The Bird Is Freed, New Service Plans for EVs, Get You Netflix Popcorn…at Walmart

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We’ve got that Friday feeling as we talk about the first steps of the Twitter takeover and what it means for advertisers. We also talk about the new and hopeful service strategies for Dealer EV service departments, as well as a Walmart - Netflix partnership just in time for the holidays. 

• The Twitter takeover is complete, but we’re going to be hearing about it for a while. Immediately following the closing of the deal, Elon Musk assumed the role of CEO and fired outgoing CEO Parag Agrawa, CFO Ned Segal, Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s top legal and policy executive, and Sean Edgett, general counsel
  • Tweeted “The bird is free”
  • Severances cost approx $200M
  • Some argue there is a conflict of interest in the automotive advertising sector
  • Plans to reinstate Former President Trump’s account among others while committing to not let Twitter become a free-for-all
  • In a message to Twitter advertisers, Musk wrote  “Dear Twitter Advertisers, I also very much believe that advertising, when done right, can delight, entertain and inform you; it can show you a service or product or medical treatment that you never knew existed, but is right for you. For this to be true, it is essential to show Twitter users advertising that is as relevant as possible to their needs. Low relevancy ads are spam, but highly relevant ads are actually content! Fundamentally, Twitter aspires to be the most respected advertising platform in the world that strengthens your brand and grows your enterprise. To everyone who has partnered with us, I thank you. Let us build something extraordinary together.”
• The EV service game is going to be different, but certainly not a disaster according to an expert panel hosted by Automotive News Fixed Ops journal
  • Ride quality and maintenance needs become more important and frequent due to the heavier weight and acceleration capabilities of EV
    • John Rock, Retail Innovation EV/CX Manager for Cadillac said “Lube, oil and filter were always the entry point. Now it’s tire rotations that become the entry point.”
    • Tire replacement, suspension and alignment work are likely upsells
  • fRetention is likely to increase even if revenue per vehicle declines according to panelist Peter Kahn, senior director-research and insights for dealership management system provider CDK Global
  • Melissa Best, service director fo Pearson Hyundai in Midlothian, VA notes that the extended warranty terms on EV batteries should also increase dealer service visits over non-dealer
• In an entertainment-to-retail partnership over 2400 Walmart locations will be adding a “Netflix Hub” in time for the holidays where customers and Netflix show fans can buy merch for popular shows like “Stranger Things,” “Squid Game,” and the upcoming “Knives Out” sequel. 

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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