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We’re flying with the Eagles after their Super Bowl win yesterday, but we know that the real winners are Vehicles For Change because of the $5K+ donations pledged through the Super Bowl Charity Smackdown. We talk about the success of the automotive ads, plus how Rivian has finally opened sales of its commercial delivery van, and Starbucks giving away a little extra bit of caffeine to help people make it through the day.

Show Notes with links:

• MTC Superbowl Charity Totals: $5,169 total “bet”, Chiefs: $1521, Eagles: $1973, People who pledged regardless of who won: $1675
  • Donations to benefit Vehicles for Change, NCM donating a car, Paul packing up jerseys
• The Auto Industry had its moments in the big game with both Ram and Jeep having strong showings. The Ram ad featured actor Glen Powell in a Goldilocks take while Harrison Ford’s Jeep ad spoke used drivetrains and history with a unifying message around ‘freedom’
  • Jeep saw a 336% increase in website traffic on the site, while Wrangler 4xe new-vehicle pages got a 628% boost, while Wrangler pages had a boost of 555%.
  • Also, a 344% lift for Gladiator, 166% lift for Grand Cherokee L, and 87% lift for Grand Cherokee
  • Ram saw a 436% increase after their ad.

• Rivian’s electric delivery van is finally available for fleets of all sizes, marking the end of its Amazon exclusivity deal.
  • Rivian’s commercial van, previously called the “Electric Delivery Van,” is now the “Rivian Commercial Vehicle” (RCV), signaling broader utility beyond deliveries.
  • Two models are available: the RCV 500 ($79,900) and the larger RCV 700 ($83,900), with estimated ranges of 161 miles and 153 miles, respectively.
  • The vans remain business-exclusive, meaning they must be registered to a company, keeping them out of the hands of vanlifers (at least for now).
  • Rivian will begin taking orders this month, with first deliveries set for April.

• Starbucks is stepping up to help Super Bowl partiers recover with a free coffee offer on the Monday after the big game. Whether you’re a loyal rewards member or a last-minute sign-up, you can grab a free tall brewed coffee on February 10.
  • U.S. rewards members can get free tall brewed coffee today, with the offer applying to both hot and iced brewed coffee.
  • Members must apply the “Starbucks Monday” coupon in the app or mention it to their barista at checkout.
  • The promotion comes as Starbucks works to reverse declining sales and foot traffic.

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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