Auto Collabs
Collaboration through connection.
Hosted by Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo, Auto Collabs is your connect point to the human side of the retail automotive industry: what motivates its leaders, how they navigate change, and what keeps them pushing forward. It’s beyond-the-business-card conversations with real people powering dealerships, technology platforms, and everything in between.
From the team behind the More Than Cars movement, this podcast is built on one big belief: thriving people create thriving businesses. With candid conversations, industry insight, and just enough unfiltered banter to keep things interesting, Auto Collabs delivers authentic stories that inspire real collaboration.
// Auto Collabs is produced by Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
Auto Collabs
Chinese EVs, Amazon, and the Future of the Dealer Model with Ted Smith
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Behind every dealership is an unseen battle over regulation, competition, and control—and the next few years may decide who really owns the future of the automotive industry.
Ted Smith has spent his career in the engine room of the automotive industry—working inside associations that quietly shape how cars are sold, serviced, and protected across America. As President of the Florida Automobile Dealers Association and incoming Chair of Automotive Trade Association Executives, Ted sits at the intersection of policy, retail, and the future of mobility. His job? Help thousands of dealers navigate an industry that’s evolving faster than ever before.
In this conversation, Ted breaks down the massive forces reshaping automotive retail—from Chinese automakers and direct-to-consumer sales models to Amazon entering the vehicle marketplace. He explains why associations exist in the first place, why the franchise dealer system continues to survive every disruption thrown at it, and why the real battle for the industry might not be what most people think. The message is clear: the future of automotive retail won’t be decided by technology alone—it will be decided by who protects the ecosystem that keeps customers, dealers, and manufacturers working together.
Timestamped Takeaways:
00:00 Why Automotive Leaders “Drive Using the Rear-View Mirror”
02:02 The Responsibility of Trade Associations
05:06 Dealerships Are Complex Empires
10:11 The Scout Controvers
12:21 Why the Franchise Dealer System Still Works
15:32 Why Local Dealers Matter After the Sale
19:57 Amazon Entering the Car Market
22:10 China’s Strategy in the Global Auto Market
23:20 Why Dealers Might Actually Want Chinese Vehicles
24:41 The Hidden Risk of Foreign OEMs
26:47 How Chinese Vehicles Could Enter the U.S. Through Canada
29:35 Why Curiosity Beats Control in a Changing Industry
Connect with Ted Smith at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-smith-9ab26632/
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