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Episode #1100: Franchised dealerships saw a 22% profit surge in Q2, led by strong gains in import and domestic brands. Ford unveiled a high-tech electric Bronco, but it’s only for China. Meanwhile, Tesla opened its retro-style diner and drive-in in Hollywood, complete with Superchargers, rooftop views, and robot service.

Franchised dealerships saw a big jump in net profits this quarter as customers rushed to buy before tariffs hit, according to the Q2 2025 Presidio-NCM Benchmark. Profit gains came with a small asterisk because of the big cybersecurity hit last year. However this does mark the first quarterly improvement in domestic brands in three years.

• Average franchised dealerships posted a 22% net profit increase year-over-year, helped by both import and domestic brand gains.
• Import stores led with a 34% profit rise, luxury stores up 32%, and domestic stores rebounded 24% for the first time since 2022.
• New-vehicle gross profit per unit rose 6.1% from Q1 2025 to $2,128, reversing a multi-year decline.
• Used-vehicle gross profit climbed 11%, while finance and insurance income increased 5.6%, supporting overall revenue growth to $22 million per dealership.
• “Sustained profitability will come from a focus on fundamentals and a willingness to adapt as market conditions continue to evolve,” said Paul Faletti, CEO of NCM Associates.

Ford has built a fully electric Bronco SUV with some impressive specs like 403-mile range, advanced EV tech, including lidar and 30+ sensors for semi-autonomous driving, and a heavier/smoother ride but there’s a catch… it’s only coming to China

• The Bronco New Energy offers two powertrains: a full electric with a 105 kWh battery and an extended-range hybrid (EREV) combining a 43.7 kWh battery with a 1.5L gas generator.
• The hybrid version can cover up to 800 miles total, with 137 miles purely on battery before the gas engine kicks in.
• The SUV is big and heavy—nearly 5,800 pounds and almost 9 inches longer than the gas Bronco—providing a planted ride but potentially slower cornering.
• Ford’s smart cabin includes unique modes like “naps, pets, camping overnight” designed for comfort and convenience.

Tesla’s new Diner and Drive-In in Hollywood is ready to serve nostalgia and innovation side by side. Opening July 21, 2025, this retro-futuristic spot combines classic diner vibes with 75 Tesla Supercharger stalls and even features a Tesla Optimus robot.

• The two-story, saucer-shaped diner sits on historic Route 66 and offers 9,300 sq ft including a rooftop bar with panoramic views.
• Classic movies and SpaceX launch footage play on two massive LED screens syncing audio to your Tesla’s stereo for a true drive-in experience.
• Tesla owners get exclusive perks like in-car touchscreen ordering and carhop service on roller skates delivering diner classics served in Cybertruck-themed packaging.
• Charging supports up to 250 kW for Models S, 3, X, Y, a

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 #1099: It’s Saturday, which means Chris Reeves is back in the studio with another story that brings all the feels.

This time it’s about Speedway Subaru in Indianapolis. When a service advisor found out a longtime customer had lost everything in a house fire, including the dog that saved their life, he didn’t just offer sympathy. He took action. The team came together to donate a car and provide essentials to help the family rebuild.

We talk about what it means to be oriented toward people, how a culture of awareness makes stories like this possible, and yes, somehow we get into Dungeons & Dragons too.

Story Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/speedwaycars_subarulovepromise-speedwaycares-speedwaysubaru-activity-7349806799643893761-r1Xg/?rcm=ACoAADx8cGUBDLlEN_DFCU9c17qutER63LD65xg

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/

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/

Shoot us a Text.

Episode #1098: Rivian is laying foundations in Georgia with a new East Coast HQ and massive EV factory. A brave deacon turns his F-150 into a life-saving shield, and gets rewarded. And OpenAI's latest ChatGPT upgrade puts real-world task management on autopilot.

• Rivian is plugging into Atlanta as it sets the stage for its next major manufacturing move. The EV maker is launching an East Coast HQ to support its second plant, with big plans to expand.
  • The Atlanta office opens late 2025, expands in 2026 to support the nearby Georgia plant.
  • An initial staff of 100 will grow to around 500.
  • The new $6B+ factory in Stanton Springs to begin vertical construction in 2026 which will produce R2 and R3 models starting 2028, span 16 million sq. ft., and employ 7,500.
  • CEO RJ Scaringe: “Atlanta embodies so much that makes Georgia great — top talent, exceptional creativity, and a desire to always be moving forward.”

• Some heroes don’t wear capes, they drive F-150s. When Richard Pryor saw a man pulling a weapon outside Crosspointe Church during Vacation Bible School, he didn’t freeze. He floored it. The deacon used his truck to stop what could’ve been a tragic day in Wayne, MI.
  • Though he saved countless lives that day, unfortunately his truck didn’t survive the harrowing incident after taking a round and crashing
  • When Demmer Ford heard what Richard had done, they handed him the keys to a new 2025 F-150 as a gesture of appreciation for his courage and quick action.
  • We may not all have Richard’s bravery, but every one of us has the power to do something that matters. The key is keeping your eyes open and your heart ready.

• OpenAI has launched a game-changing upgrade to ChatGPT, giving it its own virtual computer. This move turns the AI into a fully-fledged assistant that can execute complex tasks—start to finish—without skipping a beat.
  • ChatGPT Agent can now handle real-world work like analyzing competitors, booking travel, and updating spreadsheets, all from your single prompt.
  • It blends the strengths of previous tools—Operator and deep research—into one powerful, task-completing system.
  • The AI can click, scroll, code, and summarize, even logging into your Gmail or GitHub (with permission) to grab the info it needs.
  • New benchmarks show it beats human-level accuracy across investment banking, data science, and spreadsheet modeling tasks.
  • “You’re always in control,” says OpenAI. “You can take over the browser, pause tasks, or get a real-time progress summary.”
  • Starting today (July 17–18), it’s available to Pro, Plus, and Team subscribers. Just toggle “Agent Mode” in the tools dropdown during any chat

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/