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There’s nothing like a sunny May 1st. Today we talk about Ford’s new AI driven Dealer training tool. We also review the fastest and slowest moving inventory, as well as the newly launched ability for Roblox users to purchase real life Walmart items in-game.
- Ford is introducing "Ford University," a cutting-edge AI-powered training platform aimed at enhancing dealership staff effectiveness and customer interactions
- The platform, designed with cinematic storytelling, covers Ford's history and detailed technical breakdowns of vehicle features.
- Ford University utilizes AI to analyze dealership employees' performance, offering personalized feedback and "missions" that simulate customer interactions.
- AI feedback focuses on speech nuances, use of filler words, and the accuracy of vehicle descriptions against competitors.
- Launched in U.S. dealerships, the system will expand content to include technical staff by year's end.
- Some wheels take off faster than a teenager after curfew. Others linger awkwardly like guests at a party long after the music has stopped. As the latest study from iSeeCars shows, when it comes to clearing out inventory, not all cars are created equal. See the list here
- Fast Movers —
- Hybrids lead the charge: The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the fastest-selling new car at 14.2 days on market.
- Top used cars: Lexus RX 350h tops the list at 12.3 days on market, followed closely by other Lexus models.
- Sluggish Sellers —
- EVs lag behind: New electric vehicles are the slowest in the new car market, taking 70.6 days on average to sell.
- Used car slow sellers: Maserati and other premium brands dominate the list of slowest-selling used cars.
- Slow to go: All of the slowest-selling used cars are taking 90 or more days to sell, with the top-ranked Jeep Cherokee taking more than three times the 54-day average, at 169.7 days.
- Seemingly at the top of their game Walmart and Roblox are first-in to pioneer accessible virtual e-commerce, launching a collaborative platform where users can purchase real-life items and have them shipped to their home through an immersive Roblox experience.
- The partnership introduces "Walmart Discovered" on Roblox, allowing users to buy physical products from a virtual store that mirrors Walmart's online shopping experience.
- Users can try virtual versions of products on their avatars before purchasing, with all transactions securely handled via a Walmart API.
- The initiative targets users 13 and older in the U.S., featuring products designed in collaboration with Roblox creators like Sarabxlla and MD17_RBLX.
- The pilot, running through May, serves as a test to evaluate the potential for Roblox to facilitate physical goods sales wit
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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