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It’s Labor Day and dealers all over will be out in force selling and servicing cars today. We’ve got our own Labor Day special, talking about a bold plan to reinvigorate the Chrysler and Dodge brands and how to watch out for QR codes scams.

Show Notes with links:

• Frank Rhodes, great-grandson of Walter P. Chrysler, has proposed a bold plan to rescue the iconic Chrysler and Dodge brands from Stellantis' European ownership. His vision involves revitalizing these American automotive giants with a fresh approach and new leadership.
  • Rhodes has written an open letter to Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, outlining his acquisition plan, saying "I believe that my plan would allow Stellantis a graceful and profitable exit from a brand that in my opinion it has no interest in keeping, and it is already trying to somehow quietly exit without a lot of publicity and minimal UAW membership turmoil,"
  • Stellantis responded in a statement: "Stellantis acknowledges the interest in its North American brands and reaffirms the Company's commitment to its entire portfolio of 14 powerful, iconic brands, which were each given a 10-year timeframe to build a profitable and sustainable business… The Company is not pursuing splitting off any of its brands." 
  • It is unclear if Rhodes has the funding to accomplish the purchase if Stellantis were to agree to it.
  • Chrysler will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2025.
  • In a YouTube video, Rhodes passionately states, "I'm very proud of what this company did, and I don't want to see it go away. We need to keep our American brands here."

• Scammers have found a new way to steal your credit card information, and this time, they're targeting parking meters. In Southern California, fraudulent QR codes are being placed over legitimate ones, tricking people into giving away their financial details.
  • The FBI reported that Americans lost over $150 million last year to fraudulent QR codes.
  • Redondo Beach, CA, discovered nearly 150 fake QR codes on parking meters, with URLs that closely mimic legitimate payment sites.
  • Some of the fake codes actually sent drivers to a website called "poybyphone" instead of PayByPhone - just one letter off. 
  • The FTC advises scrutinizing URLs for misspellings or errors before entering payment details to avoid falling victim to this scam.

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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