Episode #1312: Lawmakers push to block Chinese EVs, TruVideo trains the next-gen tech to sell service with video, and stop-start tech may be on its way out as drivers—and regulators—hit the brakes.
Three Democratic senators are urging President Trump to block Chinese automakers from building in the U.S. or importing via North America. With tariffs already high, the debate is shifting from competition to national security.
- Senator Tammi Baldwin, Elissa Slotkin, and Chuck Schumer warn Chinese OEMs setting up U.S. plants could create an “insurmountable” advantage over domestic automakers.
- Republican Senator Bernie Moreno plans legislation to fully seal the market—blocking Chinese vehicles, software, and partnerships entirely.
- Pressure is building across the industry and Capitol Hill to keep Chinese automakers out ahead of a potential Trump–Xi meeting.
- Biden-era 2025 rules effectively banned Chinese passenger vehicles over data security concerns, with strong industry backing, and current tariffs are around 100%, but consumer interest is rising.
- “Inviting China’s automakers…would trigger a national security crisis that could never be reversed,” the senators wrote.
Turning wrenches isn’t enough anymore. Today’s top techs also need to communicate, and TruVideo is stepping in to help, offering its AI-powered video platform to trade schools for free to help students master customer-facing skills before they hit the service lane.
- The focus: teaching students how to clearly explain repairs through video—boosting trust, approvals, and CSI.
- Inspection videos are proven to increase revenue and transparency in service departments, but as Liza Borches shared last week at the NY Auto Forum, only 26% of customers are receiving video MPIs at franchise dealerships.
- CEO Joe Shaker, a former dealer himself, says the platform gives instructors a structured way to grade student videos—evaluating clarity, how the vehicle is presented, and how well recommendations are explained for customer understanding.
- “You can see the improvement from one assignment to the next, and that gives us a concrete way to measure communication. By introducing these tools to students, we’re helping shape the habits that will define the next generation of service professionals.”
Auto stop-start tech was built to save fuel—but it’s been driving customers crazy for years. Now, policy changes and consumer frustration may finally be putting the feature on the chopping block.
- Stop-start systems shut off engines at stops to improve fuel economy—but many drivers say it feels jerky and unnatural.
- Adoption surged from under 1% in 2012 to about 58% of new gas vehicles by 2024, driven by federal incentives.
- The Trump administration recently moved to eliminate the regulatory credits that fueled its growth, sign
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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