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Episode #1319: Dealers prove growth doesn’t require more rooftops, Amazon inches into car sales with real-world friction, and Slate Auto raises $650M to bring its affordable EV vision closer to production reality.

Show Notes with links:

• Forget “grow or die”—2025 proved you can win without adding rooftops. Many Top 150 groups drove serious gains through operational discipline, not acquisitions, signaling a shift toward smarter, not just bigger, dealership strategies.
  • 52 groups grew new-vehicle sales with zero footprint change, pointing to stronger same-store execution.
  • High performers leaned into used-car ops, inventory availability, and internal GM development.
  • Great Lakes Auto Group climbed 19 spots to #88, boosting volume 28% while holding steady at nine stores.
  • Late-year acquisitions (Q4 closings) meant organic performance—not M&A—drove most gains.
  • “We think that scale helps… but I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary,” said Hudson Automotive (#11) CEO David Hudson.

• Amazon is upping its new-car retail platform, and yes, you can now buy a Corvette there. What started with Hyundai has expanded to include multiple brands, bringing digital-native shopping into a $1.3T dealership market.
  • Amazon Autos now features Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Subaru, Chevrolet, and Jeep in 130+ cities.
  • Customers can browse, price, finance, and start paperwork online, reducing time in-store—not replacing it.
  • Dealers pay to list inventory, gaining high-intent traffic from Amazon’s massive audience.
  • Early friction like inventory sync issues and incomplete deal structures highlights the complexity of auto transactions.
  • “Customers have a level of comfort with Amazon… but it’s definitely just in the starting phase,” said dealer Matthew Phillips.
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• Slate Auto just locked in $650M in Series C funding, keeping its low-cost EV truck plans on track—and putting a spotlight on its next big milestone: production.
  • The funding supports next-stage development and production ramp at its Indiana facility.
  • Slate just crossed the 160K reservation mark and still targets late 2026 deliveries, with preorders expected to open in June.
  • The truck will start at a mid-$20K starting price, using a stripped-down base model with modular add-ons that let customers upgrade into things like a 5-seat SUV or fastback configuration.
  • The company plans to invest $400M in its plant, creating 2,000+ jobs.
  • “We will deliver Slate Trucks at nearly half the cost of the average new vehicle—as promised,” said President Chris Barman.

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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