Automotive State of The Union

Shoot us a Text. We’re warming up Wednesday as we talk about VW’s move to bring back physical buttons. We also talk about Buick’s buyout offers to Dealers nationwide, as well as a tiny little Cybertruck that you won’t get in time for Christmas. Show No...

Shoot us a Text. We’re busy putting up our Christmas tree as we’re talking about the end of year push by the UAW and Tesla. We also talk about the first EV ever to go from the North to South Pole, as well as a ChatBot giving cars away on a Dealer site....

Shoot us a Text. It’s officially Christmas Week and we’re ramping up the holiday spirit as we talk about some of the the ways that big ideas have made their way to the top of the charts. This includes a major acquisition, a feature on our friends at Au...

Shoot us a Text. Writers Chris Reeves and Kristi Canada join the show to tell about how 6 dealerships in the heart of Minnesota came together to donate 12 cars loaded with presents and essentials to single moms in their community. If you have a story o...

Shoot us a Text. It’s Friday and we’re ready to toe the line with Retail Auto as we talk about GM layoffs, Carvana’s expansion of its same-day services, and one UPS driver who shares his paycheck and sparks some second thoughts from commenters. General...

Shoot us a Text. It’s a beautiful December Thursday to be in the car biz. Today we’re talking about a big Tesla recall, the ebb and flow of dealership valuations and how GM continues to stand behind its decision to remove Carplay from vehicles. Tesla i...

Shoot us a Text. Welcome to Wednesday as we talk about the big finalization of new FTC rules that has NADA CEO Mike Stanton not mincing words. We also talk about a big stock purchase of Ford by one of their employees, as well as a Christmas rescue of a...

Shoot us a Text. It’s Tuesday and today we’re talking about Ford's reduced F-150 Lightning production and dealers' struggles with slow EV sales. We also take a look at a recent study on the popularity and usage habits of social media platforms among U....

Shoot us a Text. It’s a beautiful new week as we delve into the U.S. auto market's resilience amidst pricing pressures. We also talk about the stabilization of wholesale vehicle prices, and German rental car company Sixt's strategic shift away from Tes...

Shoot us a Text. Writers Chris Reeves and Kristi Canada tell us how Ally Pinion of Chastang Ford wrote in to share with us their story of supporting the University of Houston through a new NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal. Have a story of dealers impac...

Shoot us a Text. It’s Friday! As we close out the week, we’re covering a push by VW workers to join the UAW, how dealers are choosing pessimism, and the buzz about peach fuzz. Show Notes with links:Crossing a notable benchmark, the UAW has crossed the ...

Shoot us a Text. Thursday is upon us as company Christmas parties seem to be in full swing across the country! Today we look into a surprising new development in the profitability of Stellantis’ EV unit, GM bringing employees back to the office, and Te...

Shoot us a Text. Welcome to Wednesday as we talk about a big eclectic partnership, a little electric car, and an alliance that attempts to keep AI safe. Show Notes with links: Two major OEMs are both partnering to expand their charging networks across ...

Shoot us a Text. Tuesday is for inviting Michael Cirillo to the pod! We are covering a counter-narrative to the EV decline rhetoric, Alex Vetter getting cheeky on X, and crypto currencies experiencing a surge. Show Notes with links: BloombergNEF's late...

Shoot us a Text. It’s a new week, meaning new opportunities in the retail auto industry. Today we’re covering why EVs cost more to repair than ICE vehicles, Northwood University’s new Master’s Degree, and McDonald’s new restaurant spinoff. Electric veh...

Shoot us a Text. It's December! Which means different weather patterns for different parts of the US, and also means that we get to talk about how dealers are giving gifts to kids. Writers Chris Reeves and Kristi Canada join the show to share how Carte...

Shoot us a Text. It’s officially the last month of 2023 and we’re reviewing yesterday’s much anticipated launch of the Cybertruck and interviewing the dealer behind a letter to the President. Show Notes with links: Tesla's long-awaited Cybertruck is fi...

Shoot us a Text. Welcome to Thursday as we say farewell to November. Today we talk about Shawn Fain’s return to the headlines as well as a letter that was signed by 4000 dealers and sent to the President. We also pay our respects to a legend. He’s baaa...

Shoot us a Text. Welcome to episode 600 of the Automotive Troublemaker. Today we dive into how GM seems to be fine after the UAW strike, how dealership values are staying strong, and how Wegmans is trying to change the way we shop for groceries. Genera...

Shoot us a Text. Today we dive into the big discounts making EVs more affordable than ever. We also talk about New Jersey's move to ban gasoline cars by 2035, as well as the options and soon-to-be real future of digital car keys. Amid increasing US pro...

Shoot us a Text. Retail Auto is ready to roll after a great Thanksgiving weekend as we talk about the very tight race for the electric future between two titans. We also cover two notable releases from Tesla this week, as well as a review of a very bus...

Shoot us a Text. It’s Black Friday and the Gap might be back. We also caught up with married Dealers Michael and Jennifer Lee of Freedom Kia and Seneca Ford who talk about buying a first time dealership DURING the pandemic. We also talk about the impac...

Shoot us a Text. On this Thanksgiving Day, we are thankful for YOU! Dealers across the country are gifting turkeys during November, Kyle gets mad at Paul for playing Christmas music, and Jordan joins the pod as we discuss the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Pa...

Shoot us a Text. On the homestretch to Thanksgiving, we’re concluding a rollercoaster week at OpenAI with Sam Altman's surprising reinstatement. We’re also talking about Ford's strategic downscaling of its Michigan EV battery plant, and Ford discontinu...

Shoot us a Text. As we close in on Thanksgiving, Ford Dealers are extra thankful as Ford's EV dealer program changes. We also talk about Toyota's $60 million penalty for poor lending practices, as well as a viral story of a Stanley tumbler surviving a ...