Automotive State of The Union

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 Donal...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1242: Today we have a very special edition of The Automotive State of the Union. It’s All Things CES with Steve Greenfield. After walking many miles on the show floor, Steve will be sharing all the insights, surprises, and aut...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1241: CarMax leans on price cuts and marketing to spark sales, Toyota takes its iconic Hilux electric in Europe, and Walmart keeps scaling drone delivery as demand grows. CarMax is shifting back to fundamentals as sales and ea...

Shoot us a Text. Today, Paul Kyle, and Chris Reeves are together again after a bunch of guest hosts and holiday episodes. They argue over whose New Year's Eve was more boring and whether or not you should actually prepare for tornadoes. But most import...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1239: Ford earns top honors as America’s most iconic company, Stellantis drops every PHEV from its 2026 lineup, and McKinsey’s CEO reminds us there are still a few things humans do better than AI. A day of big shifts, bold mov...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1238: Ford is promising eyes-off driving by 2028. But back in the bays, finding top-tier techs is still a $160K challenge. OpenAI wants to be your new health co-pilot with ChatGPT Health. Show Notes with links: https://www.aut...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1237: Today we’re talking about BMW and Mercedes battling it out at CES with next-gen AI, a surprising sedan surge in the used market, and how ChatGPT is causing headaches for doctors and lawyers alike. Show Notes with links: ...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1236: We’re continuing our coverage of CES with headlines on Hyundai’s humanoid robot plans and Sony Honda’s SUV twist on the Afeela. Plus, a dramatic EV fire at a gas station is stopped cold by some simple, new tech. https://...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1235: Welcome to the first news show of the new year! CES puts autonomy and AI front and center as EV plans cool. Dealer sentiment improves—but trust gaps threaten CDJR and Nissan valuations. And despite years of doom-and-gloo...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1234: Kicking off 2026, Paul and Kyle welcome Damon Lester for a deeply personal conversation about burnout, mental health, and leadership in retail auto. Damon opens up about his own breaking point—and why hustle culture may ...

Shoot us a Text. Have insights into how 2025 went or how 2026 is shaping up? Let us know by sending an email to crew@asotu.com and maybe we'll respond on this show! Episode #1233: Happy New Year! Today we’re celebrating by looking back on the biggest t...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1231: We close the year with the smartest auto industry analyst in the game. Paul and Kyle bring on Steve Greenfield to make sense of a fast-moving 2025 and what dealers should really prepare for in 2026. From tariffs to AI-dr...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1231: Paul sits down with Cars Commerce’s Brian Kramer to break down how 2025 is ending and what dealers should expect in Q1 2026. The big themes: used car supply shifts, EV-heavy off-lease inventory, and why clarity beats cle...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1230: Paul and Kyle sit down with CMA’s Liza Borches to talk people, culture, and leadership. From gratitude for the industry to intentional connection with employees, Liza shares how she’s orienting her team for the year ahea...

Shoot us a Text. On this last Saturday of the year, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to discuss Christmas, New Year's Resolutions and how they've seen themselves change over the last year, and their plans to see continued growth and success in 2026. Jo...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1228: The day after Christmas, Kyle flies solo with Brian Benstock to talk 2026 strategy. Benstock’s take: the year will bring “difficulty mixed with opportunities,” and dealers who prepare now—especially around affordability ...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1227: It's Christmas Eve and Paul and Kyle are in holiday mode. After some banter about an automotive Dancing With The Stars, they talk through their Christmas Eve traditions, why dealers should be closed on Christmas Day, and...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1226: We’re talking rising auto prices and longer-term debt in the U.S., Kazakhstan’s record-setting manufacturing momentum, and Simon Sinek’s take on why Gen Z might be the most rational workforce yet. As new car prices have ...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1225: Cars Commerce’s Alex breaks down why the future isn’t car vending machines, Waymo robotaxis freeze during a San Francisco power outage, and Gen Z embraces the holiday experiences. Show Notes with links: In a reflective i...

Shoot us a Text. What does real leadership look like when it’s time to let go? In this reflective conversation, Paul sits down with Alex Vetter as he prepares to hand the baton after decades of leadership at Cars.com and Cars Commerce. The episode open...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1223: Cars Commerce lines up its next CEO as a new chapter begins for dealer tech. Lucid’s factory-backed used pricing puts EV depreciation in plain sight. And even as consumers keep spending this holiday season, a growing “jo...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1222: Today we break down Cox Automotive’s 2026 forecast and why fragmentation is becoming the industry’s defining theme. We also cover California regulators taking aim at Tesla’s Autopilot language. Show Notes with links: Cox...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1221: Today we break down GM’s post-Cruise autonomy reboot, why used EVs are quietly outperforming new ones as buyers regain confidence, and how a soaring SpaceX valuation has pushed Elon Musk’s wealth past $650 billion. A yea...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1220: Ford slams the brakes on big EV bets and kills the Lightning, pivoting to hybrids and EREVs. HGreg proves luxury buyers don’t need a separate dealership—just a smarter one. GM learns loyalty points are real money after a...

Shoot us a Text. Episode #1219: Carvana adds another CDJR store as its retail expansion heats up. Mexico hits Chinese auto imports with a crushing 50% tariff. And Tesla tests its first fully driverless vehicle on the streets of Austin — no humans requi...