<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms">Shoot us a Text.</a>Happy Saturday! Nathan and Chris host the show today to recap the ASOTU team&apos;s time in Austin, TX this week and then share some of the good we&apos;re seeing in the auto industry. Park Place Dealerships donates $100,000 in small grant giveaways to local charities. The charities are submitted by employees and community members and in a couple of weeks the Irvine, TX community will learn who has won the grant awards.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier Get the Daily Push Back email at <a href='https://www.asotu.com/'>https://www.asotu.com/</a> JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'>https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/</a> Read our most recent email at: <a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'>https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms"&gt;Shoot us a Text.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Happy Saturday! Nathan and Chris host the show today to recap the ASOTU team&amp;apos;s time in Austin, TX this week and then share some of the good we&amp;apos;re seeing in the auto industry.&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Park Place Dealerships donates $100,000 in small grant giveaways to local charities. The charities are submitted by employees and community members and in a couple of weeks the Irvine, TX community will learn who has won the grant awards.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Get the Daily Push Back email at &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Read our most recent email at: &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Shoot us a Text.Happy Saturday! Nathan and Chris host the show today to recap the ASOTU team's time in Austin, TX this week and then share some of the good we're seeing in the auto industry.Park Place Dealerships donates $100,000 in small grant giveaways to local charities. The charities are submitted by employees and community members and in a couple of weeks the Irvine, TX community will learn who has won the grant awards.Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle MountsierGet the Daily Push Back email at...

Crowdsourcing Where To Give Back

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms">Shoot us a Text.</a>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. Show Notes with links:<ul><li>The Federal Trade Commission’s new regulations to combat auto retail scams, known as the CARS Rule, <a href='https://www.autonews.com/retail/an-ftc-cfpb-trump-changes/'>face an uncertain future</a> with the potential of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Here’s a breakdown of what might be ahead:<ul><li>Trump’s election might reduce federal oversight of dealership practices, as he’s known for favoring deregulatory policies.</li><li>With the CARS Rule already contested by the National Automobile Dealers Association, the rule could lose FTC support in court, leading to a possible halt.</li><li>Francis Curran from Tully Rinckey law firm says Trump’s supporters generally resist regulatory measures, making the CARS Rule a likely target.</li><li>However, federal reductions may cause states to increase their enforcement of fair practices in auto transactions.</li><li>The FTC’s “Unfair or Deceptive Fees” rule may remain, as attorneys like Chris Capurso believe it resonates more with consumers and imposes fewer admin burdens.</li><li>“Whether or not [Trump] cares about the FTC, he’s probably going to appoint people who will roll back some of that,” says Francis Curran, highlighting a potentially quieter but still active FTC​.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Following Trump’s election victory, Mexico is <a href='https://electrek.co/2024/11/07/mexico-wants-to-know-if-tesla-still-plans-to-build-its-gigafactory-there-after-trumps-win/'>pushing Tesla for clarity</a> on the previously announced Gigafactory Mexico, now on hold.<ul><li>Tesla announced Gigafactory Mexico in March 2023, aiming for rapid construction like in Shanghai.</li><li>Plans stalled by year-end, with Elon Musk citing the uncertain global economy as a factor, opting to build its Robotaxi in Texas, leaving other planned vehicle models for Gigafactory Mexico canceled.</li><li>Mexico fears heightened tariffs on Mexican goods and wants answers from Musk.</li><li>Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in a recent radio interview: “I’m going to set up a meeting with (Musk) soon so that he tells me exactly what he’s thinking and see what we can do so this project moves forward,”</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Ai-Da, the world’s first humanoid robot artist, set a new milestone as <a href='https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqdvz4w45wo'>her AI-created portrait of Alan Turing</a> sold at Sotheby’s auction for $1,084,800,.<ul><li>The piece, titled A.I. God, initially estimated at $120,000 to $180,000, attracted 27 bids.</li><li>The portrait honors Turing, the &quot;father of AI&quot; and WWII codebreaker who cracked the Enigma machine, altering history.</li><li>Ai-Da, capable of speech via an advanced language model, aims to spark discussion on AI’s role and its ethical implications.</li><li>Sotheby’s calls the sale a “new frontier” in the art market, blending technology and visual arts in unprecedented ways.</li></ul></li></ul>Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier Get the Daily Push Back email at <a href='https://www.asotu.com/'>https://www.asotu.com/</a> JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'>https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/</a> Read our most recent email at: <a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'>https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms"&gt;Shoot us a Text.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Show Notes with links:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Federal Trade Commission’s new regulations to combat auto retail scams, known as the CARS Rule, &lt;a href='https://www.autonews.com/retail/an-ftc-cfpb-trump-changes/'&gt;face an uncertain future&lt;/a&gt; with the potential of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Here’s a breakdown of what might be ahead:&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Trump’s election might reduce federal oversight of dealership practices, as he’s known for favoring deregulatory policies.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;With the CARS Rule already contested by the National Automobile Dealers Association, the rule could lose FTC support in court, leading to a possible halt.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Francis Curran from Tully Rinckey law firm says Trump’s supporters generally resist regulatory measures, making the CARS Rule a likely target.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;However, federal reductions may cause states to increase their enforcement of fair practices in auto transactions.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The FTC’s “Unfair or Deceptive Fees” rule may remain, as attorneys like Chris Capurso believe it resonates more with consumers and imposes fewer admin burdens.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;“Whether or not [Trump] cares about the FTC, he’s probably going to appoint people who will roll back some of that,” says Francis Curran, highlighting a potentially quieter but still active FTC​.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Following Trump’s election victory, Mexico is &lt;a href='https://electrek.co/2024/11/07/mexico-wants-to-know-if-tesla-still-plans-to-build-its-gigafactory-there-after-trumps-win/'&gt;pushing Tesla for clarity&lt;/a&gt; on the previously announced Gigafactory Mexico, now on hold.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tesla announced Gigafactory Mexico in March 2023, aiming for rapid construction like in Shanghai.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Plans stalled by year-end, with Elon Musk citing the uncertain global economy as a factor, opting to build its Robotaxi in Texas, leaving other planned vehicle models for Gigafactory Mexico canceled.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mexico fears heightened tariffs on Mexican goods and wants answers from Musk.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mexico’s Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said in a recent radio interview: “I’m going to set up a meeting with (Musk) soon so that he tells me exactly what he’s thinking and see what we can do so this project moves forward,”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ai-Da, the world’s first humanoid robot artist, set a new milestone as &lt;a href='https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpqdvz4w45wo'&gt;her AI-created portrait of Alan Turing&lt;/a&gt; sold at Sotheby’s auction for $1,084,800,.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The piece, titled A.I. God, initially estimated at $120,000 to $180,000, attracted 27 bids.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The portrait honors Turing, the &amp;quot;father of AI&amp;quot; and WWII codebreaker who cracked the Enigma machine, altering history.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ai-Da, capable of speech via an advanced language model, aims to spark discussion on AI’s role and its ethical implications.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sotheby’s calls the sale a “new frontier” in the art market, blending technology and visual arts in unprecedented ways.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Get the Daily Push Back email at &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Read our most recent email at: &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Shoot us a Text.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.Show Notes with links:The Federal Trade Commission’s new regulations to combat auto retail scams, known as the CARS Rule, face an uncertain future with the potential of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term. Here’s a breakdow...

CARS Rule Under Trump, Mexico Confronts Musk, AI Robot Art

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms">Shoot us a Text.</a>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. Show Notes with links:<ul><li><a href='https://www.autonews.com/retail/an-bernie-moreno-senate-race-ohio/'>Bernie Moreno, former auto dealer</a> and Trump-backed Republican, flipped a longstanding Democratic Senate seat in Ohio, securing a narrow victory over Sherrod Brown.<ul><li>Moreno won 50.2% of the vote, defeating Brown’s 46.4%, marking a GOP gain in the Senate.</li><li>The race was one of the most expensive Senate contests in history, crucial for Republican control.</li><li>His opponent, incumbent Sherrod Brown, targeted Moreno’s dealership past, implying he “would say anything to sell a car.” This line of attack backfired, galvanizing support from auto industry insiders who saw it as a slight against the profession.</li><li>A critic of federal EV mandates, Moreno argued for consumer choice, advocating that Ohioans—and the auto market—should not be subjected to standards set by California.</li><li>Moreno credited auto industry colleagues for their unwavering support, stating, “I appreciate the hundreds of phenomenal entrepreneurs in the car business.”</li></ul></li><li>CBT News has announced its second annual <a href='https://www.cbtnews.com/cbt-news-celebrates-the-2024-40-under-40-award-winners/'>40 Under 40 awards</a>, spotlighting rising stars in the automotive retail industry. These honorees demonstrate exceptional talent in areas like sales, marketing, management, and innovation, shaping the future of automotive retail.<ul><li>The award recognizes contributions in sales, customer experience, and community service and aims to inspire future leaders in automotive retail.</li><li>Co-founders Bridget and Jim Fitzpatrick commend honorees&apos; resilience: &quot;The resilience and dedication demonstrated by every member of the retail automotive community is truly inspiring.&quot;</li><li>Friends of ASOTU: Nathanael Greklek, Chief Digital Brand Leader at Mohawk Auto Group,  and Michael Lucki, GM/Operating Partner at Riverhead Mazda</li></ul></li><li>OpenAI has made waves by purchasing the <a href='https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/6/24289768/openai-chat-chatgpt-sam-altman-hubspot'>chat.com domain</a> from HubSpot’s Dharmesh Shah, a move signaling their evolving approach to user interaction.<ul><li>Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, shared the new domain, which directly redirects to ChatGPT.</li><li>Originally bought by Shah for $15.5M, he later sold it to OpenAI, reportedly at a profit.</li><li>Shah cited &quot;Chat-based UX&quot; as the next big trend in software for natural, intuitive interactions.</li><li>Shah hinted that OpenAI paid with shares rather than cash, a unique twist on the transaction.</li><li>This move aligns with OpenAI’s recent rebranding efforts, including new model series like “o1” aimed at simplifying and enhancing user perception.</li></ul></li></ul>Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier Get the Daily Push Back email at <a href='https://www.asotu.com/'>https://www.asotu.com/</a> JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'>https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/</a> Read our most recent email at: <a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'>https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms"&gt;Shoot us a Text.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Show Notes with links:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href='https://www.autonews.com/retail/an-bernie-moreno-senate-race-ohio/'&gt;Bernie Moreno, former auto dealer&lt;/a&gt; and Trump-backed Republican, flipped a longstanding Democratic Senate seat in Ohio, securing a narrow victory over Sherrod Brown.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Moreno won 50.2% of the vote, defeating Brown’s 46.4%, marking a GOP gain in the Senate.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The race was one of the most expensive Senate contests in history, crucial for Republican control.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;His opponent, incumbent Sherrod Brown, targeted Moreno’s dealership past, implying he “would say anything to sell a car.” This line of attack backfired, galvanizing support from auto industry insiders who saw it as a slight against the profession.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;A critic of federal EV mandates, Moreno argued for consumer choice, advocating that Ohioans—and the auto market—should not be subjected to standards set by California.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Moreno credited auto industry colleagues for their unwavering support, stating, “I appreciate the hundreds of phenomenal entrepreneurs in the car business.”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;CBT News has announced its second annual &lt;a href='https://www.cbtnews.com/cbt-news-celebrates-the-2024-40-under-40-award-winners/'&gt;40 Under 40 awards&lt;/a&gt;, spotlighting rising stars in the automotive retail industry. These honorees demonstrate exceptional talent in areas like sales, marketing, management, and innovation, shaping the future of automotive retail.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;The award recognizes contributions in sales, customer experience, and community service and aims to inspire future leaders in automotive retail.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Co-founders Bridget and Jim Fitzpatrick commend honorees&amp;apos; resilience: &amp;quot;The resilience and dedication demonstrated by every member of the retail automotive community is truly inspiring.&amp;quot;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Friends of ASOTU: Nathanael Greklek, Chief Digital Brand Leader at Mohawk Auto Group,  and Michael Lucki, GM/Operating Partner at Riverhead Mazda&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;OpenAI has made waves by purchasing the &lt;a href='https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/6/24289768/openai-chat-chatgpt-sam-altman-hubspot'&gt;chat.com domain&lt;/a&gt; from HubSpot’s Dharmesh Shah, a move signaling their evolving approach to user interaction.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, shared the new domain, which directly redirects to ChatGPT.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Originally bought by Shah for $15.5M, he later sold it to OpenAI, reportedly at a profit.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Shah cited &amp;quot;Chat-based UX&amp;quot; as the next big trend in software for natural, intuitive interactions.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Shah hinted that OpenAI paid with shares rather than cash, a unique twist on the transaction.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;This move aligns with OpenAI’s recent rebranding efforts, including new model series like “o1” aimed at simplifying and enhancing user perception.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Get the Daily Push Back email at &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Read our most recent email at: &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Shoot us a Text.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.Show Notes with links:Bernie Moreno, former auto dealer and Trump-backed Republican, flipped a longstanding Democratic Senate seat in Ohio, securing a narrow victory over Sherrod Brown.More...

Car Dealer Wins Senate Seat, CBT 40 Under 40, $15M Chat.com

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms">Shoot us a Text.</a>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. Show Notes with links:<ul><li>Former President Donald Trump has <a href='https://www.autonews.com/technology/mobility/an-tk-wins-2024-election/'>won the 2024 election</a>, and his return could lead to major shifts for the auto industry, especially around electric vehicle (EV) policies, trade, and incentives. Here’s what might be in limbo for automakers:<ul><li>EV Regulations: Trump may roll back aggressive EV mandates set under Biden, reducing pressure on automakers to hit strict electrification targets.</li><li>Tax Credits: Biden-era EV tax credits could be at risk, impacting demand and profitability for manufacturers deeply invested in electric tech.</li><li>California’s Emission Standards: Trump might revoke California’s right to set its own emissions standards, affecting states that follow its lead.</li><li>Trade Policies: Trump may tighten restrictions on Chinese vehicle parts, intending to boost domestic production but likely increasing vehicle costs.</li></ul></li><li>The Elon factor: Here’s how Musk’s involvement could shape auto policies and beyond:<ul><li>Trump has proposed forming a government efficiency committee led by Musk, aiming to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Musk has already expressed his interest in reducing government spending by 30%.</li><li>Musk advocates for a unified federal approval process for autonomous vehicles, reducing state-by-state regulatory inconsistencies. He commented, “If there is a department of government efficiency, I’ll try to make that happen.”</li><li>While Trump is generally less favorable toward EV mandates, analysts speculate that Musk’s influence may push for selective pro-EV policies that align with Tesla’s interests.</li><li>Musk, a long-time proponent of U.S.-based manufacturing, may support Trump’s trade stance on limiting Chinese parts imports, which could impact supply chains and costs for EV makers.</li><li>Tesla stocks spiked 15% following the election, underscoring investor optimism over Musk’s potential influence in the new administration.</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>General Motors has claimed the <a href='https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/4/24287933/gm-no-2-ev-sales-october-2024'>number two spot in EV sales</a> in the U.S. for Q3 2024, with 32,000 EVs sold across multiple brands. Ford, however, disputes GM&apos;s approach to these numbers.<ul><li>GM’s EV lineup includes the Chevy Silverado, Blazer, Equinox EVs, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq, all on the Ultium platform.</li><li>GM has sold 370,000 EVs in North America since 2016, with 300,000 of those in the U.S. Tesla remains far ahead, with over 5 million units sold globally since 2008.</li><li>Ford argues it’s still the “No. 2 best-selling EV brand,” claiming GM’s figures count all brands together, altering the comparison.</li></ul></li><li>From Reddit polls to repeat diners, <a href='https://retailwire.com/discussion/ikea-first-stand-alone-restaurant/'>IKEA’s food offerings are beloved</a>, with many customers visiting the store just for the food which is why IKEA’s first stand-alone restaurant next to its Hammersmith store in London marks a fresh chapter for the brand, leveraging its famous Swedish </li></ul>Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier Get the Daily Push Back email at <a href='https://www.asotu.com/'>https://www.asotu.com/</a> JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'>https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/</a> Read our most recent email at: <a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'>https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms"&gt;Shoot us a Text.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Show Notes with links:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Former President Donald Trump has &lt;a href='https://www.autonews.com/technology/mobility/an-tk-wins-2024-election/'&gt;won the 2024 election&lt;/a&gt;, and his return could lead to major shifts for the auto industry, especially around electric vehicle (EV) policies, trade, and incentives. Here’s what might be in limbo for automakers:&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;EV Regulations: Trump may roll back aggressive EV mandates set under Biden, reducing pressure on automakers to hit strict electrification targets.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tax Credits: Biden-era EV tax credits could be at risk, impacting demand and profitability for manufacturers deeply invested in electric tech.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;California’s Emission Standards: Trump might revoke California’s right to set its own emissions standards, affecting states that follow its lead.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Trade Policies: Trump may tighten restrictions on Chinese vehicle parts, intending to boost domestic production but likely increasing vehicle costs.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Elon factor: Here’s how Musk’s involvement could shape auto policies and beyond:&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Trump has proposed forming a government efficiency committee led by Musk, aiming to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Musk has already expressed his interest in reducing government spending by 30%.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Musk advocates for a unified federal approval process for autonomous vehicles, reducing state-by-state regulatory inconsistencies. He commented, “If there is a department of government efficiency, I’ll try to make that happen.”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;While Trump is generally less favorable toward EV mandates, analysts speculate that Musk’s influence may push for selective pro-EV policies that align with Tesla’s interests.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Musk, a long-time proponent of U.S.-based manufacturing, may support Trump’s trade stance on limiting Chinese parts imports, which could impact supply chains and costs for EV makers.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tesla stocks spiked 15% following the election, underscoring investor optimism over Musk’s potential influence in the new administration.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;General Motors has claimed the &lt;a href='https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/4/24287933/gm-no-2-ev-sales-october-2024'&gt;number two spot in EV sales&lt;/a&gt; in the U.S. for Q3 2024, with 32,000 EVs sold across multiple brands. Ford, however, disputes GM&amp;apos;s approach to these numbers.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;GM’s EV lineup includes the Chevy Silverado, Blazer, Equinox EVs, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq, all on the Ultium platform.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;GM has sold 370,000 EVs in North America since 2016, with 300,000 of those in the U.S. Tesla remains far ahead, with over 5 million units sold globally since 2008.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ford argues it’s still the “No. 2 best-selling EV brand,” claiming GM’s figures count all brands together, altering the comparison.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;From Reddit polls to repeat diners, &lt;a href='https://retailwire.com/discussion/ikea-first-stand-alone-restaurant/'&gt;IKEA’s food offerings are beloved&lt;/a&gt;, with many customers visiting the store just for the food which is why IKEA’s first stand-alone restaurant next to its Hammersmith store in London marks a fresh chapter for the brand, leveraging its famous Swedish &lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Get the Daily Push Back email at &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Read our most recent email at: &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Shoot us a Text.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.Show Notes with links:Former President Donald Trump has won the 2024 election, and his return could lead to major shifts for the auto industry, especially around electric vehicle (EV) policies, trade, and incentives. Here’s what might be ...

Trump’s Win Rattles EVs, Musk’s Influence, and IKEA’s Meatball Move

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms">Shoot us a Text.</a>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. Show Notes with links: <ul><li>Stellantis has decided to <a href='https://www.autonews.com/stellantis/an-jeep-wagoneer-price-cuts/'>significantly reduce prices</a> on its 2025 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models to address dealer concerns about high prices slowing inventory turnover.<ul><li>Price cuts range from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on the model, with the base Wagoneer now starting at $61,945, while the Grand Wagoneer begins at $86,945.</li><li>The U.S. market has shown demand; Wagoneer sales are up 79% and Grand Wagoneer sales up 25% through September, supported by both retail and fleet sales.</li><li>Standard features have also been enhanced, including adaptive cruise control on the Wagoneer and a passenger display on the Grand Wagoneer.</li><li>Bob Broderdorf, Jeep North America chief, stated, “By lowering MSRPs as much as $7,000 and enhancing standard equipment... these vehicles have become even more compelling.”</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Tesla CEO Elon Musk has put to rest hopes for a <a href='https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/musk-now-says-its-pointless-build-25000-tesla-human-drivers-2024-11-05/'>human-driven $25,000 EV</a>. He recently revealed that an affordable Tesla would only make sense as a fully self-driving vehicle, shelving plans for an anticipated mass-market, human-driven model.<ul><li>Musk called the idea of a $25K human-driven EV “pointless” and “silly” without full autonomy.</li><li>Tesla’s updated plan now features the “Cybercab”, a two-door, two-seat autonomous vehicle priced at $25,000, planned for 2026.</li><li>This strategy change represents a pivot from Tesla&apos;s initial goal of building 20 million affordable, human-driven vehicles annually by 2030.</li><li>Tesla analyst Seth Goldstein “Tesla realized they were late to making an affordable vehicle versus their Chinese-EV peers… So, they changed their strategy rather than make a large investment to produce a new vehicle.”</li></ul></li></ul> <ul><li>Get ready for your name to be spelled incorrectly on your coffee cup again. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is <a href='https://retailwire.com/heres-how-sharpie-allow-starbucks-employees-humanize-the-coffee-experience/'>bringing Sharpies back</a> into stores as part of his &quot;Back to Starbucks&quot; strategy, aiming to revive a personal touch that Starbucks lost during the pandemic.<ul><li>After three quarters of declining sales, Niccol is cutting unpopular items, like the Oleato, and removing charges for non-dairy substitutes.</li><li>Sharpies will replace digital stickers on cups, allowing baristas to write personal notes or names, enhancing the in-store experience.</li><li>Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” plan focuses on creating a warm, welcoming environment that highlights skilled, personable service.</li><li>“Our fourth-quarter performance makes it clear that we need to fundamentally change our strategy so we can get back to growth,” said Niccol.</li></ul></li></ul>Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier Get the Daily Push Back email at <a href='https://www.asotu.com/'>https://www.asotu.com/</a> JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'>https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/</a> Read our most recent email at: <a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'>https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email</a>

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/1861938/open_sms"&gt;Shoot us a Text.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;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.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Show Notes with links:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Stellantis has decided to &lt;a href='https://www.autonews.com/stellantis/an-jeep-wagoneer-price-cuts/'&gt;significantly reduce prices&lt;/a&gt; on its 2025 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models to address dealer concerns about high prices slowing inventory turnover.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Price cuts range from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on the model, with the base Wagoneer now starting at $61,945, while the Grand Wagoneer begins at $86,945.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The U.S. market has shown demand; Wagoneer sales are up 79% and Grand Wagoneer sales up 25% through September, supported by both retail and fleet sales.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Standard features have also been enhanced, including adaptive cruise control on the Wagoneer and a passenger display on the Grand Wagoneer.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bob Broderdorf, Jeep North America chief, stated, “By lowering MSRPs as much as $7,000 and enhancing standard equipment... these vehicles have become even more compelling.”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tesla CEO Elon Musk has put to rest hopes for a &lt;a href='https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/musk-now-says-its-pointless-build-25000-tesla-human-drivers-2024-11-05/'&gt;human-driven $25,000 EV&lt;/a&gt;. He recently revealed that an affordable Tesla would only make sense as a fully self-driving vehicle, shelving plans for an anticipated mass-market, human-driven model.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Musk called the idea of a $25K human-driven EV “pointless” and “silly” without full autonomy.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tesla’s updated plan now features the “Cybercab”, a two-door, two-seat autonomous vehicle priced at $25,000, planned for 2026.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;This strategy change represents a pivot from Tesla&amp;apos;s initial goal of building 20 million affordable, human-driven vehicles annually by 2030.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tesla analyst Seth Goldstein “Tesla realized they were late to making an affordable vehicle versus their Chinese-EV peers… So, they changed their strategy rather than make a large investment to produce a new vehicle.”&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Get ready for your name to be spelled incorrectly on your coffee cup again. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is &lt;a href='https://retailwire.com/heres-how-sharpie-allow-starbucks-employees-humanize-the-coffee-experience/'&gt;bringing Sharpies back&lt;/a&gt; into stores as part of his &amp;quot;Back to Starbucks&amp;quot; strategy, aiming to revive a personal touch that Starbucks lost during the pandemic.&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;After three quarters of declining sales, Niccol is cutting unpopular items, like the Oleato, and removing charges for non-dairy substitutes.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sharpies will replace digital stickers on cups, allowing baristas to write personal notes or names, enhancing the in-store experience.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” plan focuses on creating a warm, welcoming environment that highlights skilled, personable service.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;“Our fourth-quarter performance makes it clear that we need to fundamentally change our strategy so we can get back to growth,” said Niccol.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;Get the Daily Push Back email at &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: &lt;a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/'&gt;https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Read our most recent email at: &lt;a href='https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email'&gt;https://www.asotu.com/media/push-back-email&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Shoot us a Text.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.Show Notes with links:Stellantis has decided to significantly reduce prices on its 2025 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models to address dealer concerns about high prices slowing invent...

Stellantis Slashes MSRPs, Tesla Leans Into Autonomy, Starbucks Brings Back Sharpies

The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier is a regular weekday show where progressive Automotive Dealers and industry partners aren’t afraid to make some trouble by pushing back on many popular, but failing, beliefs that persist in the Retail Automotive Industry. Beliefs that are degrading both the customer experience and the future of retail Auto Dealers. Paul and Kyle give their fresh take on industry news, technology, culture, and retail while trying not to have too much fun. // The Automotive Troublemaker is produced by Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Learn more at https://www.asotu.com

The Automotive Troublemaker w/ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

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