May 20th, 2026 | Hyundai overhauls service operations; Mercedes-AMG's first EV

Mitsubishi dealerships are the brand’s franchised retail outlets that sell new vehicles and provide service. This segment focuses on dealer performance and frustration, including low sales volumes and dealers liquidating inventory to exit the business.

Fleet buyers are organizations that purchase vehicles in bulk for business use—like rentals, delivery services, or company car programs. The segment notes that nearly 60% of Mitsubishi’s first-quarter sales went to fleet buyers, which can signal a sales mix that differs from typical retail customers.

Liquidating inventory means selling off remaining stock quickly—often at steep discounts—to convert unsold vehicles into cash. Here, dealers are described as selling thousands of dollars below invoice to exit, which implies significant financial pressure.

Invoice price is the amount a dealer pays the manufacturer for a vehicle (before the dealer’s profit and other fees). The segment’s “below invoice” wording indicates dealers are discounting beyond typical dealer margins to move cars.

Stellantis is the large automaker formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and PSA Group. In this segment, it’s described as partnering with Jaguar Land Rover to co-develop vehicles in the US, potentially using Stellantis factories to reduce costs and tariff exposure.

Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is the UK-based luxury and SUV brand group under Tata Motors. The segment frames JLR’s partnership with Stellantis as a way to co-develop vehicles in the US and potentially manufacture locally to avoid import tariffs.

Import tariffs are taxes governments charge on goods brought into a country. The segment suggests local US manufacturing could help Jaguar Land Rover avoid tariffs that would otherwise apply when importing vehicles into its biggest market.

A non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) is a formal agreement that signals intent to cooperate, but it doesn’t legally commit either side to a final deal. In practice, it’s often used to start discussions while leaving key terms—like manufacturing scope and timelines—still undecided.

Antonio Filosa is identified in the segment as the Stellantis CEO. The hosts connect his leadership to a “turnaround strategy” that emphasizes partnerships as a core lever for restructuring and growth.

Mercedes-AMG’s first all-electric performance car is the Mercedes-AMG GT four-door coupe, positioned as a high-power EV with a sporty, GT-style body. The big hook is that it’s using Formula One–style technology and is being framed as a performance leap beyond earlier Mercedes EV efforts.

An all-electric performance car is a vehicle that uses only electric motors for propulsion and is tuned for strong acceleration, grip, and driver-focused dynamics. In this context, it frames the Mercedes-AMG GT four-door coupe as a performance-focused EV rather than a mainstream electric sedan.

Formula One (F1) is the top tier of open-wheel motorsport, known for pushing cutting-edge engineering. When an EV claims technology “borrowed from Formula One,” it usually means advanced powertrain control, aerodynamics, and/or energy-management strategies inspired by race development.

The AMG-1 hypercar is Mercedes-AMG’s halo EV concept/flagship project referenced here as a technology source. Mentioning it signals that the Mercedes-AMG GT four-door coupe is likely drawing on the same high-end EV development work used for the AMG-1.

“VA engines” here refers to V8 engines (the “V” shape of the cylinder layout) that are known for a distinctive, aggressive sound. The hosts contrast that traditional loud, growly V8 character with the silence/different sound of an EV powertrain.

EVs are electric vehicles, meaning they use one or more electric motors powered by a battery instead of a gasoline or diesel engine. In this context, the hosts are talking about Mercedes-AMG expanding into electric performance cars.

Horsepower is a measure of engine (or motor) power—how much work the powertrain can do over time. When Mercedes says its architecture is designed for outputs over 1300 horsepower, it’s signaling the system is built to support extremely high power levels for performance EVs.

Porsche is a sports-car brand that’s also moving into electric performance. The hosts mention upcoming electric Porsche models as competitors for Mercedes-AMG’s EV push, framing the EV market as a battle for enthusiast attention.

An engine replacement means removing the existing engine and installing a different one, typically from a remanufactured or replacement source. It’s considered one of the most labor-intensive dealer repairs because it requires significant disassembly, installation, and reprogramming/verification work depending on the vehicle.

A service bay is a dedicated stall in a dealership’s workshop where a vehicle is parked while technicians perform repairs. If a job is labor-intensive, it can occupy the bay for days, reducing how many other cars the shop can handle at the same time.

The GDSI program is referenced as a funding mechanism that could help dealers pay for upgrades to their facilities. In this context, the host is asking whether Hyundai supports dealership renovation costs through that program.

The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy is the Palisade’s most luxurious trim, positioned as a high-end family SUV. In this story, it’s the specific vehicle whose rear suspension components failed and triggered a parts-delivery problem.

Self-leveling rear shocks are suspension dampers designed to automatically maintain ride height as load changes. When they fail on a vehicle like the Hyundai Palisade, the rear can sit incorrectly and the car may feel unstable or be harder to drive safely.

A warranty is the manufacturer’s promise to cover certain repairs for a set period or mileage. This story highlights that even when a failure is “under warranty,” the repair can still be delayed if the manufacturer can’t supply the needed parts.

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a midsize SUV that the owner switched to after waiting for Palisade Calligraphy parts. The mention matters here because it shows the practical impact of parts delays on real ownership decisions.

JD Power rankings come from JD Power’s customer-satisfaction studies, which score automakers and service networks based on how customers rate their experiences. In this context, the hosts are talking about how Hyundai’s service performance is measured against other brands.

Trailing data means the results reflect what happened in the past, not the most current changes. The host is arguing that JD Power’s published numbers lag behind Hyundai’s newer service programs, so Hyundai may improve before the next survey.