EREVs...provide the benefits of an EV with the flexibility of a hybrid, at a relatively lower cost,” said AlixPartners’ Dan Hearsch.

• Amazon is rolling out a new AI-powered audio feature designed to make product research less of a chore. “Hear the highlights” offers short audio summaries of key product info—ideal for the multitasking shopper.
  • The feature pulls from product pages, reviews, and web data to generate brief, conversational scripts that are read by AI
  • It’s currently being tested on select products like a Ninja Blender and Keurig coffee maker.
  • Amazon VP Rajiv Mehta says it’s “like having helpful friends” talk through your shopping choices.
  • It may soon integrate with Alexa+, Amazon’s upgraded AI voice assistant, to power hands-free buying.
  • CEO Andy Jassy revealed Amazon is developing 1,000+ generative AI tools, calling AI the “reinvention” of customer experience.

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/