How Lithia Grew To #1, Why Alex Lawrence Is All In On EVs, Meta Bets On New Ray-Bans

Automotive State of The Union

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Episode #1150: Today we’re looking at the story that led Lithia to become the powerhouse it is today, showing a sneak peek of an upcoming interview with Alex Lawrence and talking about Meta’s latest tech.

Show Notes with links:

From one small Dodge store in Oregon to the largest dealership group in the U.S., the DeBoer family’s journey with Lithia Motors is a case study in vision, timing, and relentless growth. Automotive News honored Sid and Bryan DeBoer with a Centennial Award for their lasting industry impact.
- Lithia’s roots trace back to 1946, when Walt DeBoer opened a Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealership in Ashland, Ore.
- After Walt’s sudden death in 1968, Sid DeBoer stepped in, rebuilt the business, and grew it into a five-store group by the 1990s.
- In 1996, Sid took Lithia public, fueling an aggressive acquisition strategy that reshaped the group into a national powerhouse.
- Bryan DeBoer became CEO in 2012, executing megadeals like DCH Auto Group and expanding into Canada, the U.K., finance, and fleet management.
- By 2024, Lithia operated 459 stores across three countries, generating $36.2B in revenue and selling more than 780,000 vehicles.
- Sid on Lithia’s future: “We won’t stop growing… We’re trying to build a business that can survive even if the franchise system falls apart.”

Yesterday, Kyle was able to swing by EV Auto in Brentwood to catch up with the one and only Alex Lawrence. After a sneak peek of everything the EV Auto team is planning for the store, including some secrets we can’t share, he and Alex sat down to chat about what drives EV Auto and why they’re committed to being the biggest seller of EVs in the world.

Meta is pushing its wearable technology forward with the launch of new Ray-Ban Display Glasses. The glasses are designed to project information directly into the wearer’s line of sight and could signal how everyday computing may evolve.
- The glasses include a small electronic display on the right lens that shows texts, maps, calls, and translations.
- Users control the glasses with a neural wristband that detects hand and finger gestures.
- The product will sell for at least $800 and requires a smartphone connection to operate.
- The glasses carry a six-hour battery life and weigh three times more than a standard pair of Ray-Bans.
- Early adoption is expected to come from specialized industries and tech enthusiasts rather than mainstream consumers.
- Mark Zuckerberg positioned the product within Meta’s long-term strategy, stating: “This will be a defining year that determines if we’re on a path towards many hundreds of millions, and eventually billions of AI glasses.”

0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier
1:45 Deboers Win Automotive News Centennial Award
6:20 Interview with Alex Lawrence of EV Auto
13:56 Meta Releases Ray-Ban Display

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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