🚙 Amazon and Walmart have spent years testing drone delivery without fully cracking consumer logistics at scale. Jack Demmer found the use case those companies never had: a fixed, short-range need between a dealership's own buildings.
More Than Half of U.S. Consumers Would Consider a China-Made Vehicle, New Dave Cantin Group Market Outlook Report Finds
77% percent of consumers under age 35 indicate openness to Chinese vehicles as affordability, changing product demand and accelerating dealership M&A reshape automotive retail
Your Dealership's Reputation Now Has an Opinion, and It's Not Yours
AI search doesn't just rank your dealership anymore, it forms a judgment about it. On this week's Auto Collabs, Chad Graves of Reunion Marketing joined Paul and Kyle to unpack what that shift actually means day to day, and three things dealers can start doing about it today.
A Michigan Ford Dealer Just Delivered Auto Parts by Drone
Jack Demmer Automotive Group is testing drone delivery between its Ford dealership, warehouse, and service center in Wayne, Michigan, aiming to move smaller, time-sensitive parts faster while avoiding the traffic and road delays that can leave a vehicle sitting in a service bay.
🚗 Polestar Says It Was Blindsided. Dealers Say That's Not the Whole Story.
🚙 Polestar is telling U.S. dealers it never saw the ban coming. One of those dealers is suing for $25 million, arguing the company saw it coming from a mile away and used the government as a convenient exit. Both accounts can't be fully true.
Ford Just Handed Apple the Keys to Its Next EV Platform's Brain
Ford is deepening its partnership with Apple, using Apple Maps data to support both its next-generation EV platform and future BlueCruise development, another sign automakers are growing more comfortable relying on big tech for critical software, mapping, and AI capabilities.
Goodyear Just Turned an Oil Change Into a Destination
Goodyear opened its first destination-style concept store in Detroit on Aug. 15, timed to coincide with the Woodward Dream Cruise, an event that draws roughly 1.5 million people and 40,000 classic and custom cars. The Motor City Garage blends service, brand history, and car culture as Goodyear works to refresh its retail strategy and reverse a stock price down nearly 32% year-to-date.
Polestar Says It Was Blindsided. Its Own Dealer Says That's Not the Whole Story.
Polestar says it was blindsided by the U.S. government's decision to effectively push it out of the market, especially after Commerce officials reportedly indicated the company was on track for approval. Commerce told Polestar in 2025 it was preparing to recommend approval, and in April a senior official said it was reasonable to expect Polestar would follow Volvo if Volvo got the green light.
🚗 Trump Just Threatened to Double Canada's Auto Tariff to 50%
🚙 The deal that collapsed Friday would have cut Canadian auto tariffs from 25% to 15%. USTR Jamieson Greer called the fallout a "tempest in a teapot," and there's real precedent for skepticism: Trump made a similar 50% tariff threat against Canadian-made aircraft in January that never materialized.
Update: Trump Just Threatened to Double Canada's Auto Tariff to 50%
President Trump said Monday the U.S. will raise tariffs on Canadian cars, trucks, and auto parts to 50%, effective Jan. 1, 2027, following the collapse of trade talks last Friday. The current auto tariff sits at 25% and applies only to non-U.S. content. Auto parts, previously untariffed, would be newly covered under the threat.
Amazon's Toaster-Shaped Robotaxi Just Started Charging for Rides
Amazon's Zoox has started charging for rides in Las Vegas and operating in San Francisco, becoming the first robotaxi company to offer paid rides in a vehicle built without standard driver controls.
AI Agents Are Coming to the Dashboard. Automakers May Not Get to Own the Experience.
AI agents in the car are moving beyond better voice assistants toward actually completing tasks for drivers, which could make the cabin dramatically more useful. ABI Research estimates AI-driven in-cabin experiences will grow from about 5 million vehicles today to 70 million by 2035.
