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This Monday, we’re walking with our heads up, and eyes scanning the horizon as we summarize Paul’s recent trip to the Web3 conference, VeeCon. We also talk about Mercedes getting creative with its charitable giving (and why we think you should too). Finally, we look at Amazon’s newest last-mile delivery testing. 

• VeeCon wrap up:
  • Business responds to culture. Art and Entertainment is where Culture is typically first “defined”
  • Concept of ‘custody’ and the responsibility that comes with it (decentralization and token-based economics)
    • Ian Rogers, Chief Experience Officer at Ledger 
      • Formerly CDO with LVMH , most known for his 20 years bringing digital music mainstream…Beats then Apple Music launch)
  • Education is critical for innovation and adoption (Web 1, 2, 3)
    • Every industry will be affected (even the DMV)
    • Similar adoption curve as all tech, esp Web 2
• It’s all about community. Web2 was about having an audience, Web3 is about cultivating community
• Take Away: Web3 isn’t going to solve Retail Auto’s problems today, but remember when you thought it was ridiculous to put a vehicle listing online instead of the paper?
• Mercedes auctions rare care for new charity fund
  • German automaker Mercedes-Benz said Thursday that it has auctioned an extremely rare car from its company collection for a roaring 135 million euros ($143 million).
  • 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé: This icon of automotive history is an absolute rarity – one of just two prototypes built at the time.
  • Following in the innovative footsteps of the car’s creator, Mercedes hopes the fund will support young people being able to learn about and research environmental science and decarbonization.
  • Take Away: Think of unique ways you can use your people and material resources to equip learning & charitable contributions within your community. Get outside the box of simply a dollar and activate your resources.
• Amazon tests shopping malls as a base to deliver packages from
  • Utilizing its FLEX drivers (think Uber/ Lyft style), drivers will pick up packages to be delivered directly to customers within a 10 mile radius from individual stores in the mall instead of local Amazon delivery centers
  • Pays Mom and Pop shops to be a sort of post office to stage deliveries in an effort to cut down on delivery times
• Take Away: Revitalization of antiquated building uses is prevalent in retail. Thinking of your brick and mortar with a new perspective will keep you ahead of the OEM drive toward an agency model and away from franchise.

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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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