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Episode #1162: Tesla posts a surprise Q3 sales record, $1,000 car payments are becoming the new normal, Meta plans to use AI chats to make ad targeting more personal than ever.

Show Notes with links:

• Tesla delivered a surprise Q3 record after a rocky first half of the year, beating Wall Street expectations with nearly half a million EVs sold. But with the federal EV tax credit now gone, the question is whether momentum can carry into Q4 and beyond.
  • Tesla delivered 497,099 vehicles, topping estimates of 456,000 and reversing two quarters of declines.
  • Model 3 and Y deliveries rose 9%, while other models dropped 30%.
  • Tesla’s energy business hit a record, nearly doubling storage deployments to 12.5 GWh.
  • Rivian also posted a 32% bump, delivering 13,201 EVs in Q3.

• What used to be unthinkable is now routine: the $1,000-a-month car payment. Nearly one in six new-car buyers are signing up for four-figure notes, a trend driven by rising prices, interest rates, and longer terms — reshaping affordability conversations across the showroom floor.
  • In 2015, only 2.4% of buyers paid $1,000+; that number hit 16.6% in July
  • SUVs (53%) and pickups (37%) dominate these deals; 5% of all $1,000+ buyers drove off in an F-150.
  • Buyers today face average loans near $42K at 6.8% interest, compared to $28K at 3.9% a decade ago.
  • Longer terms now stretch over 68 months on average, nearly a year longer than 2015.
  • “There are some that are very shocked by the payment,” said Cody Anderson, GSM at Freedom Ford. “Their payment thought process is five years ago compared to now.”

• Meta is about to supercharge its ad business by tapping into conversations people have with its AI chatbot. Starting December 16, chats with Meta AI will help determine not just what ads users see, but what content fills their feeds across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
  • Meta AI chats will feed new ad-targeting signals, similar to posts, likes, and connections.
  • Example: Talk about hiking → expect more hiking ads and related content.
  • The company stresses sensitive topics (politics, religion, health, etc.) won’t be used for targeting.
  • Meta earned $46.5B in ad revenue last quarter, up 21% YoY.
  • “Interactions with AIs will be another signal we use to improve people’s experience,” Meta said.

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
1:35 The huge news out of More Than Cars
2:48 Tesla Sets Delivery Record
5:35 Nearly 17% of Car Payments are $1000
8:45 Meta Will Use AI Searches To Target Ads To Users

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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