#502 - 🤝 Compassion Meets Community

TOGETHER WITH

Most customers don’t need more options, they need more understanding.

Understanding is the secret to winning their trust, and trust has become the ultimate currency in a world filled with choices. When your customer trusts you implicitly, they don't need to think twice; they’ll choose you every time.

What will you do today to help earn your customer’s trust?

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

TODAY’S LOT WALK

• MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS: Cavender Auto Group’s commitment to two and four-legged service members. 🐶

• DATA & INSIGHT: KBB suggests consumer preferences are changing. 🔀

• BUSINESS: Volkswagen’s new SUV, Ford’s police cruiser conundrum, Tesla’s Dojo, and companies working to recycle car batteries. 🪫

• CULTURE: The US Secretary of State takes a turbulent EV road trip. 🗺️

Reading time: 4 min and 46 secs

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Serving Those Who Serve Us

In the heart of San Antonio, a remarkable event unfolded last week under the banner of "Dogs for a Cause,” an evening that celebrated both service and compassion. At the core of this gathering was the Cavender Auto Group and their commitment to supporting our military. 🎖️

In an effort to raise $125K to train service dogs for veterans, the event emphasized the pivotal role service dogs commonly play in helping injured service members recover. 🐕‍🦺

The evening’s highlight, however, came when Cavender presented a gift that left the military recipient speechless — a brand-new 2023 Buick Encore. Tony Garcia and his family were the fortunate winners, while finalists also won free oil changes for life. 🚘

At this gathering for hope and heroes, "Dogs for a Cause" not only celebrates service but also reminds us of the incredible power of compassion when it partners with community. ❤️‍🔥

DATA & INSIGHT

Looking For The Right Car Price

Recent data from Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book shows that the winds of consumer preferences are changing in the auto market. Price still plays a major role. Here's a quick rundown:

🚙⚖️💰 Shifting Priorities: While the pandemic saw a surge in shoppers for higher-end new cars, the scene is changing. As car prices and interest rates rise, more potential buyers look at vehicles under $50,000, especially those in the $45,000-$50,000 bracket.

🪙⌛️💨 Inventory Turnaround: Cars priced under $50,000 sell faster than their pricier counterparts. They're typically off the lot within 26 days instead of 40 days for more expensive models.

🔍🔭🔬 Seeking Value: The hunt for affordable vehicles has intensified. Though the average transaction price for a new car is almost $48,000, there's a noticeable demand for models priced between $20,000 and $50,000.

📸🎮📺 Features Galore: As per industry insiders, American buyers are inclined towards models loaded with features - be it parking sensors, a car play screen, or automatic climate control. This preference pushes automakers to produce more feature-rich models, even with a slightly higher price tag.

🏪🏎🕸 Smart Shopping Tips: By reverse engineering the most common shopper advice, we have some tips for connecting with today's shopper:

• Provide customers with options for setting an optimum budget to shop by.

• Widen your online marketing presence to catch people looking far and wide for the right vehicle for them.

• Be ready with actual price info online or on the phone. Customers will drive where their preferred price is.

• Be transparent with financing options so customers know there may be a perfect option.

Understanding these trends and insights can help us better cater to our customer base, align our inventory, and offer services that resonate with the changing market dynamics. Let's stay adaptable and tuned in to what our customers want! 

TOGETHER WITH CONNEXION

30-Minutes = Unlimited Opportunities

No matter how the game changes, leaving money on the table is a losing strategy.

Join us today for a 30-minute webinar featuring our innovative friends at Connexion. Their experience and expertise will show dealers the path to practical revenue opportunities like:

• Zero-hardware solutions. 👌

• Transform shuttle management from service to profit center. 💸

• Advanced billing and tech that increases customer trust. 🪟

• Get ahead and stay on top of growing customer rental needs. 📈

We'll have fun, learn a lot, and leave less money on the table tomorrow than we did yesterday. See you today at 2 pm EST / 1 pm CST!

BUSINESS

Volkswagen's 2024 ID.6 Crozz EV 🚗⚡

Volkswagen introduces the refreshed 2024 ID.6 Crozz SUV, produced with JV FAW-VW. Price ranges from $35,500 to $46,200.

Coming to America? The model showcases an updated MOSC 4.0 system and enhanced displays. Speculation hints at its possible entry into the US market.

Car companies should start doing stunts to unveil their new models.

Can't Import? Recycle.

BASF and Nanotech Energy partner to craft lithium-ion batteries with recycled metals, aiming for a 25% reduction in US CO2 emissions.

This is good timing since Malaysia has banned rare earth exports, pivoting from China, suppliers like Australia's Lynas Rare Earths may face challenges.

Please enjoy our take on the futuristic Recycling Pro Energizer Bunny

Ford's Problem With The Law

In 2022, Ford ruled the US law enforcement vehicle market with 53%. Now, with a strike looming, a prime focus of theirs is ensuring an uninterrupted fleet during the labor contract expiration.

Line crossers. Ford has alerted UAW about a parts depot. If negotiations fail, salaried workers may be tapped to fill in.

“At first, we rode bikes because of the strikes, now we’re just having fun!”

Tesla's Supercomputer Taxi?

Morgan Stanley's analysis indicates Dojo could add $500 billion to Tesla's market value. This forecast led to a 6% jump in Tesla shares.

What's the Buzz about Dojo? Drawing parallels to Amazon Web Services' influence on Amazon, Dojo aims to enhance Tesla's driver systems and spearhead full self-driving initiatives.

Dojo is also a place where you get beat up by a martial artist until you also know martial arts. This is the worst metaphor for developing full self-driving we’ve ever stumbled upon.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

⏳ We’re only 12 days away from ASOTU CON, y’all! 🥳

🎟️ Don’t risk the FOMO, get your tickets today! 🎟️

CULTURE

EV Hurdles for the SOE

The US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, recently went on a four-day EV road trip from Charlotte to Memphis in an effort to draw attention to the Biden administration's new green energy initiatives. 🌿

👍 Pro: Attention was drawn.
👎 Con: The attention was mostly negative.

The cumbersome journey was a bit of a hot mess, highlighting many of the challenges facing EV adoption in the United States such as slow, unreliable chargers, complicated planning, and a lack of available charging stations or spots. 🔌

🚨 Oopsie. In fact, during one of their first stops, a team member was forced to race ahead to hold a charging spot for the secretary because there was likely not going to be one available, prompting a family waiting to re-charge to contact the police. 🚓

Granholm was thankful for the light shed on many of the major EV roadblocks and expressed that though challenges persist, she feels the EV-powered future looks bright. ⚡️

Quick Hits

• UFC and WWE have officially merged to form the new company, TKO Group. 🤼

• Spotify launches "daylist,” a hyper-personalized playlist that updates throughout the day based on your listening habits. 🎶

• The longest-running sitcom in history, The Simpsons, just dropped a trailer for their 35th season. 📺

History

• 1501: Michelangelo begins work on his statue of David. 🔨

• 1977: General Motors introduces the first US diesel vehicle, the Oldsmobile 88. ⚙️

• 1997: Elton John releases the single "Candle in the Wind 1997", a tribute to Princess Diana of Wales. 🕯️