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Episode #1152: Today we’re talking Hyundai and GM’s detailed game plan for their collab, Stellantis’ new EV tech that sheds weight and adds power,, and why Americans are going bigger than ever on Halloween—even with higher prices haunting their budgets.
Show Notes with links:
- Hyundai and GM’s strategic collaboration will co-develop five vehicles aimed at growing their presence in the Americas while containing costs in a tightening market.
- The partnership kicks off in 2028 with an electric commercial van for North America and expands to include a compact crossover, sedan, and two pickups for Central and South America.
- Initial volumes are expected to hit 100,000 units, with a long-term goal of reaching 800,000 annual sales.
- Each company will “donate” specific models: Hyundai leads the electric van and compact vehicles, while GM heads development of midsize pickups.
- The duo will lean into shared logistics, propulsion systems, and battery supply chains to drive efficiency.
- “We are not going to mix everything to try to do a hybrid — that is not going to work. There is a donor and a receiver of a particular product.” said Hyundai CEO Jose Muñoz.
- Stellantis is rolling out its new Intelligent Battery Integrated System (IBIS)—a breakthrough powertrain innovation that could redefine EV architecture by baking the charger and inverter directly into the battery pack.
- IBIS cuts vehicle weight by about 40 kg and frees 17 liters of space, boosting aerodynamics and interior design options.
- The system improves energy efficiency by up to 10%, slashes charging times by 15%, and delivers 15% more power with no added battery size.
- Developed in partnership with Saft, Sherpa Engineering, and others, IBIS simplifies servicing and enhances battery reuse for second-life applications.
- A fully functional prototype is now on the road in a Peugeot E-3008 riding on Stellantis’ STLA Medium platform.
- Consumers may be bracing for price hikes, but that’s not stopping them from going big on Halloween this year—with spending expected to hit a record $13.1 billion.
- Top categories: $4.3B on costumes, $4.2B on decorations, and $3.9B on candy.
- Per-person spend is also at an all-time high: $114.45, up nearly $11 from last year.
- 79% of shoppers expect higher prices due to tariffs, yet 73% still plan to celebrate.
- Pets aren’t left out—$860M will be spent dressing them up as pumpkins, hot dogs, and bumblebees.
- Top costumes? Kids are going with Spider-Man, princesses, and witches; adults favor witches, vampires, and pirates.
0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
1:00 Big Announcement on 10.01
1:25 Announcements
2:02 Hyundai and GM To Launch 5 Co-Developed Vehicles
5:25 Stellantis' New EV Tech Means Lighter Batteries and Faster Charging
10:20 Halloween Spending To Hit $4
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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