Mary’s Millions, Elon’s Trillions, Japan Tariffs to 15%, OpenAI’s Certification Push

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Episode #1138: Mary Barra and her GM peers are selling big while Tesla bets even bigger on Elon. A new U.S.–Japan trade deal lowers tariffs and boosts investment in auto-related sectors. And Apple, OpenAI, and Walmart are teaming up to define what AI literacy looks like for the next generation of workers.

• As Tesla courts Elon Musk with a potential $1 trillion payday, General Motors’ leadership is making moves of a very different kind. The spotlight is now on Mary Barra and what her stock sales might signal.
  • GM CEO Mary Barra sold over 40% of her holdings in late August, unloading more than $21 million in a single day — part of nearly $58 million in sales over the past six months.
  • She’s not alone: Chief Accounting Officer Christopher Hatto and Executive VP Rory Harvey also sold sizable chunks of stock in recent months with no purchases to offset them.
• Meanwhile, Tesla is dangling a $1 trillion comp plan to keep Elon Musk locked in, tied to targets like an $8.5 trillion valuation and robotaxi expansion.
• Musk would see his Tesla stake climb back to 25% if the plan succeeds — a move he’s called essential to staying committed.

• After months of back-and-forth, the U.S. has officially lowered tariffs on Japanese auto imports, giving Japan’s automakers a long-awaited reprieve—and setting the stage for billions in investment.
  • President Trump signed an executive order implementing 15% tariffs on Japanese autos, down from 27.5%, effective within a week.
  • The order also prevents “stacked” tariffs on goods like beef and guarantees no levies on airplanes or parts.
  • Toyota, which projected a $10B profit hit from previous tariffs, praised the clarity of the deal. About 80% of Toyota vehicles sold in the U.S. are built in North America.
• “Finally,” posted Japan’s chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, after ten U.S. trips to seal the deal.

• While Apple eyes Google’s AI muscle to upgrade Siri, OpenAI is putting boots on the ground to make sure American workers—and businesses—aren’t left behind in the AI revolution.
  • Apple is testing Google’s Gemini model to power AI search summaries in a new Siri feature called “World Knowledge Answers.”
  • The upgraded Siri aims to challenge AI-powered search platforms by blending web results with summaries, visuals, and points of interest—possibly debuting in iOS 26.4 next spring.
  • Meanwhile, OpenAI is rolling out AI certifications and a new jobs platform in partnership with Walmart, John Deere, and others to certify 10 million Americans by 2030.
  • The goal? Help

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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