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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
1262 Episodes
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Shoot us a Text. We're at the North Hall of the NADA Show today, getting ready for another amazing day. An underlying theme of all our conversations has been the "Year of the Human." Even though AI is a big theme, dealers are asking, "How does this help my people?" We love that because of our belief in the motto of Love People More Than You Love Cars, and today we had on Jeremy Rowland to talk more about it. Thank you to our friends at Mia for making all of the content possible. Join Paul ...
Shoot us a Text. We've been on the show floor all day, and so this afternoon, we stopped by our friends at Cars Commerce to catch up with the one and only Brian Kramer. As a former dealer himself, Brian has great insights to the market and how its moving. His latest interest: AI Search, and he unpacks how the trust level in AI search is increasing, and how their tool Carson on Cars.com is an example of that. Thanks to Cars Commerce for making all of our content today possible. Join Paul J D...
Shoot us a Text. The More Than Cars team is on the ground ready to run hard during the NADA Show. Today, we’ll be at the JD Power Auto Summit grabbing interviews and writing up all the sessions. Follow More Than Cars, Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, Michael Cirillo for more great NADA Show Content. 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 sh...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1259: As the automotive world heads to Las Vegas, Paul sits down with outgoing NADA Chairman Tom Castriota for a candid conversation on a whirlwind year of leadership. As dealers head to Las Vegas, Paul sits down with outgoing NADA Chairman Tom Castriota for a true Automotive State of the Union. From Washington wins to AI realities and dealer trust, Castriota reflects on a fast-moving year and what lies ahead.Castriota recaps a landmark year of dealer advocacy, inc...
Shoot us a Text. On this Saturday before NADA, Chris and Nathan join Kyle to talk about a recent car crash where a dealership jumped into action. When three-vehicle crash with a rollover happened directly outside the dealership, putting lives at immediate risk, team members from the Bob Ross Group Mercedes-Benz of Centerville jumped into action, checking on every driver and helping lift a trapped driver from an overturned van. Employees stayed on scene, ensuring all involved were safe and acc...
Shoot us a Text. 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 nearly one in 10 new-car sales. Fueled by competitive EVs and hybrids, strong battery tech, and rapid expansion, Chinese brands are moving from disruptors to serious incumbents across the continent.Chinese brands claimed 9.5% of Europe’s total car market in Dec...
Shoot us a Text. 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 on the drip. Show Notes with links: Tesla is officially sunsetting the Model S sedan and Model X crossover to make room for its future: humanoid robots made in a Fremont, TX factory. CEO Elon Musk says the move reflects Tesla...
Shoot us a Text. 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. Only two automakers — Toyota and Cadillac — are confirmed for Super Bowl 2026, as most brands step away from the pricey event. Facing budget pressure and chasing efficiency, car companies are shifting spend to longer campaigns across ...
Shoot us a Text. 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 card General Motors closed 2025 with a wider quarterly loss after taking billions in EV and China-related charges. But underneath the headline number, core profits held up, cash flowed in North America, and GM is signaling confidence that 2026 will be stronger.GM reporte...
Shoot us a Text. 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-car sales slowing, aging vehicles and a technician shortage are putting service departments squarely in the profit hot seat. Dealers are leaning into mobile service, tech, and creative staffing strategies to protect margins and make every service lane in...
Shoot us a Text. 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 employee donations and backing causes close to home: mental health support, autism services, and animal rescue. Read the full story here: https://daily.asotu.com/p/canada-opens-the-door-to-china-evs Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every...
Shoot us a Text. 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 Austin with no safety driver onboard, marking a meaningful inflection point for self-driving technology and accelerating conversations dealers can no longer ignore. Plus we dig into liability, ownership, and what happens when cars start driving themselve...
Shoot us a Text. 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 where driving software sets the rate. A group of Colorado VW, Audi, and Porsche dealers is suing the state after regulators approved a direct-sales dealer license for Scout Motors. Dealers argue the decision misreads state law and opens t...
Shoot us a Text. 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 hitting close to home for the auto industry. In a wide-ranging interview with Automotive News, Chevrolet dealer council leader Andy Guelcher explains why affordability—not EV tech—is the industry’s biggest hurdle heading into 2026, a...
Shoot us a Text. 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. Show Notes with links: Dealer sentiment isn’t what it was in Q3 as affordability pressures, rising rates, and tighter margins took their toll on the Q4 numbers. While conditions remain technically “favorable,” confidence sli...
Shoot us a Text. 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. Show Notes with links: In a surprise move, Canada struck a deal with China to allow 49,000 Chinese-made EVs into the country annually at a dramatically lower tariff—down from 106% to just 6.1%—in exchange for agricultural trade concessions...
Shoot us a Text. 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 that when a community shows up, the impact goes far beyond the driveway. 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, emergi...
Shoot us a Text. 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 Notes with links: Honda is officially going all-in on its new, wider “H” badge. What started as an EV-only identifier will now represent Honda’s entire automotive business—from gas and hybrid vehicles to dealerships and motorsports—blending retro roots ...
Shoot us a Text. 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. Show Notes with links: The Dealertrack Credit Availability Index closed out December at 99.6—its highest reading of 2025 and the strongest level since October 2022. It marks a continued return to pre-pandemic credit conditions, capping off a yearlong trend of eas...
Shoot us a Text. 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: President Donald Trump made a high-profile visit to Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, touring the F-150 line with company leadership, previewing a patriotic new pickup, and filming a CBS interview on the factory floor.Trump was guided by CEO Jim Farley an...
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