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Episode #1297: The EV world is getting hit from all sides — punishing fee proposals, $50 billion in industry write-downs, and a bold $1.25 billion Uber-Rivian robotaxi bet.

A growing wave of state and federal EV fee proposals would charge electric vehicle owners two to three times what the average gas car driver pays in federal fuel tax.

• House Transportation Committee Chairman Sam Graves introduced a federal $200 annual EV fee — more than double the ~$95 average gas car driver pays in federal fuel tax each year.
• The fee is a flat charge with no connection to actual road usage, meaning a grandmother driving 3,000 miles pays the same as a daily commuter logging 25,000.
• 36 states already impose EV fees that result in EV owners paying more than gas drivers contribute through fuel taxes, with Texas charging $400 upfront plus $200 annually.

Automakers are unwinding EV bets at a combined cost approaching $50 billion, a stark reminder of how aggressively the industry moved, and how quickly the market shifted beneath them.

• Ford leads the charge with roughly $20.9 billion in EV-related write-downs through 2027, including the cancellation of the F-150 Lightning and a pair of three-row electric crossovers.
• Stellantis previewed €22 billion in charges — the largest single write-down — covering canceled vehicle programs, EV supply chain restructuring, and the end of a battery joint venture in Canada.
• GM and Honda round out the list, with GM topping $7 billion in 2025 EV charges and Honda projecting $1.9 billion by March — including winding down the Prologue and Acura ZDX programs.
• As iSeeCars analyst Karl Brauer put it, “There’s just been an overinvestment and, certainly, obviously too aggressive of a timeline”

Uber is betting $1.25 billion on Rivian to power its next robotaxi push, with plans to deploy up to 50,000 autonomous R2s across 25 cities by 2031.

• The deal includes an initial $300 million investment and commitments to purchase 10,000 autonomous R2s, with options for 40,000 more starting in 2030.
• Rivian's R2 robotaxis will launch exclusively on Uber's platform, starting in San Francisco and Miami in 2028, then expanding across the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
• The deal follows Rivian's $5.8 billion Volkswagen software partnership and adds to Uber's growing roster of AV deals with Lucid, Zoox, Stellantis, and Nvidia.
• Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: "That vertical integration, combined with data from their growing consumer vehicle base and experience managing the complexities of commercial fleets, gives us conviction to set these ambitious but achievable targets."

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Episode #1296: GM and LG retool for energy storage as EV demand cools, VinFast restarts its North Carolina factory with a fraction of the jobs promised, and Nvidia adds four major automakers to its autonomous driving platform.

Show Notes with links:

• GM and LG are retooling their Tennessee Ultium Cells joint venture plant for energy storage batteries, and recalling 700 laid-off workers to make it happen. The facility was originally built to supply EV batteries, but slower-than-expected adoption changed the math.
  • The Ultium Cells joint venture will shift to lithium-iron phosphate battery production starting in Q2, targeting the booming energy storage market.
  • AI data centers are driving massive electricity demand, making grid storage one of the fastest-growing battery opportunities right now.
  • "Right now, the demand exceeds supply tremendously, and it's going to continue to exceed it for the next several years." — Kurt Kelty, GM VP of Battery, Propulsion and Sustainability

• VinFast is restarting construction on its North Carolina factory after a year-long pause, now targeting a 2028 launch. The original vision has shrunk considerably, and the company's finances aren't making the story any easier to tell.
  • The plant's projected workforce dropped from 7,500 to 1,400 jobs, putting $315M in state and local incentives at serious risk.
  • VinFast must either invest $500M or hit 1,750 jobs by end of 2026, or North Carolina can trigger a site repurchase option.
  • Q4 losses widened 15% year-over-year to $1.3B, even as deliveries more than doubled and full-year revenue doubled as well.
  • North American EV sales are forecast to drop 16% this year, adding headwinds to an already uphill U.S. market entry.
  • VinFast said it "remains focused on executing the project responsibly," but declined to comment on the incentive and job-count implications.

• At its GTC conference this week, Nvidia revealed that Hyundai, Nissan, BYD, and Geely are building Level 4-capable autonomous vehicles on its Drive Hyperion platform, joining Mercedes, Toyota, and GM.
  • Drive Hyperion is Nvidia's reference architecture for autonomous vehicles, combining its computing platform with cameras, radar, and lidar so automakers aren't starting from scratch.
  • Level 4 autonomy means the vehicle can drive itself in certain conditions with no human intervention required.
  • Nvidia's GPU dominance in gaming and data centers has quietly made it the backbone of the autonomous vehicle industry as well.

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Episode #1295: Automotive trade associations nationwide are rallying dealers around FTC advertising compliance and we're joined by Ted Smith of FLADA.

Don Hall and the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association responded to Friday's FTC warning letters with a detailed compliance roadmap. Automotive trade associations across the country are stepping up to help dealers navigate what this means on the ground.

• • From VADA’s compliance roadmap: The core rule is simple: the advertised price must be the total price every consumer pays, processing fees and freight included. State law does not matter here; the FTC Act overrules it.
  • There is no such thing as an "Internet Price" or a "Geographic Price." If it's advertised, it must be available to every customer, every time, and no disclaimer can fix a non-compliant price.
  • Pre-installed add-ons that consumers cannot remove or decline, like paint protection or etching, must be included in the advertised price.
  • MSRP-only listings are a trap: post MSRP, and you'd better be prepared to sell at that price, or advertise the actual dealer total price instead.
  • VADA's bottom line: audit your ads now, update your addendum stickers, and train your sales staff on accurate out-the-door pricing, because a single screenshot of a non-compliant ad is all a regulator needs.

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Episode #1294: The FTC puts 97 dealership groups on notice over deceptive advertising, a former car salesman is making $200K a month helping car buyers negotiate deals, and BYD is quietly building a path into North America

The Federal Trade Commission is sending warning letters to 97 dealership groups over advertising practices the agency says may violate federal law. The FTC says transparent pricing is a priority and outlined six specific practices it considers illegal in vehicle advertising.

• The letter lists six examples of illegal dealership behaviors including:
  • Advertising a price that does not reflect all required fees
  • Advertising a price that reflects rebates or discounts not available to all consumers
  • Advertising a price that fails to take into account the amount of an additional required down payment
  • Conditioning the advertised price on consumers using dealer financing
  • Requiring consumers to buy additional items not reflected in the advertised price
  • Advertising unavailable or nonexistent vehicles.
• The FTC said it is “concerned” these dealer groups may be engaging in improper advertising practices, though it emphasized the letters do not represent conclusions of wrongdoing.

Meet the guy who spent a decade on your side of the desk — and now uses everything he learned to work against it. Tomi Mikula has built a thriving business negotiating car deals for buyers, and he's got 600,000 followers watching every move.

• • Tomi Mikula, a former car salesman and F&I pro, charges buyers a flat $1,000 fee to negotiate their next vehicle purchase on their behalf.
  • His company, Delivrd, has a team of five negotiators and generates about $200,000 in revenue per month — plus a social media following of 600,000 across TikTok and YouTube.
  • "You're hiring a middleman to deal with the middleman to make the middleman more efficient," Mikula said.

The world's largest EV maker isn't just knocking on North America's door anymore — it's looking for a key. BYD is studying Canada for a wholly owned manufacturing plant and signaling it's open to acquiring a struggling legacy automaker to fast-track its global expansion.

• BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li confirmed the company is studying Canada for a wholly owned factory — and made clear it has no interest in a joint venture, saying "I don't think a JV will work."
• Li said BYD is open to acquiring a legacy automaker
• BYD is already one of three finalists bidding for a 230,000-unit Nissan-Mercedes plant in Mexico, but is still avoiding the U.S. market, with Li calling it a "complicated environment."

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Today, Chris Reeves joins Paul and Kyle talk about how the Mitchell Automotive Group supported the Christian Mission Center ‘Stock the Pantry’ by offering free oil changes on Wednesday to anyone who brought in a bag of food donations.

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 #1292: Today we unpack Honda’s massive $15.7B EV write-down and pivot back to hybrids, Rivian’s make-or-break R2 SUV aimed at the mainstream market, and Ford CEO Jim Farley’s vow to keep the manual Mustang alive

Show Notes with links:

• Honda is taking a massive $15.7 billion writedown as it cancels several EV programs and pivots back toward hybrids, underscoring just how quickly the EV demand outlook has shifted.
  • Honda will cancel three planned U.S. EVs — the Honda 0 Saloon, 0 SUV, and Acura RSX — just months before production, as well as reviewing the future direction of the Sony Honda Mobility joint venture.
  • The automaker’s Honda Prologue, built by GM in Mexico, could also disappear after its current production run ends in December, with no plans for a Gen 2 vehicle.
  • The Prologue launched in 2024 and sold nearly 39,000 units in 2025. But after the tax credit was eliminated, sales plunged 74% in 2026.

• Rivian is attempting one of the toughest transitions in the auto industry — moving from a niche EV startup selling $90K adventure trucks to a true mass-market brand.
  • CEO RJ Scaringe calls the upcoming R2 SUV a “make-or-break” product for Rivian as the company tries to scale beyond wealthy early adopters.
  • The R2 launches this spring with a $57,990 version offering up to 330 miles of range, followed by a $45,000 model next year aimed squarely at mainstream buyers.
  • As Rivian’s chief software officer put it: “We know there are just two companies in the U.S. who know how to do it: Tesla and us.”

• While manual transmissions continue disappearing across the industry, Ford CEO Jim Farley says the Mustang will keep its third pedal for as long as the company has a choice.
  • Speaking at the Australian Grand Prix, Farley doubled down on Ford’s stance (although it wasn’t the most natural phrasing): “Out of our cold, dead hands will we not have a manual Mustang.”
  • Farley framed the decision as part of Ford’s identity, saying the brand aims to serve “working people and enthusiast drivers” and keep building cars that aren’t boring.

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Episode #1291: An activist investor pushes CarMax to overhaul its digital game, Carvana accelerates same-day delivery into Los Angeles, and Lucid rolls out CarPlay and Android Auto updates while resetting its software strategy.

Activist investor Starboard Value is turning up the heat on CarMax's incoming CEO, arguing the used-car giant has plenty of untapped potential, and they've got a $350 million stake to back up that opinion.

• Starboard sent a letter to CEO-elect Keith Barr calling out CarMax for falling short, and pushing for a streamlined online trade-in process and better digital conversion rates.
• The firm wants SG&A expenses capped at 70–75% of gross profit, and believes modest price cuts of $100–$300 per vehicle could restore competitiveness.
• Starboard is also nominating two board members, including its own CEO Jeffrey Smith, signaling this is more than a suggestion.
• Analysts at Truist agree there's room to improve, but warn that gaining ground on Carvana while cutting costs at the same time won't be easy.
• "If CarMax can get its flywheel moving again as Starboard talked about, then I think the stock would be drastically higher than it is today," said Morningstar analyst David Whiston.

Carvana is taking its same-day delivery service to the City of Angels, and if you thought they were already moving fast, Los Angeles is about to find out what that really means.

• Carvana has rolled out same-day vehicle delivery to the Los Angeles metro area, letting eligible customers go from online checkout to driveway delivery in a matter of hours.
• Customers looking to sell can also get same-day pickup or drop-off after completing an online appraisal — making the whole transaction, buy or sell, a same-day affair.
• LA joins Sacramento and San Diego, making California one of the more saturated same-day markets, with Carvana now operating the service across 20 states nationwide.

Lucid Motors is delivering some good news to Gravity SUV owners just in time for its investor day. After a rough few months of software headaches, it's a welcome update.

• • Lucid is pushing a software update to North American Gravity SUV owners Thursday that enables Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with European and Middle East owners getting it in late March.
  • The features have been available on the Lucid Air sedan for some time, but the Gravity has had a rocky software rollout, significant enough that Lucid's interim CEO issued a public apology to owners.
  • Lucid recently parted ways with several top software leaders and last month laid off 12% of its workforce.

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Episode #1290: Guest host Jamie Butters joins as we cover New-vehicle inventory hits 3 million units but slower sales are aging the lot. Honda begins importing cars from four countries. And a startup will pay you $800 to spend a day bullying AI chatbots.

U.S. new-vehicle inventory climbed to 3.02 million units in February—a 75-day supply heading into spring—but a slower selling rate is doing more work than the numbers suggest.

• Total inventory is nearly identical to a year ago, but days' supply jumped 10 days year-over-year as vehicles are simply taking longer to move off lots.
• Mid-range vehicles ($30K–$50K) are sitting an average of 73 days; luxury units above $80K are aging even slower at 80 days on lot.
• EV supply dropped sharply to 109 days from 132 the prior month; hybrids fell to 61 days; and ICE vehicles came in at 75 days—all trending in the right direction.
• Sedans remain the leanest segment at 60 days, while pickups and SUVs are hovering around 75–76 days.
• Toyota continues to run the tightest ship in the industry at just 27 days' supply—the only major automaker under 40 days.

Honda has a brand problem in Japan—and its solution is becoming one of the country's biggest auto importers, shipping in vehicles from the U.S., China, Thailand, and India to win back buyers it lost chasing minicars.

• Honda went all-in on domestic minicars like the N-Box, which became Japan's top-selling minicar—but left buyers wanting larger Honda nameplates like the Accord, Odyssey, and CR-V that the company had quietly stopped making at home.
• To course correct, Honda is importing four new nameplates this year: the Acura Integra Type S and Honda Passport from the U.S., a new electric Insight from China, and the CR-V from Thailand.
• The U.S.-built models will ship in left-hand drive despite Japan's right-hand-drive norm, limiting their volume—but the move is more about brand signal than scale.
• Honda is now Japan's third-largest importer behind only Mercedes-Benz and Suzuki—a stunning reversal for a brand that imported just 39 vehicles into Japan as recently as 2015.

A startup is paying $800 to hire a Professional AI Bully — no tech skills required, just a long memory for every time an AI forgot yours.

• The gig pays $100/hour for an 8-hour shift spent stress-testing the memory of popular AI chatbots — asking them to remember things, seeing what they forget, and documenting the frustration.
• The company behind it, Memvid, builds AI memory tools and says the stunt is designed to make a real problem visible: "People constantly have to repeat themselves to chatbots."
• No degree, no experience, no special skills needed — just an "extensive personal history of being let down by technology" and enough patience to ask the same question twice.

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