Shoot us a Text.

Episode #1183: Today we’re talking about the billion-dollar blaze disrupting Ford’s aluminum supply chain, Tekion’s confident response to new DMS rival Pinewood.AI, and why the retail world’s record CEO shuffle says more about skill sets than burnout. 

• A mid-September fire at Novelis’s massive Oswego, N.Y. aluminum plant has shaken the auto supply chain, putting Ford and other OEMs in damage-control mode as crews work nonstop to rebuild the damaged facility.
  • A Sept. 16 fire destroyed 40,000 sq. ft. of the hot mill roof, halting aluminum heating and rolling operations essential to producing body panels for trucks and SUVs.
  • Repairs are underway 24/7, with 1,900 of 2,455 replacement parts already on site.
  • “Teams are working with extreme urgency,” said Novelis spokesperson Lauren Thompson. “Every hour counts in getting back online.”

• As Pinewood.AI eyes an ambitious U.S. rollout backed by Lithia Motors, Tekion CEO Jay Vijayan says “bring it on,” dismissing the U.K.-based DMS company as no major threat in America’s complex dealership software market.
  • Pinewood spun out of Lithia-owned Pendragon and plans a full-scale U.S. push after Lithia transitions to its platform by 2028.
  • The U.S. DMS market is dominated by CDK Global, Reynolds and Reynolds, and Dealertrack, with Tekion gaining momentum.
  • Vijayan said the U.S. market’s size and regulatory complexity give Tekion an edge: “I don’t have even the slightest concern.”
  • With 1,500 full DMS clients and 4,000 using Tekion software, Vijayan said profitability is expected by 2026, emphasizing “strong financial economics and long-term growth.”

• A record wave of CEO exits is reshaping what success looks like at the top of retail. As technology, AI, and shifting consumer behavior redefine the landscape, companies are looking for leaders who can adapt fast and think across multiple disciplines.
  • Retail CEO departures are up 116% year-over-year, with 64% unplanned, according to Russell Reynolds Associates.
  • Leadership experts say modern executives must blend tech fluency, marketing insight, and operational skill to stay competitive.
  • Craig Rowley, senior client partner at Korn Ferry, noted that while skills like sourcing and merchandising “don’t necessarily go away,” they’re no longer the foundation of what retailers seek in a CEO.

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.

Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/

JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/