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We’re up and at ‘em this Thursday morning as we report on dealer associations stepping up to help hurricane affected employees, plus we talk live with Richard Lupo of Apple Tree Honda and Acura about what it’s like on the ground right now. We’ll also cover how the port strike could have massive ripple effects on the supply chain and get a look inside Rove’s new EV charging station.

• Automobile dealer associations across the U.S. Southeast have activated emergency relief funds in response to the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, connecting with members and providing much-needed assistance.
  • The NADA Foundation Emergency Relief Fund is coordinating with local dealer associations to assist affected employees with emergency grants up to $1,500, and NIADA has also activated its relief fund, with thousands of members impacted in Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia.
  • This all comes as FEMA is warning that while it can handle immediate disaster relief, it lacks the funds to sustain recovery efforts through the rest of hurricane season.
  • Richard Lupo is the Fixed Ops Director at Apple Tree Honda and Acura in Fletcher, NC, about 15 miles south of Asheville, and joins us live.
• The East and Gulf Coast port strike is threatening to severely disrupt the auto industry’s supply chain, with delays expected to last well beyond the end of the strike. Each day of the walkout could create a weeklong backlog, impacting the industry for months.
  • "It's a multiplier effect," said Michelle Drew Rodriguez of Roland Berger, explaining how every day of lost shipping translates into significantly longer delays.
  • Even if the strike ends soon, clearing the backlog will be challenging as all industries will be vying for limited port capacity, said Michael Robinet of S&P Global Mobility.
  • VW’s primary import ports are closed, but shipments are being diverted to Freeport, Texas, and Davisville, Rhode Island, where operations continue. If the strike continues into next week, they will consider shifting incoming shipments to the West Coast
  • “Shifting shipments to the West Coast could be an option, but it would require a significant investment, involving rail cars and additional logistics, which comes at a steep cost," said Anu Goel, VW's EVP.

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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