#544 - 🧑‍🔧🧑‍🏭👷 Shifting Labor Landscape

TOGETHER WITH

We talk a lot about Pushing Back, but we really just gave a name to what we see dealers doing.

Pushing back against hunger, cold, need, and tragedy in their community.
Pushing back against divisive opinions to make room for reality.
Pushing back against the idea that this industry can be boiled down into a car-for-cash transaction.

You show us every day there is something worth celebrating, sharing, and pushing back for right here in our community.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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TODAY’S LOT WALK

• Business: UAW’s plans, Nissan’s friends, Maine’s mechanics, Polestar’s adjustments, and America’s relationship with EVs. 🇺🇸

• MTCM: Warm coats from warm hearts. 🧥

• Culture: Multi-million dollar car collection funded by fraud. 🪁

Reading time: 4 mins 55 secs

Pick One, And You’re Done

Last chance to stand and be counted! No need to reply if you already have. We are keeping count 😃 

BUSINESS

Just the Deets

President Joe Biden's Upcoming Meeting with UAW Head Shawn Fain

• Biden to spotlight labor achievements in Illinois, discussing contract agreements with Detroit's automakers post-strike.

• UAW's potential endorsement could boost Biden's 2024 election prospects.

• The UAW is setting its sights on non-unionized automakers for a big push. 

• Key topics: Reopened Stellantis plant and a new battery factory.

Renault-Nissan Alliance's Strategic Shift

• Renault creates a trust for its Nissan shares, equalizing cross-shareholdings at 15%.

• Shift toward independent operations and Renault's focus on its EV division, Ampere.

• Nissan and Honda expect higher profits from strong sales and currency advantages.

Polestar's Revised Business Strategy

• Adjusted sales forecast for 2025, prioritizing profit margins and cost reduction.

• Aims for a high-teen gross profit margin, targeting 155,000-165,000 annual vehicle sales.

• The strategy includes a new joint venture in China and plans for $1.3 billion in funding until cash flow break-even.

Maine's Right-to-Repair Law: Impact on Dealerships

• The law ensures access to diagnostic systems for vehicle owners and local mechanics.

• Dealerships may face competition from independent shops.

• The change highlights a potential need for dealers to diversify services and adjust pricing strategies.

Electric Vehicle Sales Surge in the US

• Record 49.8% year-over-year increase in Q3 EV sales, exceeding 300,000.

• The market is on track to hit 1 million EV sales this year.

• General Motors remains confident in customer demand despite production goal delays.

• The industry faces challenges amid the roll out of EVs but shows resilient demand. 

TOGETHER WITH AUTO GENIUS

Every Marketer Needs Other Marketers

Like keeping your best friends in your pocket! The Auto Genius community is by marketers, for marketers, and waiting for you on Slack!

Connect, collaborate, and create with top tier 3 automotive marketers nationwide. Come ready to share strategies, tackle challenges, and explore the industry’s evolving marketing landscape.

What Auto Genius Offers:

• Collaborative insights from leading automotive dealerships.

• Genius Files to help make marketing ops move more seamlessly.

• A whole lot of meme wars

Join the Auto Genius community today!

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Hearts and Sleeves with Ciocca

It's getting cold, and you know what that means? 

It's time for Ciocca to give away some coats! 🧥

This time, the group announced on LinkedIn they have partnered with the Auto Dealers Caring for Kids Foundation to get warm winter jackets to kids through the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown!

Including the Ciocca family's contribution, about 625K coats have been given to kids who may have otherwise gone without.  

The ASOTU team commends and celebrates Ciocca's obvious commitment to loving people more than cars. 

We wonder, what is your dealership doing that displays your commitment to your community? Let us know here. We'd love to tell the world! 🌎

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• TODAY, NOVEMBER 10 @ 9:00 am EST

  David Long’s All Things Used Cars on Clubhouse

  How do you and your team handle leads? Do you think there is a way to improve your conversation rate? If so, join David Long and the All Things Used Cars community tomorrow for an hour-long discussion titled “Lead Management Masterclass.”

  ♣️ Join the conversation ♣️
  

• NOVEMBER 16 @ 2:00 pm EST

  ASOTU EDGE 30-Minute Webinar in partnership with Invoca

  “Revolutionizing Phone Call Management: Adapting to the Digital Era.”

  Discover how the automotive industry is revolutionizing phone call management, personalizing marketing through call data, and enhancing customer experiences with cutting-edge tools like Invoca's AI technology. Dive in, decode, and drive success in today's digital age!

  ☎️ Register now ☎️
  

• NOVEMBER 21 @ 7:00 pm EST
  More Than Cars: Episode 1-3 Mashup Premiere
  We're mashing up the best of More than Cars’ Episodes 1 and 2 with an exclusive glimpse into Episode 3 before it’s released — just for YOU.
  👁️ See it first 👁️
  

• FEBRUARY 1-4, 2024

  NADA 2024 in Las Vegas

  Lights, camera, actions! Paul and Kyle will be at NADA creating content for exhibitors. Hit us up to let us know what we should see, who we should talk to, and what we should cover while we’re there.

  🎤 Don’t miss a thing 🎤
   

• MAY 14-17, 2024

  ASOTU CON 2024 in Baltimore

  The design team is putting the finishing touches on elements and assets for the event. All participants and collaborators can expect to see the release THIS WEEK!

  🗓 Add it to your calendar 🗓
   

  👋 Word on the street is Paul and Kyle will be at Used Car Week (this week) and MRC (next week) — come say ‘hi’! 👋

TIE CUTTERS

2024 TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee:
Nancy Sparks

Nancy Sparks, nominated for the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year, truly exemplifies a considerate leader with a big heart. 💗

She stepped up as head of Kerry Automotive after her husband's sudden passing in 2013, transforming grief into action by running 10 stores and caring for 450 employees like family.

Even beyond the showroom, Nancy's generosity shines. She's donated millions to children's health causes, like supporting cardiac care at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and supplying meals for families in need through the Ronald McDonald House.

We see you and we appreciate you, Nancy — congratulations on the well-deserved nomination! 👏

CULTURE

Khan’s Con

Najeeb Khan, a 70-year-old former payroll entrepreneur, just earned himself a 97-month tour of the big house for a check-kiting scheme that netted him a cool $150M. 🪁

Khan's loot went into an elaborate car collection worth millions that would make even Jay Leno weep, featuring everything from vintage Ferraris to Jaguars.

🧑‍⚖️ But the joyride's over. The judge's gavel came down hard, ordering Khan to cough up $121M in restitution and $27M to the clients he duped. There's also a $9.8M stack destined for Uncle Sam, covering his five-year game of hide-and-seek with the IRS. 💸

Turns out, crime does pay. But, it’s more like a loan situation so you’ve always gotta pay it back…and then some. 🚔

Quick Hits

• Dig country music? Here are all the CMA winners. 🤠

• A looming strike in Vegas is pushed back again by another labor deal. 🎰

• Get your Thanksgiving sides and desserts all-in-one with Baskin-Robbins’ new Turkey Day Fixin’s ice cream. 🍦

History

• 1775: The United States Marine Corps is founded at Tun Tavern in Philadelphia by Samuel Nicholas. 🪖

• 1885: The first motorcycle ride. 🏍

• 1969: Sesame Street makes its debut on PBS. 🐸