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Episode #1158: EV sales spiked before the tax credit expired, but a slowdown looms. J.D. Power names the brands best at keeping loyal customers. And Apple quietly tests a Siri revamp while leaning on Google to stay in the AI race.

Show Notes with links:

• U.S. auto sales stayed stronger than expected this summer, but analysts now warn the industry may face a softer fourth quarter as affordability challenges and waning incentives take hold.
  • September SAAR reached 16.2M, boosted by a surge in EV purchases before the $7,500 credit expired.
  • EVs made up over 12% of September retail sales, with Q3 EV share hitting a record 10%.
  • GM, Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai continue to grow share, while Stellantis is on its ninth straight quarterly decline.
  • Analysts expect full-year sales of 16.1M, slightly above 2024 but below the current pace.
  • “The federal tax credit was a key catalyst for EV adoption, and its expiration marks a pivotal moment,” said Cox’s Stephanie Valdez Streaty.

• Despite tariffs rattling the market, brand loyalty is holding strong for trusted automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Ford. J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty Study shows loyalty dipped slightly below 50% overall, but top brands are still keeping customers in the family.
  • Average brand loyalty across all nameplates is 49%, down from 51% last year.
  • Toyota leads mass market cars at 62%, with Honda close behind.
  • Honda tops mass market SUVs at 62%, just ahead of Subaru.
  • Ford trucks earn the highest loyalty in the entire study at 66.6%.
  • Tyson Jominy of J.D. Power ““Brand loyalty matters to vehicle buyers because it’s often associated with higher residual values, making vehicles from trusted brands a more financially sound choice over time.””

• Apple is testing a new internal chatbot, Veritas, to speed up Siri’s long-delayed AI overhaul. While employees are using it to prototype smarter features, Apple looks increasingly likely to lean on Google’s Gemini for consumer-facing AI.
  • Veritas is being used to test Siri upgrades like searching personal data and editing photos.
  • The tool functions like ChatGPT or Gemini, with conversational history and deeper follow-ups.
  • Apple has delayed its Siri revamp multiple times, with Apple Intelligence drawing lukewarm reviews.
  • For now, Veritas will remain internal — a move Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman calls a mistake.
  • Apple may outsource search AI to Google, signaling it’s behind in the race to integrate AI.

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
1:30 The More Than Cars Launch on October 1 - morethancars.com
4:59 September Retail Auto Sales Strong
7:54 JD Power Brand Loyalty Sur

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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