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Welcome to Wednesday as we recap yesterday’s trip to NYC, the AutoForum, VaynerMedia, and podcast with NYT Bestselling author, Will Guidara. We also talk about the plan to keep imported cars moving toward dealer lots despite the bridge collapse, as well as a Newsweek nod to Tom Doll’s lasting contribution to the Subaru brand and to the industry.
Show Notes with links:
- Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge yesterday, both GM and Ford have announced plans to divert vehicle shipments to alternative ports in order to maintain seamless operations.
- The Port of Baltimore, a vital hub for car shipments in the U.S., faces potential setbacks after the collapse. In 2023, the port saw over 750,000 car shipments.
- Toyota, Volkswagen and BMW, having facilities not directly impacted by the collapse, anticipated no significant disruptions. Nissan also expected minimal impact. Mercedes reported no impact on vehicle exports or its Alabama plant's parts supply, while Stellantis said it is "initiating discussions with our various transportation providers on contingency plans to ensure an uninterrupted flow of vehicles to our customers."
- Some industry experts are not as confident as the OEMS. “There will certainly be a disruption," said John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. "Baltimore is the No. 1 automobile port in the U.S.”
- "It's going to have an impact," said Ford CFO John Lawler, "We'll have to divert parts to other ports... It will probably lengthen the supply chain a bit,"
- Our friend Tom Doll, the former CEO of Subaru of America, has been named to Newsweek’s World’s Greatest Auto Disruptors as the 2024 Legacy of Disruption honoree. Doll's 40-year tenure leaves behind a legacy that transformed Subaru into a beloved and LOVE-ing brand.
- Other Subaru leaders talked about Doll shaped Subaru with grace, confidence, and compassion, fostering an environment of trust and open dialogue across the company.
- Under Doll's guidance, Subaru launched the Love campaign and the Share the Love Event, moving from price and incentive based selling to create a strong emotional connection with customers by making a $250 donation to a charity of the customer’s choice. These initiatives not only differentiated Subaru but also made the automaker a major donor to the National Parks Service, ASPCA, Meals on Wheels, and Make-A-Wish.
- "Tom wanted to replace the traditional negative stereotype of car dealers with something that was much better for the customer experience,” said Subaru’s SVP of Marketing, Alan Bethke. “Many automotive brands have adversarial relationships with their franchise dealers. Tom wanted the opposite."
- Burton Hughes, general manager at Subaru of Las Vegas said "Tom wasn't Superman, he was Clark Kent—a mild-mannered, unassuming leader who helped define our brand with one word: love.”
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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