#545 -⛽️👩‍⚖️🔋 Road Trip Ready

TOGETHER WITH

The world ain’t all rainbows and candy. In fact, if you were to do the math, rainbows, and candy are some of the rarest things in the universe, which is why they are special.

Find something to be happy about, friends. Don’t let somebody tell you because it’s pleasant, it isn’t useful.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

TODAY’S LOT WALK

• Business: Short drives, start-up surprises, big batteries, data collection, Buc-ee’s, and raises all around. 📈

• MTCM: Dealers get together to share lead management tips. 🫡

• Culture: A new AI-powered, wearable device claims it could replace smartphones. We’ll see. 📵

Reading time: 4 min 54 secs

BUSINESS

Fast Facts for Fast Readers

EVs Driven Less Than Gas-Powered Models

• Study Findings: Electric vehicles (EVs) are driven less annually than gas-powered models.

• Mileage Difference: Fully electric cars show about 4,500 fewer miles per year. The gap is smaller for battery SUVs.

• Implications: While some are testing the electric car waters, others, namely those who drive a lot, are happy on the shore, where the gas is (metaphors are hard).

Li Auto Surpasses Tesla in China's EV Sales

• Outperformed Tesla: In October, Li Auto, a Chinese startup, surpassed Tesla in EV sales in China.

• Unique Offering: Li Auto's edge comes from its SUVs that include a fuel tank to charge the battery, unlike Tesla's battery-only models.

• Projected Momentum: They anticipate maintaining their sales momentum, with monthly deliveries projected between 41,700 and 42,600 vehicles in Q4.

Volvo Acquires Proterra's Battery Division

• Successful Bid: Volvo won a $210M bid to acquire Proterra's battery division in the U.S.

• Strategic Move: The acquisition, pending bankruptcy court approval, marks Volvo's significant step in the electric vehicle sector.

• Expected Conclusion: The deal is expected to be finalized early next year.

Class Action Lawsuit Dismissed Against Automakers

• Accusation: Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen, GM, and Ford were accused of unlawfully collecting text messages and call logs.

• Judge's Ruling: A federal judge in Seattle dismissed the lawsuit, stating it doesn't violate the Washington Privacy Act.

• Privacy Concerns: The decision underlines concerns about data protection in modern cars that collect extensive user data.

Buc-ee's and Mercedes-Benz Partner for EV Chargers

• High-Speed Chargers: Buc-ee's, a Texas-based travel center chain, is partnering with Mercedes-Benz to install high-speed EV chargers.

• Chargers by 2024: Aiming for 30 chargers to be operational by the end of 2024, focusing on major Southern and Southeastern transit routes.

• Accessible to All EVs: The chargers, supporting CCS1 and NACS plugs, will be available to all EV models, not just Mercedes.

Honda Raises U.S. Factory Workers' Wages

• Wage Increase: Honda is boosting U.S. factory workers' wages by 11% starting January.

• Competitive Pay: This aligns Honda with competitors like Toyota and reflects UAW's achievements in the auto industry.

• Improved Benefits: The wage hike includes a faster path to top pay, part of Honda's effort to enhance worker benefits and attract skilled employees.

TOGETHER WITH INVOCA

Evolve with Us

Don't miss this week's webinar with our friends at Invoca. 

Perspective: Conversation intelligence is the evolution of call-tracking 💡

Bring your call tracking to the next level on Thursday, November 16th at 2:00 pm EST.

✅ Understand what customers want when they call.
✅ Learn how to exceed their expectations.
✅ Discover how to use call data to personalize marketing.
✅ Increase loyalty by optimizing your call management processes.

RSVP now for this free 30-minute webinar, care of the good folks at Invoca! 

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

David Long’s All Things Used Cars Recap

Let's have a real talk about lead management. It's time to shake things up and refocus on what matters. You're in the business of selling cars, but it's also about creating lasting customer relationships. Here's how we can make that happen:

1. Efficiency is Key: First off, streamline your lead handling. It's about quality, not just quantity. A straightforward process for each lead means faster, more effective customer engagement.

2. Speed Matters: When responding to customer inquiries, think fast. Aim for immediate responses, ideally within minutes, to increase your chances of connecting with potential buyers.

3. Managers, Step Up: Managers should be in the trenches, actively overseeing and participating in the lead management process. Your involvement can make a huge difference.

4. Consistent Customer Service: Develop a customer-friendly approach. Clear communication, no jargon, and understanding each customer's unique needs and preferences is the way to go.

5. Make it Personal: Tailor your communication to each customer. Show them you understand and care about their specific requirements and interests.

6. Strategic Lead Assignment: Play to your team's strengths. Assign leads based on who's best suited for them to boost your conversion rates.

7. Nurture for the Long Haul: Don't just chase immediate sales. Implement a process for long-term follow-up. Regular check-ins keep your dealership in the customer's mind for that eventual purchase.

8. Tech to the Rescue: Leverage technology and automation for managing after-hour leads. Tools like CRM systems and automated responses ensure you take advantage of every opportunity.

9. Continuous Learning: Keep your team sharp with ongoing training. Focus on practical, hands-on lead-handling techniques.

10. Inventory-Smart Lead Allocation: Know your inventory inside out. A guide leads towards vehicles needing quicker sales, balancing your sales and inventory effectively.

Remember, it's all about building those lasting customer relationships while driving sales. Let's commit to these best practices and drive our dealerships toward greater success!

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 14
  The ASOTU Wheelhouse Hosted By Daniel Govaer
  This week, Daniel and his guests talk about EVs. It is a topic everybody has thoughts about, but nobody can settle on what the data means.
  🎧 Listen with us 🎧

• 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 🗓
   

  👋 If you are at MRC this week, make sure and say ‘hi’ to Paul and Kyle! 👋

CULTURE

Bye-Bye Phones? 🤨

The Humane AI Pin, priced at $699 and launching in early 2024, is a cutting-edge wearable AI assistant. Distinctively operating independently from smartphones, it uses voice commands and projects a virtual screen onto the user's hand. It's equipped with a camera, microphone, and sensors. Notably, it lacks a traditional screen, focusing instead on gesture recognition and a touchpad.

Running on the proprietary Cosmos OS, the AI Pin prioritizes privacy, activating only with user interaction and equipped with a privacy chip and Trust Light. Its features include real-time translation, fitness tracking, and an AI-driven music experience with Tidal.

Representing a move towards ambient computing, the AI Pin aims to integrate technology unobtrusively into daily life. In the rising interest in generative AI, the AI Pin stands out as a pioneer in wearable AI, challenging the current smartphone-centric paradigm with a focus on seamless and non-intrusive tech integration.

What do you think? Are smartphones' days numbered?

Quick Hits

• The IRS announced new tax brackets. 💰

• Doctors in New York completed the first successful eye transplant. 👁

• Space Force and Elon Musk’s SpaceX are partnering to launch a special X-37B space plane. 🔭

• The busiest rails in the US are getting a $16B investment. 🚂

History

• 1940: Willys-Overland delivers its prototype Jeep to the Army. 🪖

• 1956: The US Supreme Court rules that state and local laws requiring segregated buses are illegal. 🚍

• 1982: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated in Washington, D.C., after a march to its site by thousands of Vietnam War veterans. 🗽