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Happy July 4th! Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle to celebrating the most amazing industry in the most amazing country in the world.

Here's some fun facts about this July 4th:

• 72.2 million Americans are expected to travel 50+ miles from home between June 28 and July 6, marking a new record.
  • 61.6 million will travel by car, making it the busiest Independence Day on the roads.
  • 5.84 million air travelers are anticipated, with domestic airfare averaging $260 round trip—the lowest in four years.
• A 10-person cookout now averages $99, the highest on record, with beverages and meats comprising 64% of the total cost
• Total fireworks revenue is estimated at $2.3 billion in 2025, with consumer sales at $1.6 billion and professional displays at $700 million.
• Approximately 285 million pounds of fireworks are expected to be consumed, with 95% imported from China.

Plus Chris brings a people-focused story to the show today:

• American teacher Mark Fogel was arrested in Russia 3 years ago, and released in February this year.
• Shults Ford and Dealer Richard Bazzy in Pittsburgh gifted Mark a brand-new F-150 as a celebration of him coming home.

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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Episode #1086: Today we unpack Q2’s early sales surge and late slip, celebrate CARFAX’s workplace wins, and wonder about Chuck E. Cheese’s nostalgic new venture for grown-ups.

Show Notes with links:

• U.S. new-vehicle sales in Q2 were front-loaded, with consumers acting early to capitalize on incentives and avoid potential tariffs. The momentum faded by June, signaling possible headwinds ahead.
  • Roughly 173,000 additional vehicles were sold in March and April, pushing the sales pace above 17 million SAAR.
  • June sales fell 4.3% to 1.26 million units, with SAAR dipping to 15.65 million.
  • GM posted a 7% gain in Q2, with trucks, crossovers, and EVs all showing growth, with EV sales more than doubling YoY.
  • Tesla deliveries declined 13%, amid an aging product lineup and reputational challenges.
  • Ford reported a 14% increase, supported by employee pricing programs and strong hybrid performance.
  • “We blew the doors off the overall industry,” said Andrew Frick, Ford Blue and Model e President.

• CARFAX has once again earned recognition as one of the best places to work in the U.S., sweeping multiple national and regional Top Workplace awards for 2025.
  • They were named a USA Today Top Workplace for the fourth year in a row and also honored by the Washington Post (11th time) and St. Louis Post-Dispatch (4th year).
  • The awards are based on anonymous employee feedback regarding culture and practices.
  • Carfax received additional recognition for leadership, benefits, flexibility, innovation, and values.
  • “Being part of a team… committed to the same playbook, has made my experience… rewarding,” said Angela Coyle, Director of Marketing Operations.
  • Also a special shoutout to our friends at the Rohrman Auto Group, who placed on the USA Today list for the first time ever.

• Chuck E. Cheese is growing up — literally. The company has launched "Chuck’s Arcade," a new concept aimed at adult fans of retro gaming and childhood nostalgia.
  • Chuck’s Arcade features classics like Donkey Kong and Mortal Kombat alongside modern games like Halo.
  • Locations include St. Louis, Tulsa, El Paso, and St. Petersburg, with 10 now open across U.S. malls.
  • Each arcade features unique artwork and iconic animatronic mascots from the original brand.
  • Some locations include pizzerias and limited beer/wine service.
  • CEO David McKillips calls it a “natural evolution” to attract lifelong fans and a new generation.

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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Episode #1083: We’re talking tough trade talk from Trump, Jim Farley’s fiery pitch for industrial self-reliance, and the viral ChatGPT graduation moment that’s sparking serious debates—and wild experiments—in education.

Show Notes with links:

• At the Aspen Ideas Festival, Ford CEO Jim Farley called for bold action to rebuild U.S. industrial strength, warning that the country’s economic security—and even its defense—depends on making essential products at home.
  • Farley backs modest tariffs to help U.S. automakers compete with countries that heavily subsidize manufacturing.
  • He also emphasized blue-collar job growth, urging more focus on skilled trades over white-collar positions.
  • Farley shared about recent three week stoppages at Ford plants caused by a shortage of rare-earth magnets sourced from China, critical to systems like seats and windshield wipers.
  • Farley used the example to push for “industrial independence,” saying supply chain reliance on China is a strategic risk.
  • “What, is Google going to make the tanks?” Farley asked. “We’ve talked about energy independence, now we need industrial independence.”

• In a blunt Fox News interview, President Donald Trump threatened to scrap ongoing trade negotiations with Japan, proposing to impose hefty auto tariffs by simply mailing out unilateral notices.
  • Trump said he may skip further negotiations and assign tariffs directly, calling out Japan’s auto exports.
  • “Dear Mr. Japan, here’s the story,” he quipped, proposing the 25% tariff on imported Japanese cars remain.
  • Japan has pushed hard to eliminate the auto tariff but has gained little ground in ongoing talks.

• UCLA student Andre Mai went viral for “flexing” his use of ChatGPT at graduation, but it spotlit the deep confusion around AI in education—just as new, radical models like Alpha School are reshaping what school can even look like.
  • UCLA grad Andre Mai used ChatGPT with his professor’s approval, but reactions revealed how fractured AI policy is in schools.
  • Teachers are stuck between enabling learning and policing AI use, often without reliable tools or consistent rules.
  • 90% of college students tried ChatGPT within two months of launch; now, 1 in 4 teens use it regularly.
  • Meanwhile, Alpha School in Austin is pioneering a bold approach: AI tutors handle core subjects in just 2 hours a day.
  • Students spend the rest of the day on real-world skills like financial literacy, survival training, and entrepreneurship.

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
2:13 All Episodes of ASOTU CON Sessions are live now
3:05 Upcoming ASOTU Edge Webinar with Uber for Business
3:28 Jim Farley Argues For Industrial Independence
6:10 Trump Considers Ending Japan Trade Talks
8:04 The Changes AI is Bringing to the Classroom

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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JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

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Chris Reeves join Kyle this morning to recap the travel week that Kyle and Paul had, and then to share about how Liza Borches and the Carter Myers Automotive group brought in 12,805 lbs of food in their Cans and Cans Drive.

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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JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

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Episode #1081: Today’s episode sounds the alarm on EV shipping risks after a $560M shipwreck, dives into the dealer-driven defense of EV tax credits with Alex Lawrence at the helm, and bids farewell to Microsoft’s iconic Blue Screen of Death.

• The June sinking of the Morning Midas cargo ship—loaded with Chinese EVs—has sparked serious concern across the shipping and auto industries. Estimated losses are pegged at $560 million, but the implications go far deeper.
  • The ship was carrying 3,048 vehicles, including 750 EVs and hybrids, when it caught fire en route to Mexico.
  • It’s the third major EV ship incident in just over three years, bringing total damages from these disasters to nearly $1.8 billion.
  • The fire’s cause remains unknown, but experts say EVs increase the chance of thermal runaway turning into catastrophe.
  • “This is a huge cost, and another blaring warning claxon to the industry,” said AEG CEO Patrick Anderson, pointing to the growing frequency of these incidents.
  • Calls are growing for stricter EV shipping protocols—better fire detection, increased vehicle spacing, and limits on how many EVs can be transported per vessel.

• A coalition of 19 dealers including Carmax, Carvana, and Utah’s EV Auto is urging the Senate to reconsider abrupt EV tax credit rollbacks. At the center of the push is Alex Lawrence, who’s making a strong case for used EV affordability.
  • Lawrence says converting the credit into a down payment changed everything for middle-class buyers.
  • He argues that without it, many families couldn’t qualify for financing or reliable transportation.
  • Though confident in EV Auto’s future, he warns a sudden end “would disrupt the used car market,” calling for a multi-year phase-out instead.
  • The letter emphasized the vital role of the used EV rebate as “a bridge” for working-class Americans.
  • At ASOTU Con last month, Alex quipped “I didn't realize when I got into the car business five and a half years ago I was getting into politics. But boy, did I ever.”

• Microsoft is officially phasing out one of the most recognizable (and dreaded) elements of the Windows experience: the Blue Screen of Death. After four decades, Windows crashes are getting a new look—and a new name.
  • The classic BSOD will now become the “Black Screen of Death” in an upcoming Windows 11 update.
  • The redesign ditches the frowny face and QR code in favor of a cleaner, more focused layout.
  • The new format will show the stop code and faulty driver right on screen, simplifying diagnosis for IT teams.
  • The update is part of broader efforts to boost Windows 11 stability, especially after last year’s CrowdStrike-related crash wave.
  • “This is really an attempt on clarity and providing better information so we can fix it faster.” says David Weston, Microsoft’s VP of Enterprise and OS Secur

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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Episode #1080: Today we’re talking about winners - how Roger Penske was honored with the Automotive News Centennial Award, how 14 states have won back $5B in EV charging funs and how Meta and Anthropic both won copyright lawsuits.

Show Notes with links:

• Auto and racing icon Roger Penske received the Automotive News Centennial Award, and shows no signs of slowing down despite being 88. He reflected on six decades of building a business empire by putting people first.
  • He credits a coin from his father inscribed “Effort equals results” as a lifelong guiding principle.
  • Penske said focusing on people over products is key, calling it the “secret sauce” behind building an organization with 74,000 employees.
  • Nearly all leadership growth at Penske is internal—95% of management moves are promotions.
  • He raised concerns over the future of the dealer franchise model, warning that direct-to-consumer shifts could undermine the system if not addressed individually.
  • He described Elon Musk as a great industry disrupter saying ““Musk came in here and did an amazing job. He turned the industry on its head.””

• A federal judge in Seattle has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from axing billions in EV charging funds to 14 states, ruling that the states are likely to win their case.
  • The Biden-era $5B EV charger program was frozen in February, with state plans rescinded.
  • Judge Tana Lin ruled that withholding the funds likely violated federal law, harming states that invested in infrastructure expecting federal support.
  • The injunction gives the Trump administration seven days to appeal.

• Two federal judges delivered back-to-back wins for AI developers this week, siding with Anthropic and Meta in copyright lawsuits brought by authors. While both rulings support “fair use” in AI training, the door remains open for future legal challenges.
  • In the Anthropic case, Judge Alsup ruled the company could legally train AI on physical books it bought and digitized, calling it “transformative — spectacularly so.”
  • He drew the line at pirated content, saying a separate trial will determine damages for “millions” of unauthorized books stored by Anthropic.
  • Meta also secured a summary judgment, with Judge Chhabria stating that plaintiffs “made the wrong arguments” — not that Meta’s actions were fully lawful.
  • The judges dismissed claims that AI models like Claude and LLaMA meaningfully harm book markets or replicate texts at scale.
  • Judge Alsup added: “The Authors’ complaint is no different than if they complained that training schoolchildren to write well would result in an explosion of competing works.”

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.

Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/

JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/