M&A Activity To Increase, Hyundai Simplifies Charging, Back-To-School Tariff Sale

Automotive State of The Union

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Episode #1038: Today we’re talking about the expected surge in auto dealership M&A activity, Hyundai’s latest software update that simplifies EV charging across major networks, and Tanger’s decision to launch its back-to-school campaign early in response to ongoing tariff concerns.

Show Notes with links:

Though Q1 saw a dip in dealership buy-sell activity, The Presidio Group sees the rest of 2025 heating up. With election season uncertainty in the rearview, dealers may be ready to get back to the negotiating table.
- Q1 had 82 transactions involving 106 dealerships, down from 90 deals and 175 stores last year.
- Election year uncertainty slowed activity, but momentum is now rebounding with Presidio saying the pipeline is “robust” and expecting strong summer/fall dealmaking.
- Presidio President George Karolis said that tariffs are adding complexity, especially around brand valuation and sourcing strategies. However, many dealers are already looking past tariffs, and there are more buyers than sellers in the current market.
- “Certainly, [tariffs have] come up. If anything, maybe we’re buying a little bit of time just to see what happens over the next 90 days before we finalize some transactions,” said Sonic Automotive President Jeff Dyke.

Hyundai EV drivers just got a serious charging upgrade. With tighter app integration and support for plug-and-charge at Tesla Superchargers, the Ioniq lineup is catching up to the Tesla standard in user experience.
- New software upgrades bring MyHyundai app support for Tesla, ChargePoint, EVGo, and Ionna.
- Plug-and-charge is now available on Ioniq 5, Ioniq 9, and future EVs—just plug in and go.
- App features include route planning, charger location, and direct in-app payments.
- Older Hyundai EVs can access Superchargers with an adapter; however the Kona EV is not yet supported.
- The upgrade aims to make EV charging “as easy as gassing up.”

As tariffs loom large, outlet mall giant Tanger is speeding up its seasonal strategy. The company’s early back-to-school campaign kicks off June 1, tapping into consumer concerns over rising prices and potential supply shortfalls.
- Tanger CEO Stephen Yalof says early shopping means better deals and availability.
- This year’s campaign targets 10 million TangerClub members with urgent messaging and marks a pivot from last year’s late-July start.
- Other retailers like Fashion Nova and Beis are also urging pre-tariff purchases.
- “If they can make decisions early and shop early, then they can take advantage of getting the products they want at the price they want,” said Yalof.

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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