#522 - 🤝 Go Together

TOGETHER WITH

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."

Today, let's celebrate the strength of our connections. Let's acknowledge the camaraderie that fuels our ambitions, the friendships that weather the storms, and the partnerships that transform challenges into opportunities.

Take a moment to cherish those who celebrate your victories as their own and uplift you even in moments of doubt. Those meaningful connections aren't just valuable; they're indispensable.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

TODAY’S LOT WALK

• MTCM: Gary Rome Hyundai partners with Rays of Hope for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 💞

• BUSINESS: GM narrowly avoids a strike in Canada (for now), German automakers are struggling in China, and Japan invests in fancy chips. 🎩

• CULTURE: BMW unlocks the keys to their new iX2…in Fortnite? ⚒️

Reading time: 3 min and 28 secs

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Raising Hope for Breast Cancer

In addition to spooky season, October also marks 30 days of focus on an important topic of women’s health — Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 🎀

With a long history of unwavering dedication and support, Gary Rome Hyundai in Massachusetts has become a steadfast ally, championing the cause of breast health in the community, and this year they are partnering up again with Rays of Hope for the 30th anniversary of their “Walk and Run Toward the Cure” event. 💗🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

Established in 1994, Rays of Hope has grown from a modest 500 participants to a staggering 20,000-strong squad, raising an impressive $16.1M for the local Massachusettes community.

To help further spread awareness far and wide, Gary Rome Hyundai also adorns their cars with bright pink plate frames during the month, transforming ordinary vehicles into symbols of awareness and solidarity. For every pink plate sold, the dealership donates $5 to Rays of Hope. Though a seemingly small contribution, the donations quickly accumulate into fat stacks, funding crucial breast cancer research and supporting vital programs. 💝

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

Seamless Solutions, Real Rewards

Car buyers are evolving. So should your dealership.

Not to worry! Upstart's dynamic digital retail solution is here to help create a seamless online and in-store experience for your customers, making shopping a breeze no matter the preference. 🌐✨

Andy Vigoda, Sales Specialist and Finance Manager at J. Bertolet Volkswagen, says the benefits of partnering with Upstart are clear are plentiful:

✅ 100% Transparency: What you see online is what you get in-store, ensuring trust and consistency.

✅ Quality Leads: Upstart drives internet leads to in-store visits, maximizing your sales potential.

✅ Flexibility Empowered: Customized offerings, leading to an increase in product offerings and boosted revenue.

✅ Effortless Integration: Upstart Auto Retail day-to-day makes it easy peasy to ensure adoption across members and teams.

🚗💨 Don’t get left in the dust — gain the Upstart advantage today! 👈

BUSINESS

Global Markets: Canada, China, and Japan

🧑‍🏭🇨🇦🏭

General Motors and Canadian union Unifor reached a tentative agreement yesterday just hours after 4,300 workers went on strike at three plants.

The union said the tentative agreement follows the agreement reached with Ford last month and includes wage hikes of up to 25%.

Though the negotiations appear to be making some headway, workers must still vote to ratify the agreement.
 

😰🇨🇳📉

In the third quarter, luxury car giants Mercedes-Benz and BMW experienced a decline in sales in China, citing supply chain disruptions, model transitions, and weakened demand.

Mercedes-Benz faced global supply challenges, resulting in a 4% drop in sales from July to September, while BMW fared a bit better with retail sales in China only dropping 1.8%.
 

🍪🇯🇵⚡️

Major chip material supplier, Coherent, received a substantial financial boost yesterday with a $1B total investment from Japan's Denso and Mitsubishi Electric in its silicon carbide business.

The money will be used to expand Coherent’s production of silicon carbide wafers, which help boost the range of EVs more than chips made with traditional silicon, over the next 10 years.

CULTURE

BMW x Fortnite

BMW is taking a rather unconventional route to unveil its new electric crossover, the iX2. Instead of a traditional auto show, it’s chosen their custom Fortnite island, Hypnopolis, for the big reveal. 🏝️🔫⚒️

While Fortnite’s audience may not yet be of driving age, BMW is hoping to plant the seed in future consumers, much like Hot Wheels did back in the day.

Notably, BMW built this experience without any collaboration with Fortnite's creator, Epic Games, reflecting a broader trend of Fortnite’s platform becoming the Metaverse that Zuckerburg never achieved. More than a game, it’s becoming a virtual world where major cultural events can happen, like concerts, product launches, and demos. 👀

Quick Hits

• Krispy Kreme is teaming up with Scooby-Doo and the gang for their first-ever Halloween Dozen (though they really dropped the ball by not referring to it as a Halloween Doozen). 🍩

• Disney is in hot water following accusations of using AI-generated art for a poster promoting the second season of “Loki.” 🤖

• Domino’s is giving away free “emergency pizza” for couples caught in a painful, infinite loop deciding what to have for dinner. 🍕

History

• 1971: John Lennon’s “Imagine” is released. ✌️

• 1975: "Saturday Night Live" premieres on NBC with George Carlin as host. 📺

• 1984: American astronaut Kathryn Sullivan became the first woman to walk in space. 👩‍🚀