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Episode #1188: Today we’re talking Toyota’s global muscle amid U.S. tariffs, Waymo’s bold autonomous rollout into new cities, and why your store’s holiday playlist might be just early enough to keep shoppers smiling.

Show Notes with links:

• Toyota posted a surprising 62% jump in second-quarter profit and raised its annual outlook, even as U.S. tariffs continue to take a multi-billion-dollar toll. The automaker’s resilience stems from its increasingly global revenue base and a strong performance outside North America.
  • Despite nearly $3B in quarterly tariff costs, Toyota’s bottom line rose thanks to gains in Europe, Africa, and currency advantages.
  • Q2 net profit hit ¥932B (~$6.2B), easily beating analyst estimates of ¥801B (~$5.3B), and revenue rose 8.2% year-over-year to ¥12.4 trillion (~$82.7B).
  • President Trump, speaking to U.S. troops in Japan last week, said Prime Minister Kishida told him Toyota would invest $10B in U.S. manufacturing. “Go out and buy a Toyota,” Trump added.

• Waymo is accelerating its position as the autonomous driving front-runner, announcing a major expansion into San Diego, Detroit, and Las Vegas. The move adds to an already impressive footprint that includes full-service robotaxi operations in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and the Bay Area.
  • Waymo will begin service in San Diego in 2026, with Detroit and Las Vegas to follow shortly after.
  • The company is emphasizing snow-readiness in Detroit, citing ongoing cold-weather testing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.
  • Waymo’s return to Las Vegas is symbolic—it passed the first-ever state self-driving test in Nevada back in 2012.
  • Waymo continues logging 2 million autonomous miles per week and plans to launch in Miami, Dallas, Washington, and even London by 2026.

• Retailers are decking the halls earlier than ever, and despite the usual grumbling about “Christmas creep,” most shoppers seem totally fine with it. A new survey reveals that the majority of U.S. consumers don’t mind holiday music and décor showing up well before Thanksgiving.
  • Only 20% of consumers think retailers should wait until after Thanksgiving to start the holiday ambiance.
  • A combined 55% are cool with it starting in early to mid-November, while 22% are fine with it as early as October.
  • Mood Media, a company specializing in in-store atmosphere, says holiday scents and music can actually increase shopper “dwell time.”
  • 41% of consumers said holiday vibes make them stay longer; only 6% said it makes them leave sooner.

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
0:30 ASOTU Edge Webinar on AI and Data Today!
1:28 Toyota Raises Guidance Amid Tariff Hits
3:44 Waymo To Add San Diego, Detroit and Las Vegas
6:51 Shoppers Seem T

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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