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It’s the biggest week in retail auto as the industry prepares to descend on New Orleans. Today, we’re previewing what you can expect at the Show on the mainstage, plus we’re talking about Canoo filing for bankruptcy and looking at how much range EVs actually have during the winter.

Show Notes with links:

• Every year, the NADA Mainstage is a must-attend while at the Show, and this year is no different. These sessions start at 8:45AM Friday through Sunday and feature leadership, humor and knowledge from outside of automotive.
  • Friday, January 24 kicks off with Best-Selling Author & Executive Coach, Ryan Leak discussing strategies for self-leadership and team empowerment. He’ll help dealers answer key questions like “What am I like as a leader?” and offer practical tools for fostering a high-performing team. Plus, 2024 NADA Chairman Gary Gilchrist will speak.
  • Saturday, January 25 features Frank Caliendo, Comedian, Actor & Impressionist bringing his signature humor to the NADA stage. He’s famous for spot-on impressions of sports figures, celebrities, and politicians. Then, incoming 2025 NADA Chairman Tom Castriota will speak and the highly anticipated Time Dealer of the Year ceremony.
    • Our friends who have been nominated this year: Andy Guelcher of Mohawk Chevy and Mohawk Honda, Andrew Walser of the amazing Walser automotive Group, Julie Herrera of Toyota of Cedar Park, Shaun Del Grande of Del Grande Dealer Group
  • Sunday, January 26 wraps up with Legendary Duke Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K). He’ll share lessons on leadership and teamwork from his Hall of Fame career, and provide insights into building a winning team culture.

• EV startup Canoo Inc. has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, halting operations immediately and liquidating its assets. Despite efforts to secure foreign investment, the company struggled with cash flow, weak demand, and failed funding attempts.
  • Known for its microbus-inspired cargo vans, Canoo supplied government and commercial fleets, including NASA, the Department of Defense, and Walmart.
  • Production began in Oklahoma (Nov. 2023), with $100M in potential incentives, but cut 23% of its workforce within a year.
  • The company reported a $165M net loss in 2024, generating just $1.5M in revenue—less than the $1.7M spent on its CEO’s private jet in 2023.
  • CEO Tony Aquila: “We are truly disappointed that things turned out as they did.”

• The latest 2025 Scandinavian winter EV test results are in. While all vehicles lose range in cold weather, EVs feel the impact —and this year's test saw some unexpected results.
  • The Polestar 3 lost just 5% of its expected range, outperforming models with longer official ratings.
  • Tesla’s Model 3 flopped, losing 24% range, falling short of its 702km expectations,
  • 4 out of the top 5 performers were China-made, including two BYD models: 5. BYD Sealion 7 4. Lotus Emeya 3. Min

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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