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Episode #1265: Today we cover Carvana doubling down on franchised dealerships, the solid-state battery arms race heating up as automakers target 2027 launches, and how 7-Eleven is using AI to cut frontline hiring from weeks to days—saving millions of hours while keeping humans in the loop.

• Carvana is leaning harder into the franchise world. The online used-car giant has acquired its fifth franchised dealership, adding a Stellantis store in Sacramento as it continues blending digital retail scale with traditional brick-and-mortar rooftops.
  • Carvana purchased Sacramento Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram from Nouri/Shaver Automotive Group, with the deal closing Dec. 11.
  • This is Carvana’s fifth Stellantis dealership since they first acquired a store in February 2025, with locations in Arizona, Texas, Georgia, and a second California store.
  • The move comes as Carvana reports strong momentum: used-vehicle sales jumped 44% year-over-year and Q3 net income hit $263 million.
  • A Carvana spokesperson said, “We are proud to bring the Carvana experience to Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram customers in the Sacramento area.”

• Last week brought major milestones in the race to develop solid state batteries, signaling that commercial EV launches powered by solid-state tech are finally moving from promise to pilot.
  • Volkswagen-backed QuantumScape opened its highly automated Eagle Line pilot facility in San Jose, advancing U.S.-based solid-state production.
  • Karma Automotive and Factorial Energy announced the first U.S. solid-state battery production program for passenger vehicles, debuting in the electric Karma Kaveya in 2027.
  • Factorial’s momentum is global, with partners including Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai/Kia, and mass production targeted for 2029.
  • Gartner’s Pedro Pacheco: “This means there is now an ‘arms race’ to see who gets SSBs to market the fastest and most successfully.”

• 7-Eleven is quietly building a playbook for the future of frontline hiring. By combining recruiters, automation, and conversational AI, the convenience-store giant has dramatically cut hiring time, reduced ghosting, and freed up store managers to focus on running the business.
  • Applicants start the process via QR codes that connect them to an AI text assistant named RITA, which gathers info and schedules store-level interviews automatically.
  • After acquiring Speedway in 2021, 7-Eleven shifted from store-only hiring to a recruiter-supported, centralized model that drives better applicant flow.
  • Automated hiring slashed time-to-hire from nearly two weeks to just three days, while improving retention and candidate quality.
  • Automation has saved store leaders over 2 million hours per year, handling about 95% of the hiring process and enabling smarter, store-level recruiting spend.
  • Rachel Allen emphasized the human-f

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 #1264: As the NADA Show wraps, we zoom out on what actually mattered, from a shift in how dealers are thinking about AI, to deeper vendor partnerships, to how dealers are thinking about Chinese vehicles

Show Notes with links:

• As the dust settles from another packed NADA Show, some of the most meaningful takeaways weren’t about flashy announcements, but mindset. Liza Borches shared reflections on leadership, partnerships, and why this year’s conversations felt more practical — and more ready for action.
  • “AI is a strategy conversation, not a tool conversation. It’s less about adding new technology and more about using AI to help us solve problems and connect the tools and partners we already have.”
  • “Partnership matters more than ever. Our vendor partners aren’t just providers — they’re collaborators helping us build better experiences for our customers and teams. The integration that our key partners are not just willing to do but excited to do is a gamechanger.”

• The idea of selling Chinese vehicles in the U.S. split the room at NADA. Dealers openly acknowledged the profit opportunity, even as trade groups and some store owners warned about subsidies, nationalism, and long-term consequences for American retail auto.
  • Presidio Group president George Karolis said dealers are conflicted: “A majority of the dealer respondents saw it as a threat and opportunity — both… the vehicles are really good, slick and more affordable.”
  • Several dealers privately said if Chinese OEMs solve affordability, politics won’t stop them from selling
  • Cable Dahmer Automotive Group owner Carlos Ledezma took a pragmatic stance: “If that’s what the consumer is looking for, then we are going to have to pay attention to that.”
  • NADA CEO Mike Stanton was blunt on policy: “It’s bad for our industry, it’s bad for our country, it’s bad for consumers,” while still conceding NADA wouldn’t block dealers from adding Chinese franchises.
  • Ford Blue president Andrew Frick captured the dealer mindset: “It’s hard for a dealer not to look at that as an opportunity for them as an entrepreneur.”

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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As we wrap up the NADA show this morning, we are energized.

We’re hearing that this has been record years for a lot of industry partners, and dealers are optimistic and ready to try new things.

Our friends at CarRx are our content partners today, and we’ve got Michelle Jackson, EVP of Sales to share with us a little bit more about their product and how they’re approaching the end of the year.

They’ve got a really cool both so we end the show playing Mortal Kombat and solving Rubik’s cubes.

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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We're at the North Hall of the NADA Show today, getting ready for another amazing day.

An underlying theme of all our conversations has been the "Year of the Human." Even though AI is a big theme, dealers are asking, "How does this help my people?"

We love that because of our belief in the motto of Love People More Than You Love Cars, and today we had on Jeremy Rowland to talk more about it.

Thank you to our friends at Mia for making all of the content possible.

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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We've been on the show floor all day, and so this afternoon, we stopped by our friends at Cars Commerce to catch up with the one and only Brian Kramer.

As a former dealer himself, Brian has great insights to the market and how its moving. His latest interest: AI Search, and he unpacks how the trust level in AI search is increasing, and how their tool Carson on Cars.com is an example of that.

Thanks to Cars Commerce for making all of our content today possible.

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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The More Than Cars team is on the ground ready to run hard during the NADA Show.

Today, we’ll be at the JD Power Auto Summit grabbing interviews and writing up all the sessions.

Follow More Than Cars, Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, Michael Cirillo for more great NADA Show Content.

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 #1259: As the automotive world heads to Las Vegas, Paul sits down with outgoing NADA Chairman Tom Castriota for a candid conversation on a whirlwind year of leadership.

• As dealers head to Las Vegas, Paul sits down with outgoing NADA Chairman Tom Castriota for a true Automotive State of the Union. From Washington wins to AI realities and dealer trust, Castriota reflects on a fast-moving year and what lies ahead.
  • Castriota recaps a landmark year of dealer advocacy, including the FTC Cars Rule defeat, CRA action, and direct involvement in major White House policy moments.
  • He frames leadership as service over spotlight, describing his role as an ambassador who spent the year listening to dealers and state associations nationwide.
  • The conversation looks ahead to consolidation, rural dealerships, and long-term stability, with an emphasis on franchise protection and profitability.
  • AI is a major focus, with NADA positioning itself as a trusted, practical resource to help dealers navigate hype versus reality.
  • “My goal was never about Tom Castriota — I’m just an ambassador. We’re the voice of the dealers.”

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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On this Saturday before NADA, Chris and Nathan join Kyle to talk about a recent car crash where a dealership jumped into action.

When three-vehicle crash with a rollover happened directly outside the dealership, putting lives at immediate risk, team members from the Bob Ross Group Mercedes-Benz of Centerville jumped into action, checking on every driver and helping lift a trapped driver from an overturned van.

• Employees stayed on scene, ensuring all involved were safe and accounted for until first responders arrived.
• The moment reinforced that dealerships are often front-line community members, not just businesses behind glass doors.
• “What a great group of Good Samaritans you have there,” wrote one of the drivers involved, thanking the team for their quick, selfless response.

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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