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Episode #1182: Today we’re talking about Slate Auto’s bold move to use independent repair shops instead of dealers, China pulling back EV subsidies to let the market decide, and PayPal teaming up with OpenAI to turn ChatGPT into a next-gen shopping hub.

Show Notes with links:

• Electric startup Slate Auto is flipping the traditional service model by partnering with independent repair shops instead of building dealerships or factory-run service centers. The company aims to launch its first vehicles with a fully certified third-party network next year.
  • Slate will use RepairPal’s 4,000-shop network, owned by Yelp, to handle warranty work, maintenance, and accessory installs.
  • Shops certified through RepairPal will receive training for Slate-specific EV systems, including high-voltage repairs.
  • “Being able to give that opportunity to the majority of our customers to service vehicles close to where they live is very important to us,” said Jeremy Snyder, Slate’s chief commercial officer.

• After more than a decade of heavy government support, China is officially stepping back from its electric vehicle subsidies, signaling that the industry is now strong enough to compete without government help.
  • EVs were excluded from China’s 2026–2030 five-year strategic plan for the first time in over a decade.
  • China ended its national EV purchase subsidies in late 2022 and plans to phase out remaining purchase tax rebates by 2027.
  • The decision comes amid massive overcapacity—93 of 169 automakers in China hold less than 0.1% market share.
  • “Electric vehicle subsidies will fade... the market will play a bigger role in deciding who survives,” said Dan Wang, China director at Eurasia Group.

• In a major fintech and AI crossover, PayPal has struck a deal with OpenAI to embed its digital wallet directly into ChatGPT, allowing users to shop and pay without ever leaving the platform.
  • Starting next year, PayPal users can “Buy with PayPal” directly in ChatGPT, while merchants can list and sell their products inside the app.
  • The partnership positions PayPal as the payment backbone for AI-driven ‘agentic commerce’, following similar ChatGPT integrations with Shopify, Etsy, and Walmart.
  • PayPal CEO Alex Chriss, “It’s not just that a transaction can happen. It’s a whole new paradigm for shopping… with the largest set of verified consumers in a consumer wallet.”

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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