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It’s a brand new week and we’re heading to Will Guidara’s Welcome Conference in NYC. Before we get there, we need to talk about how Volvo is giving up on car subscriptions, more places you can take an autonomous rideshare, and more ways to buy physical items in Roblox.

Show Notes with links:

• Volvo has officially ended its vehicle subscription program, Care by Volvo, which launched in 2017. The service offered a bundle of vehicle use, maintenance, and other benefits under a single monthly payment of $600-$800/month across more than 40 states.
  • Volvo announced on September 12 that the program is suspended "for the foreseeable future."
  • Volvo had previously marketed the program as a way to attract younger, first-time Volvo customers, with 80% of subscribers being new to the brand.
  • Existing subscribers can complete their terms and receive a credit toward a new Volvo purchase or lease.
  • The decision allows Volvo to focus on its core offerings and future product introductions.
  • Spokesperson Russell Datz stated, “This allows for concentrated focus on our core customer offers and the coming introduction of new products.”

• Uber and Waymo are taking their autonomous ride-hailing partnership to new cities, Austin and Atlanta, with a rollout expected early next year. This marks an expansion of their driverless car services beyond Phoenix.
  • Uber will dispatch Waymo's all-electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in the new cities with the fleet set to grow to "hundreds" of vehicles over time.
  • Shares of Uber rose 5%, and Alphabet's stock increased by 2% following the news.
  • This comes amid increased regulatory scrutiny of self-driving technology after several crashes.
  • "The expansion reflects Uber's ongoing commitment to EVs and autonomous tech partnerships,” Uber shared in the release.

• Roblox has teamed up with Shopify to allow physical products to be sold in its metaverse, marking Roblox's first major e-commerce integration.
  • The partnership enables developers and brands on Shopify to sell physical items directly within Roblox games.
  • The pilot program starts this year, with a full launch expected by early 2025.
  • The collaboration builds on Roblox’s past shopping experiments with brands like E.l.f. Cosmetics and Walmart.
  • Shopify highlighted the importance of this integration for Gen Z entrepreneurs, stating, Commerce happens everywhere.
  • Roblox aims to capture 10% of global gaming content revenue, with plans for future e-commerce integrations across various platforms.

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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