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Episode #1072: Ferrari eases off the EV pedal, LAZ Parking launches a game-changing 50,000-charger rollout, and TikTok’s AI influencers threaten to upend the creator economy. 

Show Notes with links:

• Welcome to the franchise side, Benji Urra! A seasoned dealer since 1985, Benji is entering the franchise world after nearly 40 years in the independent auto business.
  • He acquired Bravo Nissan of Victoria, TX, from Bravo Autos' Raymond Palacios and Alex Flores.

• Even the prancing horse isn’t immune to the EV slowdown. Ferrari is postponing its second electric vehicle—originally planned for 2026—by at least two years, signaling ongoing hesitance in the high-performance luxury EV market.
  • Ferrari’s first EV, a larger, atypical model co-designed by ex-Apple design chief Jony Ive, will debut in October with 2026 deliveries starting at over $500,000; it's seen more as a symbolic milestone than a volume play.
  • Internally, the second EV is viewed as the true strategic launch, with targets of 5,000–6,000 units over five years.
  • That second model has now been delayed twice, with no real demand yet from Ferrari’s core enthusiast base.
  • The delay also gives Ferrari time to refine its proprietary EV tech while competitors like Lamborghini, Porsche, and Maserati similarly reevaluate or scale back their EV timelines.
  • “Real, sustainable demand is non-existent for an electric sports car,” said a source close to the matter.

• In one of the largest EV infrastructure deployments in North America, LAZ Parking is installing 50,000 Level 2 chargers at its facilities—bringing EV access directly into the daily routines of city dwellers and commuters.
  • The rollout spans over 4,000 locations across 43 states and 536 cities, integrating charging into where people live, work, and park.
  • LAZ is partnering with Epic Charging and Autel Energy, with Autel providing the preferred hardware for the project.
  • The initiative avoids the highway model of fast-charging stops, instead embedding EV access into residential and urban life.

• TikTok is stepping deeper into the AI marketing game, unveiling new tools that let brands generate influencer-style videos using synthetic avatars—potentially redefining who gets paid to promote.
  • The Symphony AI ads platform now lets advertisers create virtual avatars that model clothes, demo apps, and showcase products.
  • These avatars mimic human influencers in both look and behavior, offering content at scale without contracts or shoot days.
  • For brands, it means lower costs and faste

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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