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Episode #1142: Stellantis and GM double down on Canadian production with third-shift revivals. U.S.–South Korea trade tensions threaten key EV investments after a Hyundai-linked ICE raid. Plus, Kyle and Steve share takeaways from the NCM Digital Success Workshop.

Show Notes with links:

• It’s a good day for Canadian auto workers as both Stellantis and General Motors announce plans to extend or reinstate third shifts at major plants, signaling stronger-than-expected demand and effective union pressure.
  • Stellantis' Windsor Assembly Plant will return to a three-shift schedule in Q1 2026.
  • The move follows a commitment made in 2023 Unifor negotiations, aiming to meet increased demand for Chrysler minivans and Dodge Chargers.
  • Unifor Local 444 President James Stewart calls it an “encouraging step” for members and the community.
  • Meanwhile, GM’s Oshawa plant will retain its third shift until January 30, 2026, delaying previously announced layoffs.
  • A spokesperson said the move was in response to short-term ”production needs" for light-duty pickups.
  • Unifor President Lana Payne sees the shift extensions as “a sign of life for a critical industry” under threat from U.S. tariffs: “Fighting back matters.”

• A $350B investment deal between the U.S. and South Korea is under pressure following a high-profile ICE raid and growing concerns about how the fund will be structured—potentially jeopardizing future incentives for Korean automakers.
  • The ICE raid at a Hyundai-linked battery plant in Georgia sparked outrage in South Korea, prompting emergency diplomatic talks.
  • The $350B fund, originally pitched to mirror a U.S.-Japan deal, is now in dispute over whether it includes direct investments or just loan guarantees.
  • South Korea insists it needs different terms due to the greater impact such capital would have on its economy.
  • A key auto trade component—lower tariffs on Korean-made vehicles—is still pending, and may be delayed if talks break down.
  • Kim Yong-beom, South Korea’s director of national policy said that while the auto tariffs are important, they're not worth rushing the fund to completion, either.

0:00 Intro with Kyle Mountsier and Steve Greenfield

0:50 Announcements

1:35 Stellantis, GM Increase Canada Shifts

3:33 South Korea Trade Deal In Jeopardy

5:47 NCM Client and Friends Digital Success Workshop Recap

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 #1141: Tesla drops a philosophy-heavy master plan that barely mentions EVs. Palmer Luckey becomes the first to fly the Jetson One eVTOL. And McKinsey pushes back on AI job fears with a boost in entry-level hiring.

• Tesla’s “Master Plan Part IV” is here, and it might just be the most philosophical of the bunch. With barely a mention of actual cars, the company appears to be pivoting hard toward artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, and an ambitious goal they call “sustainable abundance.”
  • The document positions Tesla as a leader in building tools that "bring AI into the physical world."
  • The original "Master Plans" outlined clear goals: launch EVs, scale production, and push solar. Fewer than 200 words of Part IV reference Tesla's current or future products, with humanoid robot Optimus taking center stage.
  • The plan leans heavily into themes like "Growth is infinite" and "Innovation removes constraints" instead of product roadmaps.
  • Electric vehicles are only mentioned in the context of the past; the future is autonomy, labor automation, and AI computing.
  • Musk has said Tesla’s humanoid robots will account for “~80% of Tesla’s long-term value.”

• Tech founder Palmer Luckey just became the first customer to take delivery of the Jetson One — a personal electric aircraft that doesn't even require a pilot’s license. And yes, he took it for a spin.
  • The Oculus and Anduril founder lifted off in Carlsbad, CA after just 50 minutes of training.
  • Jetson One is a $128,000 single-seat eVTOL with 20-minute flight time and 63 mph top speed.
  • Luckey’s flight kicks off Jetson’s official global rollout; 2025 and 2026 models are already sold out.
  • Jetson’s CTO says their goal is to “move ground-based transportation up to the air.”

• At a time when many fear AI will make junior roles obsolete, McKinsey is leaning in the opposite direction. The firm announced it plans to grow North American hiring by 12% in 2026, with a focus on entry-level talent — especially those fluent in emerging tech.
  • McKinsey currently employs 5,000–7,000 non-partners in North America and could grow that number by up to 20% in five years.
  • North America chair Eric Kutcher values younger workers' fluency in tech: “The 20-year-old econ major… is way more in tune.”
  • Kutcher emphasized that while AI may improve efficiency, it frees up teams to pursue growth initiatives — not layoffs.
  • Many CEOs aren’t excited by cost-cutting; they’re eager to redirect resources toward new opportunities, he noted.
  • “What we will work on will still require the same level of intellect… doing the things that you can't do with machines,” said Kutcher.

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 #1140: Today we’re talking about Toyota’s big ethanol play in Fukushima and California lawmakers slamming the brakes on “Leno’s Law” for classic cars. Plus, Paul’s back with some unexpected retail takeaways from his vacation travels.

Show Notes with links:

• Toyota and a coalition of Japanese automakers are doing something symbolic and strategic — turning the former Fukushima no-go zone into a proving ground for next-gen biofuels.
  • A Toyota-led consortium is piloting ethanol biofuel production in Okuma, the town devastated by the 2011 nuclear disaster.
  • They’re cultivating high-cellulose sorghum, which outperforms corn in poor soil and doesn’t compete with food crops.
  • This is part of Japan’s “multipathway” strategy — pushing hybrids, synthetic fuels, and biofuels alongside EVs.
  • The group, which includes Subaru, Mazda, Suzuki, Daihatsu, and Eneos, opened a $33M plant in November to convert the sorghum to E10 fuel.
  • “We want this movement to spread beyond Japan to the world,” said Toyota CTO Hiroki Nakajima while touring the fields in a straw hat.

• Jay Leno’s push to exempt classic car owners from smog checks in California has officially stalled. Despite passing the Senate and Leno’s personal testimony, the bill was quietly killed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
  • Senate Bill 712, dubbed “Leno’s Law,” would have exempted pre-1981 cars with historic plates from smog checks.
  • The Assembly’s Appropriations Committee killed the bill without explanation, alongside 70 others on its “suspense file.”
  • Leno argued classic car smog checks are outdated, expensive, and hard to perform with modern equipment.
  • Environmental groups and air quality regulators opposed the bill, citing cost and pollution concerns.
  • “Sadly, today California said ‘no’ to helping preserve these rolling pieces of history,” said sponsor Sen. Shannon Grove.

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/