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It’s a great Tuesday to sell some cars as we talk about LA’s announcement of a car-less Olympics (oh the irony). We also talk about the effectiveness of Kia’s fix for rampant thefts, as well as the large group of workers feeling stuck. 

• Los Angeles, a city synonymous with car culture, is casting it’s vision for the 2028 Olympic Games to be a "no-car Games." Mayor Karen Bass has announced plans to rely on public transportation instead of private vehicles, challenging the city's deeply ingrained car dependency.
  • The city is advancing "Twenty-eight by '28," aiming to complete 28 transit projects by 2028, funded by voter-approved sales taxes.
  • Bass is urging local businesses to adopt remote work and flexible hours during the Games to help reduce traffic.
  • The plan includes bringing in 3,000 buses from around the country to bolster the city’s public transportation system.
  • Mayor Bass stated, "We’re already working to create jobs by expanding our public transportation system in order for us to have a no-car games."
    
    
• A recent study by the Highway Loss Data Institute revealed that the anti-theft software upgrade developed by Kia and Hyundai has been highly effective, reducing theft claim rates by 53% for eligible vehicles. This comes after a surge in thefts following viral videos showing how to hotwire certain models lacking immobilizers.
  • Kia and Hyundai vehicles from 2011-22 were targeted after a viral video exposed a security flaw.
  • The software upgrade, offered in February 2023, extends the alarm duration and requires the key to be in the ignition to start the vehicle.
  • Vehicles that received the upgrade showed a 64% drop in whole vehicle theft.
  • Both companies have distributed over a million upgrades and provided steering wheel locks for ineligible vehicles.
  • A $200 million settlement was reached for affected owners, though it has yet to be approved by the judge.
  • "We're encouraged that theft rates in key cities have fallen significantly as more vehicle owners and lessees receive the free software upgrade," said a Kia spokesperson.
    
    
• American workers are increasingly feeling "stuck" in their jobs as fears of a potential recession loom. This has led to a significant drop in the rate at which employees are quitting, despite widespread job dissatisfaction.
  • The quit rate in July 2024 fell to just 2.1%, the lowest since the pandemic began.
  • Google searches for "quitting job" are down 11% in the past year, while searches for "stuck at work" have risen 9%.
  • Online communities like the subreddit r/hatemyjob have seen membership double, reflecting growing frustration among workers.
  • Recession fears are rising, wit

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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