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As the month nears its close, we’re talking about Senator Bernie Moreno going to bat for the auto industry with a new bill. Plus, GM is raising its stock dividends while doing a new buy back and the Las Vegas PD debuts a fleet of Cybertrucks given to them by an anonymous donor.

Show Notes with links:

• Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), a former auto dealer, is introducing the “Transportation Freedom Act”, a bill aimed at repealing federal emissions rules, reducing regulations, and providing tax breaks for U.S. automakers.
  • The bill seeks to eliminate EPA tailpipe emissions rules and block California’s zero-emission vehicle mandate.
  • It offers a 200% tax deduction on wages paid to U.S. auto workers for automakers that keep at least 75% of production domestic, up to $150,000 per worker, and blocks companies from using the money they save for stock buybacks.
  • Moreno’s bill would end “arbitrary” CAFE fuel standards and replace them within six months with new, achievable regulations that align with consumer demand.
  • GM, Stellantis, Toyota, NADA, the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and American Trucking Associations back the legislation.
  • Moreno: “Thanks to liberal bureaucrats who want to mandate what cars Americans can drive, states like mine are riddled with car lots filled with expensive EVs people simply don’t want and dormant factories that once employed millions of American workers. The only winner is China.”

• GM is doubling down on returning value to shareholders, announcing a 25% dividend increase and a new $6 billion share buyback program. This move, which sent shares up 6%, comes as the automaker looks to balance investor returns with EV investments.
  • GM will repurchase $2B in shares by mid-2025, with the remaining $4B at its discretion and the quarterly dividend will rise from 12 to 15 cents per share, effective April 2025.
  • GM repurchased 87M shares in Q4 2023, completing a previous $10B buyback.
  • GM projects a net income of $11.2B to $12.5B for 2025, with $10B-$11B in capital spending as it works to narrow EV operating losses by $2B.

• The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) is bringing some futuristic flair to law enforcement, announcing the addition of 10 Tesla Cybertrucks to its patrol and SWAT fleets. But the real mystery? The trucks were entirely donated by an anonymous supporter.
  • Sheriff Kevin McMahill made the announcement during the 2025 State of the Department event, saying on X, “These are badass”
  • The Cybertrucks will be customized for patrol and SWAT operations and LVMPD will integrate them with semi-autonomous drones and shot-spotting technology.
  • Speculation surrounds the anonymous donor, with some suspecting Tesla or Elon Musk, considering poor Cybertruck sale

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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