Painter Back as TrueCar CEO, Old Used Cars Are In, AI In The Freelance Economy

Описание: Episode #1173: Scott Painter steers TrueCar back to private ownership, CarGurus says buyers are going older to stay on budget, and freelancers navigate the double-edged sword of AI—faster work, smaller paychecks, and a whole lot of “good enough.”

https://www.autonews.com/retail/an-pa...
TrueCar’s founder and former CEO, Scott Painter, is back. Nearly a decade after his controversial exit, Painter is leading a $227 million investor grcoup to take the publicly traded company private — a bold move aimed at restoring TrueCar’s dealer relationships and market relevance.
-Painter’s syndicate, Fair Holdings Inc., includes investors from dealer, data, fintech, and mobility sectors.
-He’ll return as CEO once the all-cash transaction closes in late 2025, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.
-The deal follows a year-long strategic review by TrueCar’s board, seeking a sustainable path forward after layoffs and leadership turnover.
-TrueCar’s stock surged 62% on the announcement, closing at $2.40.
-Painter emphasized collaboration: “Partnerships and brand alignment are central to creating value for both dealers and customers.”

https://www.autoremarketing.com/ar/an...
CarGurus’ Q3 2025 Quarterly Review shows that when it comes to cars, “old is in.” Despite economic pressure, auto sales are holding steady — but buyers are opting for older, cheaper vehicles to keep monthly payments manageable.
-Used vehicles under $30K drove 72% of used retail growth over the past year. Nearly half of listings in that range were 7+ years old, averaging $13,600.
-Director Kevin Roberts says shoppers are split between value-seekers buying older cars and wealthier consumers driving luxury growth.
-Dealers may need to lean on older inventory and fixed ops to meet demand and keep aging cars running.
-California, Florida, Texas, and Virginia lead the nation in used cars under $20K, each with 30% or more of listings.
-“Buyers are increasingly accepting six-figure-mile cars to keep payments within reach,” Roberts noted.

https://www.businessinsider.com/side-...
AI is reshaping the freelance economy, creating both opportunity and uncertainty for side hustlers. While tools like ChatGPT help freelancers work faster, they’re also undercutting pay, originality, and client perception of value.
-Freelancers say AI boosts efficiency but drives down earnings—writing jobs fell 2%, and income dropped 5% on Upwork after ChatGPT’s release.
-AI lowers the barrier to entry, flooding the market with cheaper “good enough” work that makes it harder for top-tier talent to stand out.
-Clients increasingly expect AI-level output for less, with some even replacing human contractors with automation tools.
-“High quality doesn’t really protect freelancers,” said Washington University professor Xiang Hui, noting that AI hits experienced workers hardest.

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0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
0:45 Announcements
1:48 Scott Painter To Take TrueCar Private and Return as CEO
4:32 Aged Used Vehicle Sales Rise In 2025
6:56 AI Changing How Side Hustlers Are Working and Earning