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Episode #1233: Happy New Year! Today we’re celebrating by looking back on the biggest themes that dominated the retail auto landscape in 2025, and prognosticating the future by looking at the big things we think the industry will face in 2026.

Top 10 Themes of 2025
#10 – Gen Z Disrupts Expectations
They demand transparency, flexibility, and quick accountability.

#9 – Service Became the MVP
Fixed ops carried the weight during sales slowdowns.

#8 – China Asserts Dominance
Chinese automakers scale massively with vertical integration.

#7 – Autonomy Advances (Cautiously)
Waymo plays it safe; Tesla pushes limits.

#6 – AI Did the Mundane (And Everyone Loved It)
No revolutions—just reliable lead follow-ups and call answering.

#5 – Tech ≠ Efficiency
More dashboards didn’t fix poor processes.

#4 – Used Cars Were the Rock
More affordable and practical than new.

#3 – Hybrids Became the Compromise
Consumers leaned toward electric and gas.

#2 – EVs Didn't Die, They Rerouted
Slowed demand post-tax incentives forced OEM rethink.

#1 – Affordability Dominated Everything
Record-high monthly payments scared off buyers.

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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