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Episode #1092: We unpack how Rivian views legacy OEMs as “adversaries”, Elon’s plan to put Grok in your Tesla, and why your next Starbucks smiley face might be powered by pressure, not personality.

Show Notes with links:

• ​​Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe came out swinging against recent federal policy changes that gut EV incentives. But while the industry might stall, Rivian could gain room to thrive as legacy players backpedal.
  • Scaringe called the rollback of EV tax credits and subsidies “bad for the world, bad for the U.S.,” and a blow to U.S. tech leadership.
  • Ironically, fewer incentives could benefit Rivian, opening space for it’s R2 and R3 rollouts.
  • Scaringe didn’t blame Congress alone—he sees legacy automakers like GM and Toyota, and their lobbyists, as Rivian’s “biggest adversaries” on everything from EV registration fees to direct sales bans.
  • He accused them of resisting change to protect outdated business models: “It’s reflective of their desire that this whole EV thing would just go away. [They can suddenly say], “fine, I just won’t sell those EVs.”
  • “The folks we spend the most energy fighting against in D.C. are actual car companies,” Scaringe said. “It’s very telling.”

• Elon Musk has confirmed that Tesla vehicles will get a native dose of his irreverent AI chatbot, Grok, starting next week “at the latest,” merging Tesla’s in-car computing power with conversational AI.
  • Grok 4, the latest model from Musk’s AI startup xAI, was just released.
  • Tesla vehicles will run a smaller version of Grok locally using their onboard computers.
  • Musk previously teased Grok integration but had not set a firm timeline—until now.
  • This comes amid backlash after Grok shared posts on X containing antisemitic content.
  • “Tesla will probably have the most amount of true usable inference compute on Earth,” Musk posted on X.

• Those cheerful messages on your Starbucks cup might not be as heartfelt as they seem. A push for personalized notes is raising questions about authenticity and pressure on baristas.
  • New CEO Brian Niccol wants to bring back cozy, in-store vibes by reversing mobile-heavy trends.
  • Cup messages are now a “standard” meant to create human connection—but not all employees are thrilled.
  • Baristas say it slows them down, especially during rush hours, and some report pressure from managers to comply.
  • A few enjoy the creativity, but many feel it’s another task disguised as joy.
  • One Redditor shared, “I was told I’d get a final warning if I didn’t write on cups.” Starbucks disputes this claim.

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
1:01 What a sarcastic car might sound like
1:55 Announcements
2:20 Rivian CEO Goes After Legacy Automakers and US Tax Policies
6:35 Tesla To Get Grok AI

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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