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As we end the first week of December, we’re talking about how Subaru has risen to the top of Consumer Reports 2025 Brand Report Card, how Tesla is tapping into leasing to hit its ambitious sales targets, and OpenAI’s 12 days of product announcements and enhancements.

Show Notes with links:

• Subaru dominated Consumer Reports’ 2025 Brand Report Card and reliability rankings, while domestic automakers struggle to keep pace in safety, performance, and reliability metrics.
  • Subaru had an overall score of 82 on the report card, outperforming BMW (78) and Lexus (77). It also topped the reliability rankings for the first time, dethroning Lexus and Toyota.
  • Brands like Honda, Kia, and Hyundai joined Subaru, Lexus, and Toyota in dominating the top 10 for both reliability and overall performance.
  • Chrysler jumped eight spots to 16th, while Ford, GM, and Jeep fell in rankings due to issues with pickups and new EV models. Jeep finished last for the second consecutive year.
  • Plug-in hybrids and EVs remain less reliable than conventional hybrids, though the gap is narrowing. Consumer Reports suggests hybrids as the best choice for reliability and efficiency.
  • Automakers like Subaru and Toyota are benefiting from long-term strategies and incremental improvements. “The more you change, the more errors can crop up,” said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of auto testing.

• Tesla is making a strong push into leasing to sustain its U.S. sales momentum as competition in the EV market intensifies and rivals capitalize on federal tax incentives.
  • Tesla’s U.S. lease penetration rose from 8% in January 2023 to a peak of 31% in April 2024, adjusting down to 15% in September.
  • Some automakers report lease penetration rates of up to 90% for EV models, leveraging the $7,500 federal tax credit to make leases as affordable as combustion vehicles and hybrids.
  • Tesla now allows buyouts for all its vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, and Cybertruck, enhancing appeal compared to competitors.
  • CEO Elon Musk has set a target to surpass last year’s 1.8 million global deliveries, despite Tesla reporting a 2.3% decline in sales through the first three quarters of this year.

• As part of its "12 Days of Ship-mas," OpenAI is rolling out exciting updates to ChatGPT, including a new Pro tier and major model improvements designed to enhance speed, accuracy, and reasoning capabilities.
  • ChatGPT Pro is a $200/month plan that provides unlimited access to OpenAI o1, GPT-4o, and Advanced Voice mode. It also includes an exclusive o1 pro mode that uses extra compute power to tackle the toughest problems.
  • The new o1 model replaces o1-preview and now offers faster, more accurate responses with better capabilities in math, coding, and reasoning with images.
  • A newly announced Grant Program will also provide free Pro s

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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