The Automotive Troublemaker

It is a Wednesday to remember as we celebrate the one year anniversary of this podcast! We also talk about NADA’s submission to the FTC that cited us, as well as covering the live situation in Florida as Hurricane Ivan closes in.

We’re thankful for Thursdays as we give you a fly over of all things pop culture in this unique episode of The Automotive Troublemaker. We also talk about some motorized momentum in new mobility stocks as of this week.

This Tuesday we’re all about the changing season as we talk about popular opinion looking for a dealership when buying that first EV. We also talk about the rapid growth of Tesla’s used car business, as well as the NFL replacing the Pro Bowl with something much more 2023.

It’s Monday as we welcome our first week of Fall talking about Toyota’s changing tone on rapid EV adoption. We also talk about the badges which may be driving Ford’s supply hold ups, as well as Target going all in on holiday season…like now.

It’s time for that Friday Feeling as we talk about Ford’s significant executive reorganization. We also cover Tesla’s recall that Elon Musk doesn’t like calling a recall, as well as Walmart’s move to be the easiest place for Christmas shopping this year.

This Thursday we’re doing a fly over of yesterday's Fed announcement on interest rates. We’re also talking about a massive Tesla powered neighborhood, as well as a pretty solid case for hydrogen. Yes, hydrogen is still in the running.

Welcome to Wednesday as we’re covering an announcement by GM and Hertz to move some serious EV volume through rental fleets. We also talk about what the lithium supply is looking like as well as the effects of rising interest rates on Dealers and home owners alike.

Happy Tuesday! It’s like Monday, but less imminent. Today we’re breaking down the upcoming Porsche IPO which is a little complicated. We’re also covering why Tesla deployed their FSD team to work on their Humanoid, as well as the basics of what the Ethereum Merge means for you and the planet.

It’s Monday and we have a great week in the works! Today we cover the auto advertisers who are swooning back to the live viewership. We also meet Rivian’s Chief Lobbyist and get into the WSJ comments section, as well as the impact of the much awaited ‘merge’ for the crypto currency Ethereum.

Welcome to Friday! Today we’re covering the drop in retail packages being shipped and what that means for the broader retail economy. We also talk about Tesla's move to larger facilities, as well as the 18 year old that hacked Uber…completely.

We’re back in the saddle talking about the ongoing Ford Dealer meetings in LasVegas regarding the shift to Model e. We’re also talking about the rail strike that may never happen, and WalMarts new tech that allows users to upload some ‘personal’ photos to virtually try on clothes.

We have that ‘Friday feeling’ as we’re prepping to roll onto ASOTU CON. But first, we’re talking about the Queen’s epic taste in cars, the wholesale price index in August seeing some sinking numbers, as well as a bold move by retailer Lowes in its reorganizing marketing and merchandising.

We have a special show for you today as we welcome special guest, Jamie Oldershaw, GM of DealerRater. We also talk about changes to primary care, as well as your closing window of opportunity to weigh in on the new FTC proposed rules for Dealers.

Holiday week means it’s already Wednesday as we give a power purview from across the spectrum of uses. We also talk about the unintended negative effects of service CSIs, as well as the return to Steve Jobs’ Theater for the latest Apple event in Cupertino, CA.

Welcome to Friday, friends. Today we share what we’ve been learning from talking to Dealers all week. We also cover California’s power shortages, Netflix taking the expensive route for advertisers, and the much anticipated ‘edit tweet’ button.

This Tuesday we’re taking a look into the future of Dealer threats, the past of auto pricing, as well as talking about the now when it comes to new EV charging infrastructure pop ups.

Happy Thursday Troublemakers. Today we are talking about the longest permitting process ever and why it needs to change if EV Automakers will be able to keep up. We also talk about the premium price that is about to come with Netflix new ad service, as well as a fact-checked $30k EV battery replacement.

Welcome to Wednesday as we cover ACV’s recent lawsuit filed against major and minor auction houses, a recent story on NPR covering the so-called ‘stealership’ phenomenon, as well as retailer Nordstrom’s strategy to move product offerings upmarket.

Tuesday offers us a vague and precise picture of our future as we cover some highly audacious EV goals from Elon, a new way to do navigation (you’re gonna love it), as well as some stats on how fast people are watching your YouTube videos.

We’re set to take off this Monday with some investigative journalism around Carvana’s claims, Google gets very helpful in their recent search update, and the US is going back to the moon (ish) today.

Lot’s of fun this Friday as we breakdown California’s 2035 EV rules, Fed Chair, Jerome Powell’s incoming speech from Jackson Hole, WY, as well as the Tesla stock split and Space X’s T-Mobile tag team.

We have some work to do this Thursday as we cover the FTC declining of the deadline for public comment on proposed legislation. We also cover the barrage of negative dealer coverage on YouTube. We’re also going to take a look at EV adoption data.

Tuesdays are for Troublemakers. Today we cover Ford’s layoff of 3000 workers, the guilty plea of a Chinese former employee working in Apple’s automotive division, and why so many TikTockers are talking about Costco.

Today we take a quick-shot look across the EV space as we talk about the heavy lift following the recent Climate Bill, the Sony Honda collab destined to change the in-car experience, and get into the details of the latest Tesla update.

It’s the start of another great week as we talk about Dodge’s noisy little addition to the EV race, Tesla bumping the price of Autopilot in a tweet, and your favorite striped cereal mascot becomes a YouTuber. And it’s only Monday.

We made it all the way to Friday and we’re just getting started. Today we talk about Toyota’s new Head of Sales’ predictions on that what and when of inventory recovery. We also dig into Uber and Lyft’s plans to get deep in the ad game, as well as a new study revealing the dollar amount associated with raising a child.

On this glorious Thursday we’re covering the continued retail drama as Target reports major Q2 Losses. We also cover a very real-world F-150 Lightning review, as well as Apple’s next big thing.

Welcome to Wednesday as we take a look at Walmarts earnings report which indicates a new type of clientele at its stores. We also cover GM welcoming a luxury brand member to its board, as well as an candid EV review we think every Dealership employee should read.

This Tuesday we’re talking about unconventional healthcare with big time satisfaction. The Walmart - Amazon rivalry takes another step up. We also cover Apple's return to work (finally) and layoffs at Best Buy which could benefit Dealership employee searches.

It’s a fantastic Monday to sell and service some cars. Today we’re talking about the shifts Dealerships are seeing in used cars, and how hundreds of Dealers and Industry Partners are coming together to take advantage of the changing landscape head-on. We also cover a Utah grocer who is breaking convention to serve consumers the way they want.

Walking into a much cooler Friday than last week for most of the country, we’re covering a move by startup Autonomy to boost EV offerings, GM retooling and simplifying its chip infrastructure, as well as the Gen Z trend of trusting TikTok for search.

We hope you’re up and at ‘em this Thursday as we share a great story about a recent acquisition deal between two families on a handshake. We also cover Disney’s moves in streaming and theme parks to keep consumers happy, as well as a big day coming for cryptocurrency Ethereum.

This is an eventful Wednesday as we unpack some business and some drama while we talk about the Shift/CarLotz merger, GM forcing a very expensive subscription on buyers, Echo Park hiring a cutting edge social agency, and Google trying to shame Apple to get rid of it’s blue imessage bubbles.

Tuesday is all about loyalty as we talk about the continued decline of both brand and Dealership loyalty, the lack of confidence in Auto brands, Dealerships, and the housing market. We also talk about premium brand McLaren getting into the sneaker game.

Welcome to a fresh, shiny new week as we follow up on the weekend’s progress of the EV Tax credit bill we covered last week. We also talk about the advice circulating the internet regarding the best time to buy a car, as well as CVS’s plans to expand into primary care.

We’re rounding out the week with Carvana’s Q2 performance and integration of ADESA, as well as general retail traffic increasing in shopping malls leading to tenants moving in. We also talk about a substantially more powerful sensor for autonomous vehicle operation.

As we cruise into the back half of the week we’re giving you a breakdown of the proposed EV Tax Credit. We also talk about why capital investments from big companies are a good sign for the economy. Finally, we’re getting to the bottom of whether or not that legendary tire return story at Nordstrom’s is true or not.

We are fired up after a day of content creation and invigorating conversations! Today we dive into the OEM sales data from July, an issue with credit reporting from Experian, and a downturn in overall job listings pertaining to Metaverse roles across job boards. Time to kick it into high gear as we roll up our sleeves and get to work!

There’s a lot to cover this morning as we dive into a letter from GM to its dealers penalizing resale of hot models. We also talk about the major current and projected growth of the service and parts departments, as well as the moves CPG companies are making to feel out the consumer mentality on value and luxury in the personal care products they are purchasing.

Welcome a fresh, shiny new month as we kick off the last full month of Summer with news about Ford CEO, Jim Farley’s comments on a recent shareholder call, Rivian’s service center plans, and the reason NBA fans are helpling the adoption of Web 3 move forward.

We’re closing out another great week of Troublemaking as we talk about Ally Financial’s report on the strength of consumer demand amongst rising rates. We also talk about why Amazon is faring better than its competitors, as well as JetBlues acquisition of Spirit and what it means for air travel.

There is so much to talk about regarding the markets, we couldn’t possibly focus on just one story so we’re giving you a high speed summary. We’re also talking about Apple's recent poach from Lamborghini, as well as a growing trend of resorts charging big bucks for pool chair rentals.

Welcome to Wednesday as we cover the potential developments around the Fed's meeting on interest rates, the 2023 NADA Show opening up tickets and all the fanfare, as well as Instagram CEO’s response to millions of disgruntled users.

We’re rolling into Tuesday as earnings reports keep flowing. Today we cover GM’s report, what Walmart is doing to manage inventory and keep customers spending, as well as the pink condiment that has the Gen X internet deeply divided.

We’re kicking off a great week with some optimism on the economy. How about that?! We talk through Cox, Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke’s time with us and the All Things Used Car Community last Friday. We also talk about the rise in numbers of Minority Dealers across the country, as well as a Harvard collab with the Census Bureau that studies how far young adults are moving (or not moving).

Rounding out another great week of troublemaking, we’re talking about what a world looks like where Amazon knows your most private details, what the return of the rebate might look like and when, and Ford and GM ask the government for permission to go full autonomous.

Today we’re talking about a major cut in salaried positions at Ford, the Q2 Tesla investor call that gave some insight into when Tesla’s Cybertruck may be entering the market, and a legal move by Amazon intended to keep global site reviews honest.

Welcome to Wednesday Troublemakers. Today we’re covering VW of America’s CEO, Scott Keogh’s move to be the CEO of new VW EV brand Scout. We also talk about Netflix continued slide and plans to add ads, as well as Kia’s latest commercial that takes another swing at integrating with NFT’s

We love days like today. For one, we are wheels up to Philly to keep scoping everything out for you with a great ASOTU CON in mind. And two…we are meeting Michael Cirillo there, because “why not!?” Today we give you more insight into our newest podcast launching, gaming coming a lot closer to vehicle screens, and celebration of history in design by Hyundai with their new concept car.

We’re moving through a great week as we talk about broader changes in retail leadership and why we should care. We also cover the reasoning behind Berkshire Hathaway’s push deeper into oil, the Dollar being worth more than the Euro for the first time in 20 years, and maybe a bonus story :)

We’re waking up Wednesday morning fresh off a trip to Atlanta and yes, we brought you something back. We talk to Beaver Toyota GM Patrick Abad about popular recession rhetoric, and how he is taking it in stride. We also talk about car repossessions on the rise and subscription heated seats.

It’s a good day for ASOTU because we get to spend some time on the ground and in the dirt of a real-live dealership! We’re also talking about why we’re spending so much time ‘slack-splaining’ and what we can do to fix that. Finally, we’re announcing our first speaker for ASOTU CON in September.

We’re kicking off a week of troublemaking by giving props to the Auto News 40 Under 40 list. We’re also covering the rise to record new car loan payments, as well as trying to learn a thing or two about how F1 has become a household name through telling great stories.

It’s a beautiful Friday and we’re covering Cox Chief Economist Jonathan Smokes latest bi-weekly Auto Market report. We’re also talking about the retail mindset and how it is affected by the price of Costco hot dogs and Dealership markups from across the country.

Today we have Steve Greenfield returning to the show to talk through his July Auto Intel Report where we’ll summarize some of the biggest happenings in Retail Auto over the last 30 days and get some insight on what they mean for the next 30, 60, and 90 Days.

Today we cover a new EV entrant with a very creative way to solve the financing problem. We also talk about the psychological impact of fresh cut flowers and why it matters for your showroom. Finally, we take a look at a few lessons to be learned from this day in history way back in 1930.

Now that the holiday is over, we can really start off the second half of the year as we launch ASOTU tickets! We also talk about Chevy’s first NFT of a Corvette Z06, how the Fed is paying a lot of attention to how you are thinking about inflation, and Tesla’s new pothole adjusting tech that will hopefully make all of our rides a lot smoother.

As much of the country starts moving around for the holiday weekend we’re bringing a summary of OEM EV plans, talking about the upcoming ability to pay for gas while still in your car, and the real possibility of in-flight high speed internet service.

Today we bring you up to speed from a wild start to 2022 as we talk about what the trends in the markets, proposed FTC rules, and what one Dealer is doing to serve the community mean for you.

On this beautiful Summer Day we’re talking about the birthday of the iPhone and it’s impact on society. We also cover JD Power’s Initial Quality survey and how things aren’t trending in the right direction, as well as new report from the American Psychiatric Association showing that a large portion of the adult population are too stressed to do normal things and what we can do about it.

We’re celebrating our 200th Episode of the Automotive Troublemaker by….bringing you essential news and insights of course :). Today we talk about Ford keeping their off lease EVs, summarizing the Super Bowl of NFTs, and studying the first 90 days of a new hire.

It’s full speed ahead this Monday as we hit the ground running on some lingering items from last week and take a fresh look at what’s happening with Automotive, retail, consumer demand, and preview what’s in store this week as we move toward closing out June with massive momentum.

Paul and Kyle wrap up VADA with a conversation with Mike Stanton and Liza Borches talking all things Franchise Retail Automotive.

We are winding down our time at the VADA convention and have been enamored by the energy and conversations here. Less than 2 weeks from now tickets for ASOTU CON will go on sale, but for now: the news. GM and Ford are racing to the top to take over Tesla, July 4th weekend looks like it will be a record for car travel, and Amazon has implemented their first full autonomous robot to hold down the warehouse floor.

We are still enjoying the beautiful landscape of the hills of Ashville at the VADA Convention. Today we catch you up on some conversations that happened at the convention yesterday, a robot charging station, gas tax initiatives, and a reality check on getting VR closer to reality.

As the Virginia Auto Dealers Association annual meeting kicks off in Asheville, NC, we’re talking about who Dealers are focusing on in their efforts to move forward. We also cover continually rising new car pricing, as well as how to get creative with the business you already have.

Happy Friday! Today we’re covering the Automotive News Congress in Washington yesterday, we review some of the many class act LinkedIn posts from former Tesla employees, and talk about why some Sonos customers just keep having speakers show up at their front do

A mix of seriousness and fun on today’s show as we talk about the current and future rate increases from the Fed, Facebook putting on some summer shorts, printing parts in parts to increase service speed, and an amazing little scooter.

This Wednesday we’re surveying the consumer landscape starting with the standings in the EV Truck race. We also talk about retail spending shifts, Coinbase’s about face with its staff, and finally, streaming for a sport that actually makes sense from a consumer’s standpoint.

It’s Troublemaker Tuesday and we’ve got a full plate of trouble to talk about from the markets that just can’t seem to stay out of the headlines, to a joint letter from automakers to congress. We’re also talking about the potentially real arrival of Amazon drone delivery almost a decade later.

We’ve got a special episode today as we talk about the rapidly shifting wholesale market. We also have the honor of being the first to announce the big move of ASOTU Investor and long time dealer, Brian Kramer as he is named EVP Cars.com to be Head of used car acquisition platform AccuTrade. Hang on everyone, we’re comin’ in hot on a Monday.

Friday is shaping up to be a full day as we talk about yesterday’s trip, and specifically, two young lot attendants. We also talk about Porsche’s new partnership with new startup incubator, Up.Labs, Saturn’s ‘crazy’ idea from 20 years ago, and EV standards being shaped by the US.

We’re in the City of Brotherly Love this Thursday and are talking about ASOTU CON plans, the EU going all in on EV by 2035, the financial sense of an electric lifestyle, and Brad Pitt driving Formula 1

Welcome to Wednesday as we’re talking about Lucids partnership with Bank of America to offer seamless financing, Manheim reporting a rise in wholesale prices, Taco bell’s new concept store that could set the standard for drive thru, and Ford’s surprise Lightning accessory.

There was lots of excitement for Apple fans yesterday around the WWDC22 event and broader implications for the future of flexibility for in-vehicle UIs. We’re giving you a summary of both. We also cover Ford’s contribution to a middle school summer camp in the Tampa Bay area, and also talk about summer gas prices and consumer driving habits.

We’re making some big trouble on a Monday morning as we talk through Volvo’s partnership with the creator of the popular game Fortnite, Epic Games. We also have special guest, Brain Pasch on the show to talk about his direct approach to questioning Ford CEO, Jim Farley’s direct approach to selling EVs.

This Friday is a blend of volatility and stability as we talk about the latest auto Intel report, EV pricing taking a big step forward by taking a big step backward, and which billionaires make the most impact.

The key word for this Thursday’s show is ‘transition’. From Ford CEO, Jim Farley’s recent talk, to a massive leadership move for Meta, to Used Car indicators; we are moving from one thing to the next. To us, this smells a lot like opportunity.

We’re coming off of a day in the dirt as we spend the day in and out of a dozen showrooms. So today, we’re talking about showroom flow, EV charging stations lagging behind expected demand, and the international labor shortage coming to our shores.

Summer is here for many, but shortages are persisting. Today we talk through some of the reasoning. We also talk about the legendary Delorean that is about to spread its EV (gull)wings.

Memorial Day weekend has unofficially begun. We are joined this morning by Matt Lasher with the West Herr Group to talk a bit about marketing and OEM programs. Time to gear up for a huge close and the kickoff to the summer selling season. Get out your grillware and fire up the burners!

It’s Thursday, folks! As we round the corner this week we’re talking about takeaways from Brian Pasch’s DMSC conference in Napa, the strength of Dealer associations and NADA showing up, and the real possibility of a battery that lasts 100 years.

Today we cover the breakout horse in the drone package delivery race, talk about they simple ‘why’ behind the recently discovered GM consumer hack, and discuss some 3rd party online transaction options. We’ll also try our best to make fun of ourselves. 

It’s a brand-spanking-new Tuesday to make some trouble as we take a look across Auto Retail, marketing, and all retail this morning. From big moves in Europe that give us warning, to the consumer mindset regarding social media ad platforms, we’re leaning in with Auto Dealers so that we can all lean-into our teams and communities today.

This Monday, we’re walking with our heads up, and eyes scanning the horizon as we summarize Paul’s recent trip to the Web3 conference, VeeCon. We also talk about Mercedes getting creative with its charitable giving (and why we think you should too). Finally, we look at Amazon’s newest last-mile delivery testing.

With Paul on the ground at VeeCon, we hear from him and invite Brian Kramer to the show. We are talking cars with ghosts (seemingly), a new podcast to listen to, and how markets are impacting dealers.

Today’s flyover is a target-rich environment with a wide swath of news. In order to keep it under 12 hours, we’re talking about Tesla getting kicked from the ESG index (we’ll explain), why signals are not looking good for subprime borrowers, and the new priorities in return-to-work as evidenced by Adidas.

Working through a Wednesday of movement and stalling as we talk about the Fed’s position and posture toward inflation. We also talk about Carvana’s license suspension in Illinois, and Cadillac’s move into the younger demographic.

Tuesday’s are for Troublemakers as we talk about the revealing of a new Tesla hack with broader implications, Home Depot is seeing fewer customers but higher revenue, and the great Dealer consolidation marches on.

There is a lot to talk about this Monday as we survey the retail landscape across fast food, fitness, Auto OEM’s, and publicly traded auto retail including Vroom’s rightsizing and CarGurus new end to end offering for Dealers.

It’s a retail consumer facing kind of day as we talk about some major shifts of recent norms. We dive into crypto’s current fallout as well as Disney’s ad-supported strategy for a completely DTC version of ESPN. We also celebrate the resilience of Ukrainian workers who are supplying vital harnesses to the Automotive Industry. 

We’re back in our respective Nashville and Syracuse saddles today as we give a flyover of the on-the-ground reaction of the Retail Auto Industry to the Carvana layoffs as well as Toyota’s decline in profitability due to raw material costs. Speaking of ‘flying over’, we talk about one company working to bring flying cars to the masses.

Digital Dealer may be wrapping up today, but the automotive industry has a full head of steam. For those that are iPod historians, we have a sad truth hitting the airwaves today. From things leaving to things coming back, we know that change is always in the air in the current market.

We are brimming with pride after seeing so many incredible people from across automotive yesterday. This industry really is incredible, and being in person with so many of the brightest minds confirms it over and over. We are live at Digital Dealer Tampa and talking through the Ford share sell off, F1 Miami for the weekend, and the reality of Crypto matching stocks staring at everyone.

We’re giving our quick takes and must see sessions on the first day of Digital Dealer in Tampa, Florida.

Only one weekend away from Digital Dealer and our ASOTU Family Reunion:Remix event! We are resting up to be ready to see all of our friends again. Today we take a journey around humanizing your approach in business. 

Today we’re making finance fun as we talk about yesterday’s interest rate hike, the NFT that broke the blockchain, more Dealers accepting crypto and how you can make sense of it all whatever your position in the Dealership is.

We can’t believe we didn’t work in a May the 4th be with you story as we’re talking about the consumer mindset today. Despite inflation and record-low OEM production, consumers are planning a big summer according to indicators, and we think Retail Auto should have something to do with making it happen!

Today we are talking about identifying the things we both can and can’t control as we talk about EV credits ending for Toyota, a growing number of retirees getting back into the workforce due to rising costs, and Facebook calling it quits on its podcast platform just one year after launch.

It’s a sparkling-fresh new month as May rolls in with lots of optimism and opportunities. Today we talk about the shifting landscape at the front of the pack in Retail Auto as big players have been making big moves. We also talk about this months Auto Intel Report by Steve Greenfield as well as update you a a crypto move we reported on regarding Nike months ago.