Shoot us a Text.

It’s another great day in the auto industry, and we’re digging into the news that Tesla’s EV market share has fallen below 50%. Plus, pickups are considering adding a 3rd row of seating, and AI is helping job applicants (and potentially BDCs in the future) ace their interviews.

Show Notes with links

• Tesla's dominance in the U.S. EV market might be slipping, dropping below 50 percent as competitors gain ground, even as overall EV sales continue to rise.
  • Cox Automotive’s Q2 report showed that Tesla's market share dropped to 49.7% in Q2 2024, down from 59.3%.
  • This marks the first time Tesla's share has fallen below 50% since the Model S launched in 2012.
  • At the start of the decade, Tesla's market share was 76% but has been shrinking annually ever since.
  • Rivals like GM, Ford, Hyundai, and Kia are closing the gap with total EV sales rising by 11.3% nationwide, hitting 330,000 units.
  • EVs accounted for 8% of all vehicle sales last quarter, up from 7.2% in 2023.
  • Despite the market share drop, Tesla's stock rose 1% following the report.

• As more and more consumers are using pickups as their daily drivers, Ram is reviving the concept of third-row seating, this time in pickup trucks, reminiscent of the fold-out seats in old station wagons. The innovation aims to add versatility for modern truck owners.
  • Ram filed a patent for a third row of seats folding out of the truck cab's back wall.
  • The rear wall also doubles as a mid-gate, creating a larger cargo area when needed.
  • The concept was first shown in the Ram REVolution electric truck at CES last year.
  • "Is this necessary? Maybe not, but why not add more seating options?" questioned a reviewer.
  • PRODUCER’S NOTE: We had a Ford Ranger growing up with the 2 jump seats in the cab that faced each other. Even as a kid, I remember them not being the most comfortable. I hope this next generation fares better.

• If using AI on a school test is cheating, what about on a job interview? Final Round AI has introduced tools to help job seekers ace their interviews using AI, sparking debate about the ethics and future of AI in recruitment.
  • Final Round AI offers AI-powered résumé builders, cover letter services, and a mock interview tool.
  • Their Copilot app listens in on interviews and feeds candidates answers in real time.
  • These proxy interviews are becoming more popular and involve candidates secretly receiving answers from external helpers or using stand-ins to take their place during job interviews.
  • Michael Guan, CEO of Final Round argues AI in interviews isn't cheating but shows ingenuity and adaptability.
  • "If they can use AI to crush an interview, they can for sure continue using AI to become the top performer in their daily jobs," says Guan.

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.

Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/

JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/