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Recorded live at Merge 2025, this episode of Auto Collabs features Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan, a lifelong advocate for the auto industry and someone whose personal and professional history is deeply tied to it. From growing up with “Body by Fisher” in her blood to working more than three decades in and around automotive before Congress, Dingell makes a clear case for why the automobile remains a backbone of the American economy—and why that reality is often underestimated today.

The conversation spans culture, affordability, and global competition. Dingell reflects on how cars once defined identity and pop culture, why affordability now dominates consumer decisions, and how inconsistent policy has left automakers and retailers caught in the middle. She doesn’t shy away from the hard topics—EV whipsawing, competition with China, and the need for bipartisan certainty—arguing that without stability and intentional strategy, the U.S. risks falling behind in both economic and national security terms.

Timestamped Takeaways:

0:00 Intro — Live at Merge 2025 with Congresswoman Debbie Dingell

0:24 Why the Auto Industry Is the Backbone of the American Economy

0:53 Growing Up ‘Body by Fisher’—How Cars Shaped Her Career

1:45 Why People Don’t Love Cars the Same Way They Used To

2:12 When Cars Were Culture, Identity, and Personal Expression

3:21 Design, Style, and the Slow Return of Emotional Vehicles

4:11 Why Affordability Now Matters More Than Looks for Many Buyers

5:00 The Auto Industry as a Political Ping-Pong Ball

5:55 Competing With China Is an Economic and National Security Issue

6:04 The EV Whipsaw: From Mandates to Demonization

6:59 Why Uncertainty Is Crushing Investment and Confidence

7:57 What the Industry Needs Most Right Now: Certainty

8:27 Her First Car—and Why She Still Drives Both GM and Ford

Learn more about Debbie Dingell: https://debbiedingell.house.gov/contact/

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Recorded live at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's the Merge 2025, this episode of Auto Collabs features Jason Hoff, CEO of Mercedes-Benz North America, sharing a clear look at where the brand is headed—and what that means for dealers. Hoff outlines the largest product launch cycle in Mercedes-Benz history, with nearly 40 models set to debut over the next three years, spanning both electric and internal combustion powertrains. His message is straightforward: customers want choice, and Mercedes intends to meet them where they are.

The conversation also dives into the brand’s shift toward software-defined vehicles, including the rollout of the new Mercedes-Benz Operating System, over-the-air updates, and a user experience now expected by premium buyers. Hoff closes with a direct message to dealers: growth is the goal, but it’s backed by product, planning, and long-term investment in the U.S. market—supported by local production in Tuscaloosa and Charleston.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro — Live at Merge 2025 with Jason Hoff

0:39 The Largest Product Launch Cycle in Mercedes-Benz History

1:10 Why Choice Matters: EVs and ICE Side by Side

1:45 A First Look at What’s Coming Over the Next Three Years

2:20 Why the U.S. Market Is a Top Priority for Mercedes-Benz

2:55 Local Production and Building for American Customers

3:18 The Shift to Software-Defined Vehicles at Mercedes

3:40 Inside the New Mercedes-Benz Operating System

3:58 Why Over-the-Air Updates Are Now Table Stakes

4:22 What Dealers Should Focus on in the Next 12–24 Months

4:55 Growth, Conquest, and Confidence in the Brand

5:15 Why Mercedes Believes in the Long-Term Dealer Relationship

Connect with Jason Hoff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hoff-514053142/

Learn about Mercedes-Benz North America: https://group.mercedes-benz.com/company/north-america/

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Recorded live at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's the Merge 2025, this episode features Michael Dunne, one of the most respected global analysts on the Chinese auto industry. From his vantage point tracking China for decades, Dunne delivers a blunt assessment: the biggest issue facing the auto industry today isn’t EVs, autonomy, or affordability—it’s China, at a scale most Americans still don’t fully see.

Dunne explains how Chinese automakers have gone from exporting one million vehicles to eight million in just five years, why 70% of those exports aren’t EVs, and how China is overwhelming markets across Europe, Asia, and the developing world. He warns that this moment is fundamentally different from Japan or Korea, calling it “15 Japans at once,” and argues that without coordination among allies, faster decision-making, and a complete rethink of cost, scale, and R&D, the U.S. risks falling behind faster than most leaders expect.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro — Live at Merge 2025 with Michael Dunne

0:27 Why the Top Three Auto Issues All Start With China

0:48 America’s ‘Island of Ignorance’ Problem

1:51 From 1 Million to 8 Million Exports in Five Years

2:13 The Surprise: Most Chinese Exports Aren’t EVs

2:35 How China Adapts Powertrains Market by Market

3:14 “This Isn’t Japan or Korea—It’s 15 Japans at Once”

3:51 How China Moves Faster at Half the Cost

4:14 Why a Domestic Price War Is Fueling Global Expansion

5:17 The Industries China Already Dominates—and Why Auto Is Next

6:21 Why the U.S. Needs Allies to Compete at Scale

7:03 The Shock of China’s Rapid Takeover in Europe

7:56 Why Consumers Are Driving the Shift

8:31 Where to Follow Michael Dunne’s Work on China

Connect with Michael Dunne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-dunne-a696901a/

Sign up for the Dunne Insights Newsletter: https://www.dunneinsights.com/

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