Stellantis Ghosts Car Shows, More EVs Than ICE for BMW, Meet AX

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Welcome to another week of opportunity in Retail Auto as we talk about Dealer’s response to the lack of OEM support from Stellanis at car shows. We also talk about BMW’s tipping point for EVs, as well as a new acronym, AX. 

Show Notes with links:

• As Stellantis scales back its auto show participation, dealers in North Texas unite to showcase vehicles, as Dealers around Dallas are pooling resources to display vehicles at the North Texas Auto Show
  • The absence of Stellantis corporate support means only current showroom models will be shown, excluding anticipated vehicles like the electric Ram 1500 REV.
  • Charlie Gilchrist of Gilchrist Automotive, along with the North Texas Automobile Dealers group, is leading the effort to maintain brand presence.
  • Stellantis' ongoing absence from major events like the SEMA Show, Los Angeles Auto Show, and CES, coupled with skipping the Super Bowl ad spot, indicates a long-term strategy to reallocate marketing funds. 
  • The company says they are focusing on efficiency amidst challenging market conditions, leading to reduced participation in major auto shows across the country
  • Charlie Gilchris said: When dealers think it's that important, I think that should tell the OEMs how we feel about auto shows because we as dealers believe that we need to have them," Gilchrist said. "It's an efficient spend because we get a lot of customers looking and shopping and then they actually go buy. Studies have proven that they actually will buy vehicles, so I think it's important that we have all the OEMs there.”
• Sales Growth is Mostly Electric as Combustion Engine 'Tipping Point' Passes according to BMW's CFO as electric vehicles are now driving a majority of the company's sales growth, surpassing combustion engines.
  • As environmental regulations and market pressures are pushing carmakers like BMW to expand their EV offerings as BMW aims to increase its all-electric sales to 33% by 2026 up from the 15% they hit in 2023 as they will be  introducing six new models in its "Neue Klasse" EV-only line.
  • CFO Walter Mertl says: "The current sales plateau for combustion cars will continue and then fall slightly," indicating a strategic shift towards EVs.
• A Retail Wire article is asking whether or not Associate Experience (AX): is the new norm for retail success as Retailers are recognizing it as being a crucial factor
  • Retailers are increasingly focusing on the well-being of their workforce, recognizing the direct impact of employee satisfaction
  • Moving beyond short-term engagement initiatives, the best retailers are fostering a culture where each associate feels valued and integral to the company's success.
  • Steven Williams from Pepisico Foods North America stresses the importance of empowering employees to be “Their best self”

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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