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Happy Hump Day! On this Wednesday, we’ve got guest host Erikka Tiffani Wells in the studio, talking about Hyundai pressing in on hybrids, the most reliable used car brands, and how Autotrader is helping dog owners with their travel.

Show Notes with links:

• Hyundai is pivoting towards expanding its hybrid offerings due to slowing demand for fully electric vehicles. The automaker plans to significantly increase its hybrid lineup and aims to more than triple its global hybrid sales by 2028.
  • Hyundai will double its hybrid models from seven to 14, including new drivetrains with new extended-range hybrids set to release in 2025.
  • Hybrid sales are forecasted to surge to 1.33 million by 2028, up from 510,000 in 2023.
  • North America will see the most significant increase, with sales tripling by 2028.
  • This is part of Hyundai’s target of 5.55M annual global sales by 2030, up 30% from 2023.
  • CEO Jaehoon Chang shared “with the recent slowdown in the EV transition, the demand for hybrids has been picking up.”

• Toyota and Lexus continue to dominate in reliability, according to Consumer Reports' first survey ranking used vehicles by brand. Their reputation for dependability makes them top choices for buyers seeking long-term value.
  • The survey covered over 150,000 vehicles, focusing on issues in 2014-2019 models, with ratings based on 20 trouble areas, including brakes, engines, and transmissions.
  • Top 10 were: Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Acura, Honda, Buick, BMW, Subaru, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz
  • Bottom 5: Ram, Jeep, Tesla, Dodge, Chrysler
  • According to a June survey by Consumer Reports, 40 percent of Americans in the market for a vehicle in the past year considered only used cars.

• Autotrader is making car rides more enjoyable for dogs and their owners by launching a new ASMR-inspired Spotify playlist designed to relax pets during trips in celebration of yesterday’s National Dog Day.
  • A Cox Automotive survey found 52% of dog owners experience stress managing their dog’s anxiety in the car.
  • Country singer Walker Hayes supports the initiative, emphasizing the playlist's benefits during family travels.
  • Autotrader is also providing tips, car accessory recommendations, and top car brands for dog owners.

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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