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This Tuesday morning, we’ve got ASOTU Correspondent Steve Greenfield bringing us all the updates from CES. Plus, it's that time of year where returns dominate the retail landscape. 

• CES 2025 is here, and it’s bringing groundbreaking tech and bold moves in innovation. Perhaps most notably for auto, Sony-Honda Mobility announced the price details for it’s Afeela car.
  • The Afeela 1 Origin starts at $89,900, while the Signature trim is priced at $102,900. Both include a three-year subscription to features like Level 2+ driver assist and an AI-powered assistant.
  • Buyers in California can place a $200 refundable deposit. Availability for other states remains unclear.
  • The Signature trim arrives in 2026, with the Origin following in 2027.
  • Today, the company will hold another press conference to outline the customer experience of shopping for and owning an Afeela.
  • To talk all things CES, let’s bring in Steve Greenfield, General Partner at Automotive Ventures and special ASOTU Correspondent this week.

• "Returnuary," the post-holiday season phenomenon where returns dominate the retail landscape, is back. This year, retailers and shoppers face tighter policies amid escalating return volumes.
  • Returns in January 2025 are expected to hit $890 billion, 16.9% of merchandise sales, up from $743 billion in 2023.
  • Retailers like Saks and Zara have introduced return fees and shorter windows to curb losses from returns.
  • Fraudulent returns also strain retailers, making up 14% of returns in 2023, per NRF data.
  • New return rules are affecting shoppers as The Wall Street Journal reported that, “More than two-thirds of consumers who are aware of stricter return policies say those rules deter them from making purchases.” 

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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