Temperature check on the economy 🌡️ For anyone in the car business - how's your month going? (please state what region you're in)

The next 12 months will wipe out every overpriced, poorly underwritten dealership buy/sell that rode on peak-pandemic profits.

@Geiger_Capital How is this real life 😂

[NEWS] GM is officially cutting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto: CEO Mary Barra confirmed the phase-out, saying GM will move to a single, native in-car system built on a new centralized computing platform. Meaning, by 2028, every GM vehicle will run its own interface. And will be powered by a Google Gemini assistant and custom-built apps. As analyst Andrew Hart explained: “They don't know how you are using their infotainment system…and they lose intelligence that could help them improve their offerings.” Bottom line: As GM doubles down on its software ecosystem, dealers should prep for a post-CarPlay world, where connected services, subscriptions, and in-car AI become the new value drivers. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @DigitalAirStrk : t.co/xTbRcA8JL6 (Data source: The Verge / Motor Trend)

Temperature check on the economy 🌡️ For anyone in the car business - how's it going? (please state what region you're in)

That V8 engine…. Ugh

[NEWS] Subprime lender Tricolor Auto just hit pause on critical operations: On Friday, an unidentified bank took control of the used-car giant, suspending sales across Texas, Arizona, and California. By the end of the day, 80–90% of employees were told they were on temporary leave. Not fired. Just waiting until October 6 to find out if they’d return. Emails shut off. Salaries frozen. Stores dark. For now, workers keep their health insurance. But with about 65 retail centers and $5B in auto loans on the books, borrowers are left wondering who’s servicing their accounts. And that uncertainty cuts deep. Because TAG’s focus on Hispanic and ITIN borrowers leaves it especially exposed as tighter immigration enforcement collides with the risks of subprime lending. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @HaigPartners : t.co/bZcVt8MXEb (Data source: Univision Dallas / LA Times)

Car payments are crushing the middle class: Up 60% since 2015. Now eating 14% of household income—an increase from just 9-10%. People need cheaper cars ... and it starts with lower rates, lower insurance, and more cars on the lot. (data from today's CDG Newsletter)

Temperature check on the economy 🌡️ For anyone in the car business - how's your month going? (please state what region you're in)

[NEWS] New EV demand is already lining up: J.D. Power says nearly 60% of new-vehicle shoppers now plan to consider an EV in the next year, up from 52% in September. And 94% of current EV owners say they’ll buy electric again. That loyalty matters. Because about 243,000 EV leases are set to return in 2026. Which means, even after the sales dip that followed the federal tax-credit cutoff, dealers could see a new wave of repeat customers ready to stay electric for the long haul. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @HaigPartners : t.co/8ukRlZbbaC (Data source: J.D. Power E-Vision Report)

[NEWS] Jeep is steering the Grand Wagoneer back to its roots: Pricing for the 2026 model now starts at $62,145 for the 4x2 and $65,145 for the 4x4. That’s down from roughly $85K on the 2025 model. The brand also dropped the standalone “Wagoneer” badge, folding the lineup fully back under the Jeep name. In the words of Jeep Brand CEO Bob Broderdorf: “Rebadging the SUVs as Jeeps should have been done long ago.” Under the hood, the 3.0-liter Hurricane Twin Turbo stays, joined by an extended-range hybrid using a 3.6-liter V6 arriving next year. From what we can tell: These moves mark a shift away from chasing luxury buyers and back toward Jeep’s core, aka approachable, capable, and easier for dealers to sell. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by @lotlinx : t.co/JxkTaXPulf (Data sources: Stellantis / Jeep / MotorTrend)

Told you. CarPlay sells cars.