ASOTU | More Than Cars

One week from today... Join the watch party: https://lnkd.in/dkyEE5sZ Thanks to our friends at Mohawk Chevrolet for letting us film it. Thanks to our friends at UVeye for making it happen. #automotiveindustry #morethancars #docuseries #documentary

A big shift in the air... We’re watching something unfold that feels like it could hit close to home. Elon Musk, of all people, could be stepping into a government role, tasked with a $2 trillion efficiency revamp. Just think about that. This could mean some major changes for dealers and automakers:  👀 A one-size-fits-all federal process for autonomous vehicles? Imagine that. No more state-by-state regulations.  👀 Musk backing U.S. manufacturing with Trump’s limits on Chinese imports. Potentially great for American manufacturing, but there is still a heavy reliance on overseas parts supply…could mean some overall vehicle cost differences. And sure, Trump’s never been a fan of EV mandates, but Musk’s voice might bring some selective pro-EV moves our way. As dealers, we’re in the thick of it—evolving landscapes, shifting alliances, and an industry always on the edge of the next wave. We don’t have answers yet, but we’re here to adapt, keep pace, and stay ahead. Brace for impact. Change is coming. From The Automotive Troublemaker: https://lnkd.in/erJJyN2d #election #automotiveindustry #automotivenews #elonmusk #tesla #trump

Trump’s back. And with it, the ripple effects are bound to hit close to home. ⚡Biden’s aggressive EV mandates? Trump might roll them back. For dealers and automakers, that could mean a whole new approach to electrification targets. ⚡Those EV tax credits we’ve all been talking about? They’re likely at risk. Without them, EV demand might cool—and manufacturers banking on electrification might face tough choices. ⚡California’s emissions standards could be on the chopping block, too. There will be no more unique state rules if Trump revokes California’s right to set them. That’s a massive shift for states following its lead. ⚡Trump’s looking at tighter restrictions on Chinese vehicle parts to push U.S. manufacturing. It could be a win for domestic production…but maybe with some new cost implications for consumers. ⚡The federal push for EV charging and autonomous standards could see delays or even U-turns. We’re talking about massive projects with real impacts on the industry’s future. What did we miss? Are you optimistic or pessimistic this morning? From The Automotive Troublemaker: https://lnkd.in/erJJyN2d #election #automotivenews #automotiveindustry #dealership #trump

Donald Trump’s return to the White House could disrupt the auto industry’s EV ambitions. Plus, Elon Musk’s advisory role with the new administration and his plans for autonomous tech. And, IKEA opens its first stand-alone restaurant in London. https://lnkd.in/dNTcy7cv Former President Donald Trump has won the 2024 election, and his return could lead to major shifts for the auto industry, especially around electric vehicle (EV) policies, trade, and incentives. Here’s what might be in limbo for automakers: -EV Regulations: Trump may roll back aggressive EV mandates set under Biden, reducing pressure on automakers to hit strict electrification targets. -Tax Credits: Biden-era EV tax credits could be at risk, impacting demand and profitability for manufacturers deeply invested in electric tech. -California’s Emission Standards: Trump might revoke California’s right to set its own emissions standards, affecting states that follow its lead. -The Elon factor: Here’s how Musk’s involvement could shape auto policies and beyond: -Trump has proposed forming a government efficiency committee led by Musk, aiming to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget. Musk has already expressed his interest in reducing government spending by 30%. -Musk advocates for a unified federal approval process for autonomous vehicles, reducing state-by-state regulatory inconsistencies. He commented, “If there is a department of government efficiency, I’ll try to make that happen.” https://lnkd.in/dnd7TxbS General Motors has claimed the number two spot in EV sales in the U.S. for Q3 2024, with 32,000 EVs sold across multiple brands. Ford, however, disputes GM's approach to these numbers. -GM’s EV lineup includes the Chevy Silverado, Blazer, Equinox EVs, GMC Hummer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq, all on the Ultium platform. -GM has sold 370,000 EVs in North America since 2016, with 300,000 of those in the U.S. Tesla remains far ahead, with over 5 million units sold globally since 2008. -Ford argues it’s still the “No. 2 best-selling EV brand,” claiming GM’s figures count all brands together, altering the comparison. https://lnkd.in/eauZh4mN -From Reddit polls to repeat diners, IKEA’s food offerings are beloved, with many customers visiting the store just for the food which is why IKEA’s first stand-alone restaurant next to its Hammersmith store in London marks a fresh chapter for the brand, leveraging its famous Swedish menu to engage new and returning customers. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e-DA5fTF Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eTr6WKb7

Happy Election Day! Well, now that we’ve covered that… today we’re talking about how Stellantis listened to dealers and cut prices on some Jeep models, how Tesla has given up on the human-driven affordable EV, and how your name might start being incorrectly spelled on Starbucks cups this fall. https://lnkd.in/erYXn84m Stellantis has decided to significantly reduce prices on its 2025 Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models to address dealer concerns about high prices slowing inventory turnover. -Price cuts range from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on the model, with the base Wagoneer now starting at $61,945, while the Grand Wagoneer begins at $86,945. -The U.S. market has shown demand; Wagoneer sales are up 79% and Grand Wagoneer sales up 25% through September, supported by both retail and fleet sales. -Standard features have also been enhanced, including adaptive cruise control on the Wagoneer and a passenger display on the Grand Wagoneer. https://lnkd.in/es3kzS5v Tesla CEO Elon Musk has put to rest hopes for a human-driven $25,000 EV. He recently revealed that an affordable Tesla would only make sense as a fully self-driving vehicle, shelving plans for an anticipated mass-market, human-driven model. -Musk called the idea of a $25K human-driven EV “pointless” and “silly” without full autonomy. -Tesla’s updated plan now features the “Cybercab”, a two-door, two-seat autonomous vehicle priced at $25,000, planned for 2026. -This strategy change represents a pivot from Tesla's initial goal of building 20 million affordable, human-driven vehicles annually by 2030. https://lnkd.in/eyYePUZt Get ready for your name to be spelled incorrectly on your coffee cup again. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol is bringing Sharpies back into stores as part of his "Back to Starbucks" strategy, aiming to revive a personal touch that Starbucks lost during the pandemic. -After three quarters of declining sales, Niccol is cutting unpopular items, like the Oleato, and removing charges for non-dairy substitutes. -Sharpies will replace digital stickers on cups, allowing baristas to write personal notes or names, enhancing the in-store experience. -Niccol’s “Back to Starbucks” plan focuses on creating a warm, welcoming environment that highlights skilled, personable service. -“Our fourth-quarter performance makes it clear that we need to fundamentally change our strategy so we can get back to growth,” said Niccol. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e-DA5fTF Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eTr6WKb7

"Care more about people than you do about the product" When Will Guidara saw the shirts... He said it immediately connected. It's not just automotive that's experiencing the "Love people more" movement. It's resonating everywhere. Watch more of our interview with Will here: https://lnkd.in/eytiqiPQ #unreasonablehospitality #automotiveindustry #morethancars

There's marketing opportunity out there for dealers What do you know about Free TV? Amol Waishampayan of fullthrottle.ai talked about Free TV on our most recent ASOTU Edge webinar. He covered: -What it is -How it works -How marketers can use it And maybe most importantly, how it should play into a marketer's overall strategy. Go check out the replay to learn how you can use Free TV to your advantage in your marketing. https://lnkd.in/ehJ6bgNd #automotiveindustry #dealership

Sign up for the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/epi-RUti Prepare your dealership for a winning year by mastering the five key strategies that will elevate your digital merchandising in 2025. Join us on November 20 at 2PM for a dynamic session with our friends at CarCutter delving into actionable techniques designed to increase your online impact, strengthen your brand, and keep customers engaged. In this webinar, you'll learn to: - Optimize Your Website for maximum visibility and user experience. - Deliver Impeccable Imagery that captures attention and drives conversion. - Leverage AI Solutions to streamline processes and boost personalization. - Build a Strong Brand that resonates with today’s car buyers. - Enhance Speed across platforms to retain customers in a fast-paced world. Whether you're looking to make subtle tweaks or overhaul your digital strategy, these five smart steps will set you on a path to success in the coming year. Don’t miss out on learning how to drive results through these essential techniques! #AutomotiveIndustry #Dealership #Merchandising

We’ve got Michael Cirillo in the studio on this Monday, as we’re talking about how its becoming harder for new auto dealers to secure floorplan loans, how Rivian has decided that voice control is better than physical buttons and how online customers are abandoning carts because of choice overload. https://lnkd.in/eEyuwh7Y New and smaller auto dealers face mounting difficulties in securing essential floorplan loans, a crucial step in dealership ownership. Amid rising interest rates and cautious lending practices, lenders are increasingly reluctant to finance smaller deals, affecting many hopeful first-time dealers. -Banks and lenders now often require floor plans to exceed $10 million, and many first-time buyers are confronted with last-minute cash demands, sometimes needing an additional $250,000 to $1 million as collateral. -Josh Letsis, aiming to buy a Chevrolet store, was denied floorplan loans by multiple banks and GM Financial, which required more cash on hand despite his strong credit. The deal’s collapse cost him $60,000 in fees. -Some potential owners are now shifting focus to used or independent dealerships, where floorplan financing is often more accessible. https://lnkd.in/eZQMX5HZ In the great button-versus-touchscreen debate, Rivian’s Chief Software Officer Wassym Bensaid doubled down on voice controls as the future, saying in-car buttons are “an anomaly.” -At TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, he noted that physical controls are “a bug, not a feature,” advocating that voice interactions should replace touch and physical controls. -Rivian aims to make every vehicle function accessible by voice, with AI advancements potentially solving current issues in voice assistant technology. https://lnkd.in/evEyrp27 With endless options and extensive product information, today’s online shopping experience can feel less like convenience and more like an exhausting chore. Research suggests that too much choice is paralyzing, creating a phenomenon some call “choice overload.” -A recent Accenture survey revealed 74% of consumers abandoned online shopping carts due to feeling overwhelmed by choices and content. -Top abandoned online shopping carts include clothing (79%), flights (72%), snacks (70%), home goods, and electronics. -Psychologist Barry Schwartz’s “paradox of choice” explains that while variety can make us happier initially, too many options complicate decision-making. Follow the show on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e-DA5fTF Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eTr6WKb7

Even ChatGPT gets it wrong When you hear Paul J Daly trying to explain how ASOTU is pronounced to an AI bot… you go record it. It got it right some of the time. It also got right that Nathan Southwick has a great beard And it pretty much nailed the feeling of what it’s like to be connected to ASOTU We’ve got more AI stuff to come 🤫 How does ASOTU make you feel? #automotiveindustry #ai #autoindustryai #fridayfun