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Welcome to Wednesday as we discuss the rising age of vehicles in the U.S., political attacks in Ohio's Senate race targeting a former car dealer, and how Gen Z workers' values align closely with those of their older colleagues. 

Show Notes with links:

• The average age of vehicles in the U.S. has climbed to a record 12.6 years, with the total number of vehicles in operation increasing to 286 million as of January 2024.
  • The average vehicle age rose by two months from the previous year, continuing a seven-year trend.
  • Only 88 million vehicles were 1 to 5 years old in January 2024, down from 90.3 million in 2023.
  • There are 110 million vehicles in the prime aftermarket service range, aged 6 to 14 years.
  • Factors driving the increase include better vehicle quality, high prices, COVID-19 impacts, and hesitancy to buy EVs.
  • Todd Campau of S&P Global Mobility noted, "Really, the main driver was the pandemic and the supply chain" .
    
    
    
• Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown's new ad targets Republican challenger Bernie Moreno's past as a car dealer, sparking backlash from auto dealers who support Moreno's campaign.
  • Brown's ad claims Moreno was untrustworthy as a car dealer and shouldn't be trusted as a senator.
  • Auto dealers argue Brown's comments insult the hardworking employees in the auto sales industry.
  • Tim Glockner of Glockner Chevrolet stated, "Sherrod Brown's comments are a slap in the face to hardworking Ohioans in the auto sales industry."
  • Moreno, endorsed by former President Trump, has become the Republican nominee in a highly competitive race.
  • "Thousands of Ohioans are employed in various capacities across the auto industry, and our senior senator chose to mock our jobs on the airwaves," said Joseph Chapman of Chapman Ford 
    
    
    
• Contrary to popular belief, Gen Z workers have many of the same aspirations and values as their older colleagues, focusing on decent salaries, meaningful work, and work-life balance.
  • A study by Seramount found that Gen Z workers value work-life balance and flexibility, with a desire to be in the office for the social interaction and learning…but maybe not everyday
  • Only 11% of Gen Z want to work remotely full-time, compared to 34% of older workers.
  • Financial stability is important across generations, with 51% of Gen Z and 47% of older workers prioritizing salary.
  • Gen Z workers also seek strong relationships with their supervisors and aim for leadership roles.
  • Jon Veasey-Deters of Seramount noted, "Gen Z is not that different from other gener

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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