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As we turn into Tuesday, we’ve got guest host Daniel Govaer with us in the studio! Today we’re looking at Rivian’s referral program, what the future holds for Toyota’s battery production and recap everything from Apple’s iPhone announcement event.

Show Notes with links:

• Rivian is rolling out its first referral program to help drive sales of its R1T and R1S models, joining Tesla and Lucid in the referral game. This program includes credits and perks, making it more enticing for new buyers and existing owners.
  • Rivian's program offers $750 credits to both referrers and new buyers, plus six months of free charging at Rivian’s Adventure Network.
  • The first 100 owners who make 25 referrals will be rewarded with an exclusive adventure weekend, further enhancing Rivian’s focus on lifestyle and experiences.
  • Currently limited to U.S. owners but will expand to Canada in 2024.
  • Tesla offers referrers a $500 gift card and buyers a $1,000 discount, while Lucid provides up to $1,250 in vehicle discounts for buyers and points for referrers to redeem for merchandise.
  • "These programs appeal to automakers because they’re less expensive to run compared to traditional advertising," said Ivan Drury of Edmunds.

• Toyota has received official approval from Japan's Ministry of Trade and Industry (METI) to move forward with its all-solid-state EV battery development. This certification allows the automaker to boost domestic production as part of Japan’s strategy to reduce dependence on foreign battery suppliers.
  • Subsidiaries like Prime Planet Energy Solution and Primeearth EV Energy will spearhead production.
  • Toyota's roadmap includes launching "Performance" batteries by 2026, offering up to 500 miles of range.
  • The company plans to introduce all-solid-state batteries with 620 miles of range and 10-minute fast charging by 2028.
  • Japan is investing $7 billion to boost battery production and reduce reliance on China and South Korea.

• Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event showcased exciting new updates, including the highly anticipated iPhone 16, updates to the Apple Watch, and new AirPods models, all set to release on September 20th.
  • iPhone 16 adds a DSLR-style capture button and stacked rear cameras for spatial video.
  • iPhone 16 Pro introduces a larger display, upgraded A18 Pro chip, and improved cameras.
  • Apple Watch Series 10 has a thinner profile, brighter display, and apnea detection.
  • AirPods 4 feature voice isolation, improved design, and optional active noise cancellation.
  • Apple Intelligence was another notable feature unveiled at the event, designed to enhance the iPhone 16 lineup with new AI capabilities. Including that users can search their photo library by simply describing the image they’re looking for, create personalized emojis using AI, and Visual I

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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