TOGETHER WITH

Class is back in session for kids across the country, and we say, why let them have all the fun?

Learning is free!

The library, YouTube, Google, and everybody you know can teach you something pretty dope.

Learn something today, and then teach it to us. We got a conference to plan. 😆

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

LOT WALK

• Paw patrol with Group 1 Auto. 🐾

• UAW rejects Stellantis’ contract. 🚮

• Superman is super back. 🦸‍♂️

Reading time: 4 mins 30 secs

DEALERS

Cops, Cars, and K9s

Group 1 Automotive is celebrating some amazing partnerships this week in support of their local 2-legged and 4-legged police forces. 👮🐕

When the Galloway Township Police Department in New Jersey needed help fetching funds for a new K9 recruit, the Boardwalk Honda's Sales Manager, Steven May, stepped up.

They didn't just toss cash into the puppy jar either, they also hosted a Meet & Greet with a veteran K9 and his trainer to garner attention and raise even more donations. Their only request — consider naming the new recruit Honda. 🤭

Not to be outdone, in the Texan towns of Houston and Corpus Christi, Beck & Masten proudly support their local PD foundations with an annual Clay Shoot fundraiser. The events are important in not only strengthening the local police force but also helping foster camaraderie and build relationships within the communities they serve. ❤️‍🔥

/Positivity

Do you have a story showcasing the positive impact dealerships are having on their community? 🕊️

AUTOMOTIVE

UAW Rejects Stellantis Contract

What's The Deal With Detroit?

Just when you thought the auto industry couldn't get more exciting, the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Stellantis give us a show worth a bucket of popcorn and a front-row seat.

UAW President Shawn Fain's taking on Stellantis and the Big Three in Detroit. Here’s the tea:

"This Proposal Belongs in the Trash!" – Shawn Fain's Hollywood Moment

If you ever wanted to see a real-life corporate drama flick, you should've caught Fain's Facebook live stream.

Picture this: UAW president Shawn Fain against a dramatic backdrop. A Stellantis contract proposal in hand. A foreboding trash can nearby.

Tossing Stellantis' proposal into the garbage with flair, he accused the automaker of backtracking on commitments.

What's in This "Trash" Proposal Anyway?

Here's a glimpse:

⏲️ New Classification: Adding flexible schedule employees.
💵 Wage Ties: Tying increases and benefits to absenteeism.
🩺 Health-Care Contributions: Requiring more from employees.
⚡️ Move to Electrification: No worker ratification!
🤧 Absenteeism: High rates caused production loss.

The icing on the cake? Changes to retirement plans and attendance rewards. Union members say this wasn't just a slap in the face but a full-on punch!

UAW's Counter With A Fiery Response

Not shy to speak up, the union fired back with:

💰 Wage Equality: No more tiers for full-timers.
📈 Profit Sharing: For supplemental workers too.
🧓 Health and Retirement: Coverage all around.
🗓️ Work Week: 32 hours, paying for 40.
🏔️ Wage Hike: A 46% increase over four years.

Yes, it's costly, potentially doubling labor value, but Fain's stance? Stellantis can handle it.

Read the reply from Steallantis in the full article at ASOTU.com.

🤫 Spoiler:

TOGETHER WITH ASOTU CON

Because You Can’t Spell ASOTU Without “U”

Are you ready to dive into a unique experience beyond the usual conference? ASOTU CON is not just an event; it's a meeting ground for innovative minds, a place where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary.

• Insights you won't find in books.

• Connections you won't find on LinkedIn.

• Restful and energizing vibes you won't find at any other conference on Earth.

For those looking to shape automotive's bright future, this is the call to action you've been waiting for. And with a $200 discount for dealers who use code PUSHBACK, there's no better time to act.

Your ticket to the future awaits.

AUTOMOTIVE

GM, Honda, Rivian

🚙 🔌 🏡 

GM's new party trick? Powering your house with its EVs by 2026! From the Chevy Silverado EV to the Cadillac Escalade IQ, all will feature bidirectional charging. While other automakers may scoff, GM's making cars into "virtual power plants." Heatwave? No sweat! Just plug in your Cadillac.

So…GM heard people saying EVs are just batteries on wheels and leaned in.

📈 🌋 💰 

Honda's revving up with a 78% rise in Q1 profit, thanks to a jump in US sales and the yen playing nice. With 347,000 units sold stateside (a 44.7% boost), they're cruising past pandemic woes. But watch out for that 5% sales drop in China – seems like electric buzz is stealing their thunder.

So…Honda’s slow EV adoption is working (pretty dang well) everywhere but China.

🤯 📦 🛻 

Rivian's Q2 figures are in, and they're pulling out all the stops! With 12,640 EVs delivered (up 50% from Q1), improved gross margins by 50%, and a revenue jump to $1.12 billion, they're turning their early-year slump into a braggadocious victory lap. Now, about that $1.12 billion net loss...  

So…Rivian has again gone from “Will they go bankrupt tomorrow?” to “We lost fewer dollars than we thought, YAY!” and we’re starting to get whiplash.

WHAT THE KIDS ARE INTO

Superman Returns (Again)

"My Adventures with Superman" explores Clark Kent's early years, weaving friendship, romance, and action into an anime-style Metropolis.

Fans of the Superman character should check it out, but newcomers to the Man-of-Steel are likewise finding things to love about the impervious Clark and his much more vulnerable friends.

Quick Hits

• A lottery ticket in Florida hits the record-setting $1.58B jackpot. 🐊

• OpenAI launches its web scrubbing GPTBot. It ventures through sites to deepen OpenAI product knowledge. 🧽

• Take another lap around the showroom! Research suggests just 5000 steps a day is enough to meaningfully boost health. 🚶

History

• 1897: The first-ever Auto Club is formed as the Automobile Club of Great Britain and Ireland (RAC). ♣️

• 1907: The 9,317-mile Peking to Paris race is won. 🏁

• 1948: Candid Camera makes its television debut after being on the radio for a year as Candid Microphone. 🎥

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