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Episode #1213: Today we’re talking Scout’s aggressive service-first launch strategy, Carvana’s stunning rise past Detroit’s giants as it joins the S&P 500, and Waymo’s shift from polite AV to confidently assertive city driver.

Show Notes with links:

• Scout Motors is doubling down on a factory-run service network as it preps for a 2027 U.S. launch, betting that premium, reliable service will become a differentiator in the direct-to-consumer EV space.
  • Scout will open 25 brand-owned rooftops at launch, both “Studios,” where customers shop and interact with a sales adviser, and “Workshops,” where service is performed. 57 rooftops are planned in Year 2.
  • The brand plans 15% more annual service labor capacity than projected need to stay ahead of demand and reduce wait times.
  • Scout aims to staff 1,400 service bays with roughly 900 technicians within five years, backed by VW Group resources but operating independently.
  • “The way we describe our retail operations is a digital-first experience built on a service-first infrastructure.” — Cody Thacker, VP Commercial Operations, Scout
• Carvana’s comeback is officially Wall Street-certified as the online used-car disruptor joins the S&P 500, marking a stunning rebound from near-bankruptcy to an $87B valuation that now eclipses Ford and GM.
  • Shares have surged more than 8,000% since 2022 and nearly doubled in 2025 as demand rebounded and cost discipline kicked in.
  • Carvana now trades at 57× forward earnings, massively outpacing Detroit’s single-digit multiples.
  • The company sold a record 155,941 units in Q3, driving 55% revenue growth and fueling analyst confidence in potential volume leadership over CarMax by 2026.
  • Index inclusion on Dec. 22 is expected to trigger significant buying from funds tracking the S&P.

Waymo’s once overly-courteous robotaxis are getting a software personality shift in San Francisco—assertive, human-like driving that’s raising eyebrows, improving flow, and occasionally bending rules.

• • Riders report more aggressive lane changes, quicker merges, and tighter gaps—closer to how real-world urban drivers operate.
  • The shift follows complaints that overly passive AVs caused congestion, got stuck behind obstacles, and struggled downtown.
  • Recent incidents include an illegal U-turn, a lane-change with no signal, and even a tragic neighborhood cat strike—fueling debate over “too human” behavior.
  • Waymo says more assertiveness is required to scale in busy cities, with updates teaching AVs to make “common-sense decisions” when laws conflict.

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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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