The Automotive Troublemaker

9 days to NADA and you can feel the anticipation around the social media halls. Today, we’re talking about how the US Commerce Department is banning Chinese and Russian car hardware and software, Google’s new automotive AI agent debuting in the Mercedes CLA and Target changing production timelines to match social media trends.

California wildfires have forced dealership closures, but communities are coming together to support first responders. Meanwhile, new-vehicle buyer satisfaction reached a record high in 2024, driven by seamless digital tools and efficient processes. During the first round of the NFL playoffs, A.J. Brown’s viral sideline book moment offers a glimpse into a high performer’s mindset and resilience.

Today we’re talking about the legendary stunts of the Detroit Auto Show, the stabilization of used car prices after pandemic volatility, and Starbucks shutting down stores for a barista reboot under its new CEO.

As the 2025 CES Show winds down, we have some final thoughts from correspondent Steve Greenfield. Plus we look at Goodyear’s solution for autonomous vehicles in snowy climates and talk about the Mach-E overtaking the traditional Mustang in sales.

As all the announcements from CES roll in, we’ve got Steve Greenfield back again to break it all down. We cover the details of Sony Honda Mobility’s Afeela, plus talk about how Uber and Lyft are moving towards autonomy and how 25% of cars sold in 2025 will be EV.

This Tuesday morning, we’ve got ASOTU Correspondent Steve Greenfield bringing us all the updates from CES. Plus, it's that time of year where returns dominate the retail landscape.

It’s CES week, meaning all the announcements and concepts, so we’ve got you covered on what to pay attention to. Plus we talk about how monthly payments are continuing to rise and how some AI accounts created by Meta are sparking controversy.

Today, we break down the Hindenburg Research report that allegedly exposes Carvana’s shady business practices. Plus, we cover Tesla’s first annual drop in deliveries and talk about the return of cursive logos.

The first show of a new year, and with it, we’ve got predictions, predictions, predictions! Plus, we celebrate the arrival of the newest generation, Gen Beta!

The end of the year is finally here, and so we’re looking back, covering the top 10 best-selling vehicles of 2024. Plus, we talk about a unique $0 down and $0 monthly payment Fiat lease as well as reflect on some of our most memorable moments.

The clock is about to run out on 2024, but that doesn’t stop the grind of the retail auto industry! Today we’re covering the latest awkwardness from the potential Honda-Nissan merger, how California dealers are threatening to sue Scout over their DTC plans, and over-priced fast food.

Year-End Insights: Steve Greenfield shares what to watch for in the New Year!

Post-Christmas boost: Zac Kinch and Austin Conroy share tactical tips, TikTok success, and sales inspiration from our Year-End Extravaganza!

Christmas Eve: More Than Cars panel, Season 2 sneak peek, and surprise announcements!

Christmas week is officially here, but before we get to presents, we speculate on the future of Honda and Nissan, plus take a closer look at Tesla’s record market cap.

With just 2 weekends left in the year, we’re excited to share that the automotive industry is set up for an excellent finish to 2024. Meanwhile, Ford is ramping down its F-150 Lightning production until the new year to meet demand.

Our 4th Annual Year End Extravaganza is at 1PM today! But before we get there, we’ve got to talk about how Foxconn is still trying to buy Nissan, how a new CA law will require way more charging infrastructure and ChatGPT’s phone hotline.

Remain calm, there is only 1 week until Christmas. Today we’re talking about a potential merger between Nissan and Honda, how Chevy’s EV Equinox apparently doesn’t make enough noise and how the FTC is cracking down on junk hotel fees.

8 days to Christmas, and we’re covering how Biden’s plans to add highway charging infrastructure will continue under President Trump. Plus, we look at GM’s latest subscription add-on and ask if it will work, and examine a company that claims it has stopped hiring because AI can do all the work.

With barely 2 weeks left in the year, we’re covering the extreme measures Tesla is taking to sell Cybertrucks. Plus, we look at the EVs with the longest range and explore how brick and mortar experiences are booming.

12 days until Christmas, and today we’ve got Todd Caputo joining the show to discuss the Tekion lawsuit against CDK, how to make the most out of the last 2 weeks and GPT’s latest update that gives it vision.

With only 3 Thursdays left in the year, we’re covering how General Motors has shut down its robotaxi division. Plus, dealer sentiment is up now that we’re past the election, and Google has announced a potentially massive breakthrough in quantum computing.

On this hump day, we’re covering the news that Amazon’s partnership with Hyundai has finally gone live for the general public. Plus, Rivian tops a recent survey of brand satisfaction, and small businesses are the most optimistic they’ve been in over 3 years.

The internet is abuzz this morning as OpenAI released its long-anticipated video generator, Sora, to the public. But before we get there, we have to talk about Tim Kuniskis coming back to Stellantis as the new Ram CEO, and how studies are suggesting that EVs could last longer than ICE vehicles.

As we enter a new week, we’re considering how the average age of cars is affecting parts and service. Plus Colorado is now the most EV state in the US, topping California, and a new study is showing that bad customer service is costing retail stores billions.

As we end the first week of December, we’re talking about how Subaru has risen to the top of Consumer Reports 2025 Brand Report Card, how Tesla is tapping into leasing to hit its ambitious sales targets, and OpenAI’s 12 days of product announcements and enhancements.

This Thursday morning, we’re covering GM having over $5B in non-cash charges with its China operations, how Stellantis is trying to close a Department of Energy loan before Trump takes office and how a crypto millionaire is launching a unique $2M treasure hunt.

We’re coming to you live from Bozard Ford Lincoln as we’re finishing up our More Than Cars shoot. Today, we’re talking about how Nissan is trying to reassure its dealers that the sky isn’t falling, how the US added 12,000+ new EV chargers in Q3, and how Google’s Veo, a generative AI video model, beat OpenAI’s Sora to market.

Welcome Michael Wood to the show to talk about the Jaguar vision reveal and it seems GM is backing off its battery building game. We are on the ground in St Augustine filming More Than Cars season 2 so follow us along on social media to see what we get into today.

Welcome to December as we talk about controversial Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares’ abrupt ending. We also talk about a huge partnership between BYD and Apple, as well as Hyundai’s venture into performance. 

As we’re all still digesting the fun, excitement and food from yesterday, Black Friday kicks the holiday shopping season into full swing.

Warm up those appetites, folks. As we get ready to loosen our belts, the buy/sell market seems to be doing the same thing as the Trump era nears. We’re also talking about a gigantic but conditional loan from the government to Rivian, as well as cheaper turkeys for everyone this year.

2 days to turkey! Today we’re talking about how Porsche is realigning its EV goals and planning on more ICE and hybrids. Plus, California preps its own EV tax credit that won’t apply to Teslas, and air travel has its most complaints since the pandemic.

We’re rooting for a great end to the month as we enter Thanksgiving week. Today, we’re talking about how Hyundai and Amazon’s online retail platform could enter its next phase in January, how Wall Street investors are still bullish on auto loans and how this week signals a new level of danger for drivers.

We’re closing out the week talking about how industry titan Dale Pollak will leave Cox Auto at the end of 2025. Plus, almost all of the public groups saw F&I gross profit dip in Q3 and apparently OpenAI is building its own web browser.

We’re back at our desks after some time on the road. Today we’re talking about Honda’s plans to double EV range while reducing cost and size, a new study that says price parity between EV and ICE could come as soon as 2026, and the response to an AI-altered Coca-Cola ad.‍

Welcome to Wednesday as we talk about the likely EV regulation rollbacks on Trump’s Day One. We also talk about a Jaguar rebrand that’s unlike anything we’ve ever seen, as well Delta’s new initiative to serve ShakeShack on first class flights.

We’re live in Petersburg VA this morning as we’re shooting the next episode of More Than Cars. Today, we’re talking about the latest Cars Commerce Industry Insights and what it means for supply and demand, how BYD has produced its 10 millionth new energy vehicle, and how this Thanksgiving could be a record for travel.

It’s a busy week around the ASOTU halls as we’re in Florida for MRC and then Virginia for MTC. Today we’re covering how Carvana is scaling its capacity through the ADESA auction network, how Teslas topped a study on the most fatal cars on the road and the tech hiring slowdown.

We’re almost at the end of another week, and today we’re covering how it seems that the Trump team is getting ready to eliminate the EV tax credit. Plus, GM is working with EV owners in Texas to offer free nighttime EV charging, and how on-the-job training is becoming harder to find.

It’s Thursday, and we’re almost halfway through November. Today, we’re talking about a CDK study that says car buying got harder for consumers in October, how Tesla has exhausted its Cybertruck reservation list and OpenAI’s autonomous Operator that’s coming to a computer near you.

Today’s the day when we release More Than Cars episode 4: Mohawk Chevrolet at 1PM! Oh and we’re also talking about Rivian and VW’s finalized joint venture, how the UAW is struggling to gain momentum following last year’s big wins and how Dodge is adjusting its EV and ICE muscle car plans.

This Tuesday morning we are excited to publish the very first AutoIndustry.ai weekly email, covering everything the industry needs to know about AI. But before we talk about that, we’re covering how VinFast’s founder is jumping in to keep the company afloat again.

Happy Veteran’s Day and thank you to all who have served! Today we’re talking about Ernie Garcia II cashing in on $1.4B of Carvana stock, a new Capital One study highlighting the role of trust and transparency in the car buying process and an IHOP-Applebees shared location.

Welcome to Friday! As we wind down the week, we’re talking about how the Trump Presidency could affect the FTC CARS Rule. Plus, Mexico wants answers from Musk as to Tesla’s Mexico Gigafactory and a painting by an AI robot sold for over $1M at auction.

We’re live from Austin this morning where we’ll be speaking to the ATAE Comms Directors, but before that, we’re talking about how car dealer Bernie Moreno is headed to the Senate, the second annual list of CBT 40 Under 40 honorees and how Open AI spent a whopping $15M on the Chat.com domain.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House could disrupt the auto industry’s EV ambitions. Plus, Elon Musk’s advisory role with the new administration and his plans for autonomous tech. And, IKEA opens its first stand-alone restaurant in London.

Happy Election Day! Well, now that we’ve covered that… today we’re talking about how Stellantis listened to dealers and cut prices on some Jeep models, how Tesla has given up on the human-driven affordable EV, and how your name might start being incorrectly spelled on Starbucks cups this fall. 

We’ve got Michael Cirillo in the studio on this Monday, as we’re talking about how its becoming harder for new auto dealers to secure floorplan loans, how Rivian has decided that voice control is better than physical buttons and how online customers are abandoning carts because of choice overload.

It’s a new month and we hope you’re recovering from the candy hangover! Today we’re looking back at October in retail auto and reviewing how it did, examining how Ford is linking performance to manager bonuses and seeing how Target is moving Black Friday deals earlier than ever.

Happy Halloween! It’s the last day of the month, and we’re tracking how Carvana has managed to continue its used car growth. Plus, we cover how Ford is slowing down its production of the F-150 Lightning and Starbucks getting rid of extra fees for non-dairy milk.

We are on day 2 of More Than Cars season two shooting, and we couldn’t be more encouraged by what we are discovering in Lafayette, IN. Today we look at Ford’s Q3 report of lower net income, Tesla expanding its vehicle output in 2025 and a new requirement for you to get quicker airline refunds.

We’re live from Lafayette Indiana to start recording the second season of More Than Cars! Today, we’re running through the latest industry data from J.D. Power, pushing back against an article from the Verge that suggests Scout is doing “exactly what customers want”, and how Apple is innovating with its advertisements.

It’s the last week of the month, so go finish strong! Today, we’re covering how the public dealership groups made out in Q3, plus a survey that says a majority of Americans are interested in test driving an EV and another survey that says we see the same add too many times.‍

Feathers have been rustled this Friday morning as Scout announced their long-awaited vehicles, and how they aren’t going to use dealers to sell them. Plus, we talk about Farley’s Chinese EV revelation, how Tesla is finding new profit centers and why every car only comes in a shade of black or white.

Happy Thursday! Today Paul’s back and we cover stabilizing dealer profits, GM & Ford helping Fleet customers transition to the EV lifecycle, and Apple’s newest beta features available now.

As we reach the middle of the work week, we’ve got the one and only Jordan Cox in the studio! Today, we’re talking about how GM has raised their 2024 guidance again, how Arkansas could be home to enough lithium to power all the world’s EVs and how the FAA has issued its rules for air taxis.‍

It’s a terrific Tuesday morning, and we have guest host Amit Chandarana, newly announced CEO of Curbee! We’ll be discussing how auto dealers are integrating AI into their operations (or how they aren’t), the refreshed Mustang Mach-E and Chick-Fil-A’s new streaming network.

As we roll into a new week, we’ve got some fun insights from Business Insider about the United State of Automobiles. Plus, we talk about how negative equity is growing year over year and an innovative Sam’s Club concept that eliminates any type of checkout lane.

As we wind down on another week, we’re looking at August’s EV numbers and the gains by GM. Plus, we talk about the NHTSA’s investigation into Full Self Driving, and how Rivian is re-skinning its R1s for spooky season.

We’re together in-person this Thursday morning as we reflect on the 100 years of Carter Myers Automotive. Today we’re talking about how plug-in hybrids may not be the transition to EVs that we thought, how Tesla may have already exhausted its Cybertruck reservation list and how more Americans are concerned about their credit card debt.

It’s a wheels up Wednesday as we’re celebrating with Carter Myers Automotive at their 100th Anniversary Gala. We also dive into the rise of affordable new vehicles, AI’s game-changing role in EV battery safety, and the growing frustration of U.S. shoppers facing shrinkflation.

On this Tuesday, we dive into GM’s historic EV sales surge in China, explore how AI-powered voice assistants are changing the in-car experience, and look at Starbucks’ new CEO's strategy to cut discounts and bring back the coffeehouse charm.

Hello Monday! Today we dive into Stellantis’ leadership shuffle as Jeep’s Antonio Filosa takes on this crucial role, Fiat stirs up fun with a cheeky EV campaign, and SpaceX makes history by catching its massive Starship booster midair.

It’s Friday! Audi Tysons Corner tops the 2024 Best Dealerships list with a focus on leadership, Tesla unveils the futuristic Cybercab for high-volume autonomy, and retailers shift focus to the booming silver economy.

On this Thursday, we explore GM's increased profitability from simplifying gasoline models, Toyota's cautionary stance on an all-EV future with its job risks, and how fast-food jobs have shaped the careers of today's successful professionals.

We’re rolling through the middle of the week, and holding our breath as we wait to see how hard Milton will hit Florida. Plus, we debate whether Tesla can deliver on its robotaxi promise and talk about Spirit Halloween turning into Spirit Christmas.

Welcome to Tuesday, the most productive day of the week! Today we’re talking about the anticipation that Florida is facing with Hurricane Milton and how dealers and EV owners can be prepared. Plus, we see some unexpected kindness between Kia dealers and learn how Cybertruck owners are having their insurance policies canceled.

Monday morning and we’re rolling heavy into this week as we explore how Hurricane Helene impacts auto dealerships' insurance, the launch of IONNA’s EV fast-charging network, and why October is now a major sales season for retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

Chris Reeves joins the show on this Saturday, and we talk about apple picking, plus what we wanted to be when we grow up and how Walser Automotive Group is investing in the future of technicians.

As we near the end of the week, there’s been some resolution to the port strike, but it looks like Helene will have lingering effects on the used car market. Meanwhile, Rivians are reportedly still functioning fine after floods and Ray-Bans are being used to scrape your personal information.

We’re up and at ‘em this Thursday morning as we report on dealer associations stepping up to help hurricane affected employees, plus we talk live with Richard Lupo of Apple Tree Honda and Acura about what it’s like on the ground right now. We’ll also cover how the port strike could have massive ripple effects on the supply chain and get a look inside Rove’s new EV charging station.

We’re looking for the silver lining today as we talk about how US auto sales have slowed considerably through Q3. Plus, we give updates on how the port strike will affect the automotive supply chain, how Helene took out 672 Kias at one dealership, and Ford’s forward-thinking EV home charger program.

Q4 is here, along with the start of spooky season. Today we’re giving you an update on the port strike and hurricane relief efforts, plus we’re sharing how EVs are shifting from luxury to non-luxury. We’ll cap the show by covering Uber’s new partnership with Spirit Halloween.

It’s the last day of the month, and we’re talking about how a union strike could shut down all the ports on the East Coast and how that could affect the auto industry. Plus, we cover Hertz selling off some of its Chevy Silverado EVs, and a new report that says car thieves aren’t interested in EVs.

Today, Paul and Kyle are joined by writer Kristi Canada. After some talks about the weather (a hurricane just blew through where Kristi lives), they talk about how the 9 Car Pros Automotive Group stores collected over 9000 school supplies for kids.

It’s the last Friday of the month, and today we’re covering new US tariffs on all sorts of Chinese goods, how OEMs are flocking back to television ads on NFL games, and Mr. Beast’s manifesto on how to build a successful company. 

Happy one year anniversary of ASOTU CON 2023! This Thursday, we’re talking about how former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn was ordered to hand his superyacht over to Nissan, Walser Automotive’s partnership with Wichita State University Tech, and the effects of retailers putting products behind locks.

With only 6 days left in the month, we’re cruising into Wednesday. Today, we’ve got an update on the Hyundai-Amazon partnership and how dealers are feeling about it. Plus, we’re talking about Rivian’s new pre-owned program and a new Costco that is stacking apartments on top of its warehouse.

Welcome to Tuesday! Paul’s hanging out at Vincue Unleashed, Kyle’s at his desk and we’ve got news to talk about, like how the US’s new rule on Chinese software in cars could affect OEMs, how Stellantis is going about its CEO search, and how Google is making Gemini a part of all Workspace accounts.

With a new week comes the anticipation of being able to serve people, both inside and outside of the automotive industry. Today, we’ll be talking about a $1B investment in the EV supply chain, the best lease deals out there right now, and Gen Z taking tech jobs from Millennials.

Today on the show, Chris, Paul and Kyle invite Jordan Cox onto the show to grill him about his trip to the US Capitol.

It’s Friday again, and it feels like the first time in forever that we’re back in our normal seats. Today, we’re covering Cars Commerce’s latest Industry Insights Report, GM finally getting Supercharger access for its EVs and how home improvement is making a recovery because of the interest rate cut.

Dealers across the country breathed a sigh of relief this morning at news of the Fed’s interest rate cut. We’ll be talking about that, plus how Ford is adding karaoke to vehicles and a partnership between a big Hollywood studio and an AI video generator.

Happy hump day! Today, we’re covering how Ram is set to enter the EV truck fray, how Tesla is prepping to move inventory with a new round of incentives and how Home Depot allegedly changed prices on consumers between the aisle and the register.

We’re brimming with energy on this Tuesday morning, as we discuss VW’s decision to originate its US auto loans through Wells Fargo. Plus we talk about the growing gap between car buying expectations and car buying reality and how auto debt just continues to grow.

It’s a brand new week and we’re heading to Will Guidara’s Welcome Conference in NYC. Before we get there, we need to talk about how Volvo is giving up on car subscriptions, more places you can take an autonomous rideshare, and more ways to buy physical items in Roblox.

Today, Nathan, Chris and Jordan take over the show to talk about how a Cumming, Georgia dealership honored their first responders on 9/11 by feeding them lunch and giving the community an opportunity to get involved!

Is it already the end of another week? We’re looking back this morning as we look at buy/sell activity from the first half of the year, reflect on the legacy of Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis, and dig into how discretionary spending is on the rise.

As we’ve passed the halfway point of the week, we’ve got Michael Cirillo in the studio to discuss GM and Hyundai’s new partnership, how Stellantis and its dealers are in a little bit of a tiff, and a new study that says consumers know exactly what they’re doing when they accept website tracking cookies.

It’s Wednesday and DG is back for round two. We’re talking about how Ally Financial is dealing with consumer credit challenges, how GM is drawing a line in the sand for its salaried employees and busting the EV slowdown myth.

As we turn into Tuesday, we’ve got guest host Daniel Govaer with us in the studio! Today we’re looking at Rivian’s referral program, what the future holds for Toyota’s battery production and recap everything from Apple’s iPhone announcement event.

It’s a great Monday as we launch into the week with guest host Ben Hadley. Today we’re talking about software-defined vehicles and how Polestar is leaning in, Tesla’s recent patents for wireless home EV charging and autonomous AI bots that are starting to become effective in business.

Today on the show, Kyle, Chris, and Jordan talk about how cars shows create community and then featuring Walser's recent Subarus and Cold Brews event.

We’re almost through the week, and we’ve got Steve Greenfield back with us today to help us understand why dealers are feeling a little pessimistic about Q3. Plus we’ll discuss how Japan is investing heavily in EV battery production and have a little bit of nostalgia about a historic Mustang.

Happy Thursday! Today, we’re joined by the one and only Steve Greenfield, as we discuss VWs plans to close plants in Germany and its showdown with the union, how dealers should be improving their cybersecurity, and why Oakland police are towing Teslas to get their camera footage.

Wednesday’s here! We’ve got Michael Cirillo joining the show to talk about the first look at August sales numbers, what’s happening on the chipmaker front in automotive and whether Canva’s new price strategy will backfire.

It’s Tuesday, Kyle’s back, and we’re ready to hit the ground running after the Labor Day holiday. Today we’re talking about data that suggests Tesla might rig its robotaxi debut, how the Oakland School District went EV with its buses and ask whether you should use LinkedIn’s “Open To Work” banner.

It’s Labor Day and dealers all over will be out in force selling and servicing cars today. We’ve got our own Labor Day special, talking about a bold plan to reinvigorate the Chrysler and Dodge brands and how to watch out for QR codes scams.

It's a Saturday close to the month of August, and we've got some fun vibes this morning as Head Writer Chris Reeves and Head of Community Jordan Cox join Paul on the show.