Claim OwnershipAutomotive State of The Union
Subscribed: 16Played: 884
Subscribe
© 2026 ASOTU, Inc.
Description
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
1312 Episodes
Reverse
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1312: Lawmakers push to block Chinese EVs, TruVideo trains the next-gen tech to sell service with video, and stop-start tech may be on its way out as drivers—and regulators—hit the brakes. Three Democratic senators are urging President Trump to block Chinese automakers from building in the U.S. or importing via North America. With tariffs already high, the debate is shifting from competition to national security. Senator Tammi Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin, and Chuck Sch...
Shoot us a Text. Today, we've got a special interview with Bill Knight of Bill Knight Automotive, about how he's built a culture of giving back to the community, and particularly the special event they've hosted with their local Discovery Center to bring in junker cars that kids and their dads can take apart. 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 A...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1310: The market squeeze is real as affordability reshapes buying behavior across the board. Tesla feels the EV slowdown while Rivian pivots toward value, and new data shows Gen Z shoppers aren’t impulsive, just taking their time. As costs stack up across the ownership lifecycle, automakers are getting real about affordability and how it affects product strategy, pricing, and what actually moves on the lot. Subaru is leaning into efficiency and practicality as gas pr...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1309: The market cools after a hot start to 2025, the New York Auto Show brings fresh product and EV momentum into focus, and NASA launches humans back toward the moon for the first time in over 50 years. March brought the new car market back down to earth, as high prices, rising gas costs, and more cautious buyers cooled Q1 sales after last year’s unusually hot start. Q1 U.S. light-vehicle sales fell 4.3% YoY to 2.78 million units, with many major automakers pos...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1308: Live from the New York Auto Forum (brought to you by our friends at Force Marketing), we unpack the real conversations shaping the industry, and why sometimes a chat in a hallway is more impactful than anything said on stage (did someone say ASOTU CON?) Show Notes with links: Paul and Kyle break down the real conversations shaping Q2—EV transitions, AI, global competition—and why the most important moments aren’t on stage. Plus, Liza Borches shares how serv...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1307: Today we’re at the NY Auto Forum (thanks to our friends at Force Marketing) for a day of interviews and content with some of the industry’s finest. Plus, Chinese brands promise profits in Mexico but miss on execution, while GM bets big on trucks as the market softens. Show Notes with links: Chinese automakers are gaining traction globally but early dealer experiences in Mexico are flashing caution signs. While interest is high, profitability struggles and wea...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1306: A surge of off-lease EVs could bring billions in losses and create new opportunities for dealers. Meanwhile, battery breakthroughs are back in the spotlight, and Gen Z is reshaping how brands earn attention and loyalty. Show Notes with links: A flood of off-lease EVs is heading back to market, and they’re not worth what anyone thought. With resale values dropping fast, automakers and lenders are staring down billions in losses, and dealers are about to becom...
Shoot us a Text. Today, Head Writer Chris Reeves brings a story from our good friends at Carter Myers Automotive of how they do a weekly "Touch-A-Truck" event with the goal of showing kids that retail auto is an industry worth fighting to join. 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 i...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1304: The FTC gave NADA clarity on their recent warning letters, GM has significantly cut down on their technician shortage and Gen Alpha is flexing their spending power. The FTC gave NADA direct clarity on advertising expectations, and the agency drew a bright line: the price customers see first must be the real price they can actually pay. After the Federal Trade Commission sent warning letters to 97 dealerships on March 13, NADA reached out for clarification, ac...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1303: China’s price war is crushing dealers while a quirky Stellantis policy highlights a very different retail reality here at home. Plus, a new AI test reshapes how we define intelligence China’s brutal EV price war is crushing dealership profitability, with more than half now losing money. As automakers slash prices to compete, retailers are stuck selling cars at a loss just to keep up.56% of Chinese dealerships were unprofitable in 2025, up sharply from 42% t...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1302: BYD sprints into Canada with big retail plans amid tight EV quotas, Sony and Honda hit pause on Afeela as EV reality sets in, and FedEx jumps into the same-day delivery fight as Amazon raises the bar yet again. They’re here!!! Just months after Canada dramatically lowered tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, global EV giant BYD is targeting 20 branded dealerships in year one. BYD has hired Dealer Solutions Mergers & Acquisitions to help secure branded Canadian d...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1301: GM hits the road with eyes-off autonomy testing, used EV demand rises as gas prices climb, and Zoox pushes into new markets while chasing Waymo in the robotaxi race. GM is putting its next big autonomy bet on the road. Starting this week, the automaker will test its hands-free, eyes-off Level 3 system on public highways as it races toward a 2028 launch. GM is deploying 200 test vehicles on highways in California and Michigan, each with a safety driver ready to ...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1300: EV bargains are stacking up as gas prices climb, GM patents a daisy-chain charger that could end the wait-time headache, and the NRF says retail is growing in 2026 but the spending power is concentrated at the top. Gas price anxiety is driving a spike in EV and hybrid searches, according to Edmunds and the timing couldn't be better. With manufacturer incentives replacing the expired federal tax credit, dealers are stacking deals that are turning heads and movin...
Shoot us a Text. Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to talk about the monthly and weekly events that MileOne holds for their communities with car seat distributions and teen driver courses. 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 ...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1298: The Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO John Bozzella joins Paul and Kyle to discuss his automotive news op-ed that lays out the case for a recent Washington state piece of legislation that could pave the way for Chinese automakers to bypass the U.S. franchise system. In an Automotive News Op-Ed, John Bozzella argues that Washington state quietly handed EV-only manufacturers a direct-sales pass, and the Alliance for Automotive Innovation CEO says the real ...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1297: The EV world is getting hit from all sides — punishing fee proposals, $50 billion in industry write-downs, and a bold $1.25 billion Uber-Rivian robotaxi bet. A growing wave of state and federal EV fee proposals would charge electric vehicle owners two to three times what the average gas car driver pays in federal fuel tax. House Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves introduced a federal $200 annual EV fee — more than double the ~$95 average gas car drive...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1296: GM and LG retool for energy storage as EV demand cools, VinFast restarts its North Carolina factory with a fraction of the jobs promised, and Nvidia adds four major automakers to its autonomous driving platform. Show Notes with links: GM and LG are retooling their Tennessee Ultium Cells joint venture plant for energy storage batteries, and recalling 700 laid-off workers to make it happen. The facility was originally built to supply EV batteries, but slower-th...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1295: Automotive trade associations nationwide are rallying dealers around FTC advertising compliance and we're joined by Ted Smith of FLADA. Don Hall and the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association responded to Friday's FTC warning letters with a detailed compliance roadmap. Automotive trade associations across the country are stepping up to help dealers navigate what this means on the ground. From VADA’s compliance roadmap: The core rule is simple: the advertised...
Shoot us a Text. Episode #1294: The FTC puts 97 dealership groups on notice over deceptive advertising, a former car salesman is making $200K a month helping car buyers negotiate deals, and BYD is quietly building a path into North America The Federal Trade Commission is sending warning letters to 97 dealership groups over advertising practices the agency says may violate federal law. The FTC says transparent pricing is a priority and outlined six specific practices it considers illegal in ...
Shoot us a Text. Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle talk about how the Mitchell Automotive Group supported the Christian Mission Center ‘Stock the Pantry’ by offering free oil changes on Wednesday to anyone who brought in a bag of food donations. 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-...
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States
If you're looking for a trusted spot to fix your car issues, The Automotive Troublemake has your back! It’s great to know they can handle any trouble that comes their way. I also recommend checking out B and G Auto Sales for a smooth experience when buying or selling a car! check out: https://gobgautos.com/