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Since we'll be at Public Policy Day on January 21, we're releasing one of the best conversations we had at last year's event.

In this episode, we sit down with Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, a former car dealer turned policymaker, to discuss the future of the automotive industry and American manufacturing. Moreno shares his strong belief in the franchise model, highlighting how car dealers serve as a crucial link between automakers and consumers. He emphasizes the importance of listening to dealers who interact with customers daily, using Toyota as an example of a brand that successfully integrates dealer feedback. Moreno also discusses the significance of car ownership in American culture, calling it a symbol of freedom and opportunity.

As a senator, Moreno is committed to supporting policies that strengthen U.S. manufacturing and prevent automakers from moving production overseas. He delves into the long-term impact of manufacturing incentives, tariffs, and economic policies that affect workers, dealers, and consumers alike. With a deep passion for cars and a personal connection to the industry—his son is set to become a Mercedes dealer—Moreno is determined to be a strong advocate for the automotive sector in Washington.

Timestamped Takeaways:

0:00 – Intro

0:25 – The franchise model is crucial for the auto industry's success.

1:34 – Listening to dealers is key to understanding consumer demand.

2:39 – Car ownership represents freedom and independence in America.

3:37 – Manufacturing incentives can strengthen the middle class.

4:07 – Buying American-made cars supports jobs and local economies.

6:16 – Automakers should focus on producing what consumers actually want.

6:50 – Government policies should enable, not dictate, market demand.

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1. Automotive State of the Union
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New episodes release Thursday.

This episode was originally released in August 2023, when we had the opportunity to interview the one and only Jesse Cole.

Just imagine having a dream so powerful that you'd risk everything, even mortgage your home and live on a shoestring budget to make it a reality.

This episode's guest, Jesse Cole, owner of the Savannah Bananas, took that bold leap and is now reaping the rewards with a waitlist for tickets nearly hitting 900,000! Tune in to hear his inspiring journey of grit, determination, and a love for Banana Ball that overcame naysayers and doubts.

But it's not all about baseball. Jesse's retail acumen shines as he shares the process of creating a memorable retail experience. Drawing inspiration from Walt Disney, he has managed to create an engaging and unique entertainment experience for all age groups.

We tackle the importance of retail, how to smoothen out friction points, and eliminate frustrations to enhance customer experience. We also explore how his innovative thinking and transformative strategies can be applied to other industries like automotive retail. Get ready to be inspired, enlightened and challenged to rethink the way you approach your business and your dreams.

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

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https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts:

1. Automotive State of the Union
2. ASOTU CON Sessions

Send us a text

New episodes every Thursday!

This episode was originally released in July 2022.

Today we're throwing back to the very first episode of Auto Collabs, where our guest was a NYT Bestselling Author, the Co-Founder of Square, the Chairman of the St Louis Federal Reserve, and a Professional Glass Blower. That’s not all either. Jim McKelvey is one of the most purebred entrepreneurs we’ve ever met, and he’s here to help us tell ourselves the truth about innovation, entrepreneurship, and how to stack your laptop on laundry baskets for a zoom call.

What we discuss with Jim McKelvey:

00:25 - Paul recounts how he was introduced to Jim’s book, “The Innovation Stack,” and how it completely changed his perspective on entrepreneurship. Jim offers a realistic and hope filled look at entrepreneurship by creating a space where it’s normal to fail often and learn from one’s mistakes — a stark contrast to the beaming “checklist” culture that has been perpetuated online.

04:31 - Jim immediately disarms any nerves Paul, Kyle, and Michael might’ve had prior to the interview by joining from a remote cabin in Wisconsin. “Total disclosure, this is the bedroom ‘cuz it’s the quietest room in the house and I’ve got my laptop stacked on laundry baskets.”

05:28 - Jim offers his thoughts about everything that’s happening inside the retail automobile industry from his vantage point as an “outsider.”

“It’s really interesting. You’ve got some direct sales models that are breaking up dealerships, cars are lasting longer, so service is becoming a greater profit component than sales. The used car market is crazy. One of my friends runs Enterprise, so I get to hear about buying cars by the tens of thousands, and it’s nuts!”

08:40 - In addition to being the founder of Square, Jim is also involved deeply in the economist side of small businesses and the role they play in the economy. As the Chair of the St. Louis Federal Reserve, Jim has a unique vantage point into economic drivers and what possible impacts there may be across several industries, including automotive. He explains that automotive is a great leading indicator for the rest of the economy, albeit skewed by the last two years of the pandemic.

“Does the chip shortage sort of mess up that indicator? If we could get the car, we’d buy the car, but we can’t get the car so we’re going to satisfy ourselves with something else.”

11:54 - Is it even possible to create a predictable business formula when the last two years have provided a skewed outlook on the market?

“It's driving predictable business people. Crazy. Like if you're used to following a formula and that formula's been working for 25 years, the last thing you want is what we've just lived through. And we're what we're gonna go live through. Like, it's, it's just so much change

⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

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https://www.asotu.com

✉️ Sign up for our free and fun-to-read daily email for a quick shot of relevant news in automotive retail, media, and pop culture.

🎧 Like and follow our other podcasts:

1. Automotive State of the Union
2. ASOTU CON Sessions