Welcome back to The Automotive Advantage. Today we reveal the 2025 Automotive Awards that absolutely no one asked for, but everyone will have an opinion about. We break down the best, the worst, and the completely unhinged moments from across the automotive world and crown winners in categories like Car of the Year, Truck of the Year, Top Upfitter, Best Performance Part, Top Media, Best Event, and more. We even pick the Dogs of the Year and talk about the trends that shaped 2025.

Inside this episode we cover
• The car companies that actually moved the industry forward
• Why Ford, Dodge SRT, and Toyota dominated different segments
• Corvette ZR1, GTD, used enthusiast cars, and the rise of the $200K build
• The Slate truck hype and the f 150 as the new Fox Body
• Fox Factory, Singer, RTR, and the future of upfitted vehicles
• Why sim racing and iRacing are becoming real sanctioning bodies
• Influencers vs traditional media and why Bring a Trailer runs the culture
• Power Tour, Roadkill, Dream Cruise and the event boom
• The campaigns that worked and the ones that felt cursed
• HP Tuners, Whipple, and the new performance landscape
• The rise of AI generated chaos in automotive media

Then we give out our picks for moment of the year, person of the year, and the industry low points we hope stay in 2025.

Drop your top ten lists, tell us where we were wrong, and let us know what you are looking forward to in 2026.

New episodes every week. Like, comment, subscribe, and share with a friend who loves cars as much as we do.

This week on Automotive Advantage, we're back from Las Vegas and breaking down the biggest trends, surprises, and takeaways shaping the automotive aftermarket right now. From industry optimism to wild builds, from burnout culture to AI-generated launch videos… we cover it all.

In this episode:

• Why the vibe in Las Vegas felt shockingly positive this year
• What booth quality, brand presence, and attendance say about the industry
• The rise of content creators at major events and why brands are doubling down
• Why face-to-face events are back in a massive way (and how brands should adapt)
• The hot segments by hall and what that tells us about 2026
• Trucks dominating the industry and the F-150 becoming the new “muscle car”
• Why extreme builds and million-dollar cars are overshadowing relatable, bolt-on projects
• The burnout/takeover trend and the controversial idea that it’s replacing motorsports
• What’s missing at today’s events: karting, dragsters, dynos, and grassroots racing
• Insights into OEM activity, stealth recon work, and what new trends they’re tracking
• Big wins for brands including a top-12 Battle of the Builders finish for a black Gen 1 Bronco
• Why brighter car colors still dominate photography and social media performance
• The return of audio builds and the competitiveness of the North Hall landscape
• How one builder’s Las Vegas success is transforming his business overnight
• A look at new product drops, extreme horsepower trends, blowers-through-hoods, and more
• The growing influence of AI in automotive marketing… including a launch video that used it
• How AI is (and isn’t) reliable for social metrics and brand performance
• What brands should rethink for 2026 and why the industry feels strong heading into the new year

Whether you're a builder, brand, marketer, shop owner, or gearhead, this Vegas recap delivers real insights you can actually use.

Watch, subscribe, and drop a comment:
What trend surprised you the most?

The Automotive Aftermarket is shifting fast. Sales are soft, brands are pulling back, and AI is rewriting how business gets done.In this episode, Dr. Jamie Meyer and Justin Cesler dive into the latest MidwayPlus Market Index, breaking down real B2B and B2C numbers that reveal what’s actually happening across the industry. They unpack why consumer confidence is down, how product launches drive attention in a flat market, and why every brand needs to rethink its SEMA strategy... from timing embargoes to launching early and often.From there, the conversation turns to marketing budgets, content creation, and AI. The guys explain exactly how much brands should be spending on marketing, where small shops can start, and how AI tools like ChatGPT and Sora are giving businesses a true unfair advantage.This one’s packed with actionable insights for shop owners, brand leaders, and content creators who want to stay ahead of the curve in 2025.Chapters:Welcome to the Automotive AdvantageThe SEMA Crunch: When to Drop Your NewsUnderstanding Embargoes & Launch StrategyThe MidwayPlus Market Index: Real Industry DataWhat Flat Sales Mean for the AftermarketHow to Build a Modern Content & Marketing StrategyThe Rise of AI in AutomotiveThe Future of Media, Manufacturing & EventsFeaturing:Justin Cesler – Founder, Driveline StudiosDr. Jamie Meyer – President, 6757 Consulting#SEMA #AutomotiveAftermarket #Automotive