Live from CES with Steve Greenfield, Return-uary

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This Tuesday morning, we’ve got ASOTU Correspondent Steve Greenfield bringing us all the updates from CES. Plus, it's that time of year where returns dominate the retail landscape. 

• CES 2025 is here, and it’s bringing groundbreaking tech and bold moves in innovation. Perhaps most notably for auto, Sony-Honda Mobility announced the price details for it’s Afeela car.
  • The Afeela 1 Origin starts at $89,900, while the Signature trim is priced at $102,900. Both include a three-year subscription to features like Level 2+ driver assist and an AI-powered assistant.
  • Buyers in California can place a $200 refundable deposit. Availability for other states remains unclear.
  • The Signature trim arrives in 2026, with the Origin following in 2027.
  • Today, the company will hold another press conference to outline the customer experience of shopping for and owning an Afeela.
  • To talk all things CES, let’s bring in Steve Greenfield, General Partner at Automotive Ventures and special ASOTU Correspondent this week.

• "Returnuary," the post-holiday season phenomenon where returns dominate the retail landscape, is back. This year, retailers and shoppers face tighter policies amid escalating return volumes.
  • Returns in January 2025 are expected to hit $890 billion, 16.9% of merchandise sales, up from $743 billion in 2023.
  • Retailers like Saks and Zara have introduced return fees and shorter windows to curb losses from returns.
  • Fraudulent returns also strain retailers, making up 14% of returns in 2023, per NRF data.
  • New return rules are affecting shoppers as The Wall Street Journal reported that, “More than two-thirds of consumers who are aware of stricter return policies say those rules deter them from making purchases.” 

Hosts: Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier

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