#507 - 🚒 Tow The Pros

TOGETHER WITH

We had an excellent time showing off Episode 2 of “More Than Cars” to the wonderful folks, and stars of the episode, at Beaver Toyota of Cumming.

We will release the episode for all to enjoy next month and feature some of it and more from Season 1 at ASOTU CON next week.

Join us in Baltimore for a sneak peek. Or, while you wait for Episode 2, share Episode 1 with your friends!

Of course, you could also hit reply and tell us where we need to go next with our cameras and questions ready to roll!

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

TODAY’S LOT WALK

• MTCM: Cavender’s firetruck flex. 💪

• DATA & INSIGHT: A good reputation’s impact on sales. 📈

• CULTURE: The latest fashion trend? Wholesale-core. 👕

Reading time: 5 mins 24 secs

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Cavender’s Tow Team

The Cavender Auto Group is always giving us something cool to talk about!

Last week, the Cavender Chevrolet team in Boerne, TX, hosted a unique event to support the local 100 Club of Kendall County, a non-profit group dedicated to supporting first responders and their families. 🚑

Now, back to that "unique" event. When we think about tugging a truck, we typically picture a 4-cylinder 2-wheel-drive that bit off more than it could chew, but the 100 Club's annual "Tug A Truck" event invites community members and leaders to pull a full-sized fire truck, tug-of-war style. 🚒

Pulling a firetruck with a rope is already impressive, but the Cavender Team managed to pull the truck the distance in just 10 seconds! 💪

Shoutout to our friend Eric Sanchez-Barbosa for bringing this story to our attention by consistently celebrating his team!  

/Positivity

We love sharing the stories of dealers partnering with their communities. If you have a story like that, send it our way! 🕊️

DATA & INSIGHT

Reputation Report

First impressions are important, but most are made by your reputation way before any words, looks, or handshakes are exchanged.

The 2023 auto brand reputation report is too packed with info to share in full, but some exciting things are in there all the same.

The report pulls from 5.5M car buyer and service reviews to rank automakers, dealerships, and dealer groups by Reputation.

Each list is extensive, and the data is robust on the full report, but here are a few things we grabbed to share.

TOGETHER WITH VELOCITY

Know More, Sell More 🤔

Doing your job with excellence doesn't have to be hard.

Ever wished you could read your customer's mind? With Velocity Heat Mapping Analytics, you're as close as possible!

Why It's Essential:
📌 Pinpoint Engaged Shoppers: Connect real people's real interest with real cars in your inventory.
🪡 Tailor Your Pitch: Know what they're looking for so you can help them find it.

What you Get:
⏳ Time-on-Page Metrics: Know by the moment what shoppers spend their time with on your site.
😍 Interest Points: Move quickly to use customer interest to close more deals

Don't get burned out on what your customers are doing. Rely on heat mapping with VelocityEngage to tell the full story.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

One. Day. Closer.

BUSINESS

UAW Strike Update: Auto Dealerships Alert! ⚠️

• UAW intensifies stance: There will be more strikes if there is no "serious progress" by Friday noon.

• Plants in line: GM (Missouri), Ford (Michigan), and Stellantis (Ohio).

• Current stats: 12,700 autoworkers already off lines.

• Negotiation highlights: Union demands include a 40% pay rise. Full agreements are not necessary, just notable advancements.

• Extra: Ford's Canada negotiations with Unifor are also shaky. 🍁

Volvo Ditching Diesel for Electric? ⚡

Volvo is waving goodbye to diesel cars by early 2024, reflecting a sales drop to just 8.9% in 2022 from a majority in 2019. Meanwhile, electric or hybrid models surged to 33% of sales in August 2022.

The EM90, Volvo's luxurious electric minivan with a stellar 500-mile range, is launching alongside this shift. Tagged as a "Scandinavian living room on the move," the EM90 embodies Volvo's vision for electric mobility and its commitment to a greener tomorrow. 🍃🚗

Stellantis' Brand Buzz! 🚗⚡

Stellantis has plenty going on; like many other automakers lately, they have a whole pile of electric models lined up. Some are new, and some are reimagined classics.

• Fiat: Launching the 500e in America after European success.

• Ram 1500 REV: Competing with a 500-mile range EV truck. 🐏

• Dodge Charger Daytona SRT: "Electrified muscle" with the retro Fratzog badge. 🚀

• Jeep: Introducing the Recon and Wagoneer S: electrified SUVs for all terrains. 🏞️

Electrified Zoomies! 🏎️⚡

101.3 mph in a go-kart?! Blue Shock Race from Latvia just smashed expectations!

With Swedish speedster Leo Obrant at the wheel, this electric sensation took the Gotlandring track by storm.

Electric go-karts: eco-friendly, silent, and now... super speedy! For adrenaline junkies and cautious cruisers alike. 🚀

CULTURE

Kirkland’s Signature Drip

The king of bulk toilet paper and $1.50 hot dogs, Costco, is causing a surprising fashion frenzy with its Kirkland Signature brand clothing line. Fans are clamoring to wear the store's logos on their loungewear, and many items have already sold out. 😎🌭

Introduced in 1995, Kirkland Signature has become a significant contributor to Costco's revenue, accounting for about a quarter of the company's total sales and earning the title of America’s biggest consumer packaged goods brand.

Their unexpected success in fashion has elevated Kirkland's status from an affordable label to something akin to "wholesale haute couture,” sparking discussions about the profound connection between exclusive products and customer loyalty.

Costco's clothing may not rival high-fashion brands in terms of resale value, but it is solidifying its place in pop culture. Their unique blend of affordability and quality is fueling customer fervor and further cementing their position as a retail powerhouse. 🌋

(Speaking of affordable, quality flair — have you seen the latest ASOTU swag drop??)

Quick Hits

• Scientists at Google DeepMind built an AI program that can predict whether millions of genetic mutations are harmless or dangerous. 🧬

• In an effort to eliminate bot accounts, Elon Musk is preparing to charge all users a monthly subscription fee to use X (aka Twitter). 🐦

• Shake Shack is testing out “healthier and more sustainable” fries by using sugarcane oil instead of soybean oil. 🍟

History

• 1848: The American Association for the Advancement of Science is created. 🔬

• 1893: The first gasoline-powered car in the US debuts in Springfield, Massachusetts. ⛽️

• 1963: President JFK proposes a joint US-Soviet voyage to the moon. 🚀