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At the NY Auto Forum, John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, breaks down one of the most critical moments facing the global auto industry. With rising geopolitical tension, China’s growing dominance, and shifting retail dynamics, the stakes for U.S. dealers and OEMs have never been higher. This conversation goes beyond headlines to unpack what “fair competition” actually means—and why it’s not the current reality.

Bozzella makes a clear case: the franchise model only works if the industry stays aligned. From Tesla’s early disruption to today’s policy debates and global overcapacity concerns, the conversation highlights a hard truth—dealers and OEMs must compete together or risk losing the customer entirely. This is a front-line look at the structural forces reshaping automotive retail and what leaders must do now to stay competitive.

Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:20 Why U.S.–China Talks Matter for Auto

1:05 The Auto Industry’s Role in U.S. GDP

1:50 The Problem with “Unfair” Global Competition

3:05 China’s Overcapacity and Global Impact

4:10 Breakdown of Dealer Struggles in Global Markets

5:20 Why the Franchise Model Still Wins

6:35 The Tesla Effect and Policy Consequences

8:05 One System or No System at All

9:10 Why Alignment Between Dealers and OEMs Matters

10:15 Competing for the Modern Customer

11:20 Building a More Competitive Industry Together

Connect with John Bozzella at https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-bozzella/

Learn more about the Alliance for Automotive Innovation at https://www.autosinnovate.org/

Our coverage of the NY Auto Forum is brought to you Force Marketing. Learn more at https://www.forcemarketing.com/

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