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We’re rolling through the middle of the week, and holding our breath as we wait to see how hard Milton will hit Florida. Plus, we debate whether Tesla can deliver on its robotaxi promise and talk about Spirit Halloween turning into Spirit Christmas.

Show Notes with links:

• Several wholesale auto auctions and dealerships in Florida closed on October 8 and 9 due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Milton. It is hovering between Category 4 and 5 and is expected to make landfall overnight tonight.
  • CarMax closed five stores in Tampa, Fort Myers, Naples, Bradenton, and Clearwater.
  • Penske Automotive Group took similar precautions, securing properties and allowing staff to safeguard their families.
  • Major auto auctions, including ADESA and Manheim, canceled sales and closed locations.
  • “We are working with our team members so they can secure their properties and take care of family,” said Tony Pordon of Penske.

• As Tesla gears up for its ‘We, Robot’ event, expectations remain low for the unveiling of a new dedicated robotaxi. While the company promises a bold, self-driving future, many are uncertain about its near-term potential.
  • Tesla plans to reveal an autonomous vehicle with no steering wheel or pedals, designed specifically for self-driving.
  • Despite years of development, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) program still faces significant limitations, averaging just 120 miles between disengagements.
  • Analysts point out that competitors like Waymo and Cruise already operate functional robotaxi services in the U.S., while Tesla lags behind.
  • Ronald Jewsikow of Guggenheim Securities doubts Tesla will present a viable commercialization path within the next 12 to 24 months.
  • Adam Jonas of Morgan Stanley believes Tesla will take a "dual approach," offering both fully autonomous and supervised rideshare services by 2025-2026.

• Spirit Halloween, known for its popular pop-up stores, is testing a new concept—Spirit Christmas—by opening 10 holiday-themed stores across the northeastern U.S.
  • The new stores will focus on festive decor and live Santa Claus experiences, offering free digital photos for visitors.
  • Spirit Christmas revives an idea tested in the 1990s and mid-2000s but discontinued after mixed results.
  • Locations include cities in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, many previously home to Spirit Halloween stores.
  • Spirit Halloween is the most successful pop-up retail chain, expecting a record year with 50,000 seasonal workers and 1,525 stores, up from 40,000 staff and 1,500 locations last year.
  • This holiday retail venture comes as consumer spending is projected to grow modestly, with stronger gains expected in e-commerce.

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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