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Episode #1216: Today we dig into the tightening-but-shifting new-car inventory landscape, explore Nissan’s bold attempt to rediscover its “North Star”, and watch Target leapfrog competitors by baking full-on AI shopping directly into ChatGPT.

Show Notes with links:

• November brought a slight dip in overall new-vehicle inventory, but the real headline for dealers is how quickly anything under $25K is evaporating from lots—and how quickly EV days’ supply is rising. Here’s the breakdown:
  • U.S. new-vehicle inventory fell 1.6% to 3.09M units, but days’ supply ticked up from 70 to 73.
  • Sub-$25K vehicles are practically mythical—spending 1.5 days on lots.
  • EV supply ballooned from 107 to 126 days
  • Hybrids sit at a 60-day supply, ICE vehicles at 75 days; minivans remain leanest at 58 days.
  • Toyota continues to run the tightest ship in the industry with 31 days of supply.

• Christian Meunier isn’t pulling punches—Nissan has been drifting for years, and he says the U.S. turnaround now depends on sharper execution, stronger product, and yes…better dealer performance.
  • Meunier says Nissan had “no North star, no vision and no direction,” prompting him to bring headquarters staff back in-office four days a week to accelerate decisions and rebuild momentum.
  • U.S. sales have fallen 40% in a decade, market share is down to 6.4%, and heavy discounting has trained shoppers to view Nissan as “the cheap one.”
  • Nissan needs at least 7–8% retail share to support its 1,067 U.S. stores, and if the brand can’t lift demand, fewer dealers may be necessary.
  • “Christian is the right man for the job. It’s just a hard job,” said dealer council lead Mike Rezi.

• Target is jumping headfirst into AI commerce by embedding its shopping experience directly into ChatGPT, building on OpenAI’s growing presence in e-commerce with Shopify and Etsy integrations.
  • Users can search, add to cart, and check out via ChatGPT using their Target account.
  • The integration supports drive-thru and pickup orders within the chat interface.
  • This move mirrors Walmart’s AI ambitions, but Target is first to market with a confirmed rollout.
  • “Target is a great example of what that shift looks like when it’s done with ambition and speed,” said Fidji Simo, OpenAI CEO of Applications.

• Thank you to today’s sponsor, Mia. Capture more revenue, protect CSI, and never miss a call or connection again with 24/7 phone coverage and texting (SMS) follow-up for sales, service, and reception. Learn more at https://www.mia.inc/

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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