Smothered, Covered Charging, BYD Bombshell, Used Car Climb

Automotive State of The Union

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Episode #1054: We’re kicking off Tuesday week with a look at surging used car sales and shrinking supply, BYD’s aggressive EV price cuts in China, and a Waffle House partnership that brings hash browns and high-speed charging together in the South.

Show Notes with links:

Automotive News released its top Used Car retailers list showing that the stabilizing of the 2024 market led to some big gains. However, the current complexities and quickly shrinking market day supply is testing even the best players.

• Used-only dealers like CarMax, Carvana, and DriveTime saw strong 2024 growth as supply chains normalized, with Carvana up 33% year-over-year.
• Dealers are creatively sourcing inventory—prioritizing trade-ins and direct-from-customer purchases to avoid costly auctions.
• The current used vehicle supply stands at just a 43-day market supply, the lowest since 2021, with lower-price vehicles hardest to find.
• Tariff fears have driven consumers to buy quickly, pushing prices for the top 50 used models to an average of nearly $29,000
• “There isn’t a lot of room for error anymore in the post-COVID used-car world,” said Bill Solko, dealer principal of Automotive Avenues.
• Meanwhile Cox Automotive’s Jonathan Smoke warned, 2025 is going to be a roller coaster for this industry,”

BYD just launched a fresh round of EV price cuts in China, triggering a market shake-up that's pummeling stocks and ramping pressure on rivals like Tesla.

• BYD slashed prices across several models, including a 20% cut on the sub-$10,000 Seagull hatchback now priced at an equivalent of $7,780
• The Chinese EV market is nearing 50% penetration — five times the U.S. rate — largely due to aggressive pricing strategies.
• EV maker stocks, including BYD, Li Auto, and Geely, fell sharply after the announcement, signaling investor anxiety.
• BYD’s growing profit cushion from 2019–2024 gives it room to undercut less profitable competitors.
• “This new price war will put even more pressure on Tesla,” Electrek reported, especially as new players like Xiaomi ramp up.

In a match made in Southern heaven, bp pulse and Waffle House are joining forces to bring 400kW ultrafast EV charging to your next roadside breakfast stop.

• Starting in 2026, Waffle House locations across Georgia, Texas, Florida, and beyond will host six-bay charging stations.
• The chargers will support both CCS and NACS connectors and deliver up to 200 miles of range in about 15 minutes.
• The 24/7 diner vibe adds much-needed comfort and reliability to the EV charging experience.
• This builds on bp pulse’s growing U.S. network, which includes partnerships with Hertz and 8,000+ retail locations.
• “Charging up while fueling up on an All-Star Special will be convenient and fast,” said Waffle House Innovation Director David Repp.

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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