#555 -😎🗞🍦 Serving Up News

TOGETHER WITH

Here's to another week of service!  

We're witnessing the unfolding stories of giants like Tesla and Ford and reflecting on our roles in this dynamic industry. How these big stories impact your community is, in part, up to you. 

As you serve the people in and around your store, we want to serve you with information, insight, and the context needed to keep up so we never have to catch up. 

Let's celebrate our collective efforts in driving the automotive world forward. Together, we're not observers; we're active participants in shaping the future of mobility. That's what it means to... 

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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BUSINESS

Keeping Up

Tesla's Austin Gigafactory Concerns

• Safety Issues: 1 in every 21 workers injured in 2022.

• Incidents: Robot injures engineer; an explosion in casting machine.

• Work Culture: Described as "ultra hardcore" by employees.

If the lottery had a 1:21 chance of winning, wouldn't you buy a ticket? 

Ford's Battery Plant Scale-Back

• Budget Reduction: From $3.5 billion to lower capacity.

• Production Cut: 43% decrease to 20 gigawatt hours.

• Jobs Impact: Reduced from 2,500 to 1,700.

• Reasons: Slower EV adoption, high labor costs, supply chain and technology challenges.

20 GwH is about 200K EV battery packs. Unless 175K of those are some new affordable model they haven't told us about yet, we aren't sure what they will do to entice hesitant buyers. 

Volkswagen's New EV Launch in China

• Affordable EV Series: Starting at ~$20,000.

• Market Competition: Tesla and BYD.

• Strategy: Based on a locally developed platform.

• Goal: Regain market position in China.

VW's presence in China comes to us in bits and pieces through news and announcements, and we never hear China's side of the conversation. Is this a "girlfriend in another school" situation or a "sold-out show in a different town" that we aren't getting the full effect of? 

Nissan's UK Investment

• Amount: $1.4 billion in UK plant.

• Focus: Electric Qashqai and Juke models.

• Job Creation: Supports 7,000 jobs in Sunderland and 30,000 in the supply chain.

• Government Support: Aligns with the UK's foreign investment efforts.

Trying to keep track of who is investing in what where would require a Risk Board (known to normal people as a map) and a few days to sort things out (known to Risk fans as the time needed to play half a game of Risk)

GM's Cruise Relaunch Plans

• Service Relaunch: In an undisclosed US city.

• Focus: Bolt EV-based autonomous vehicles.

• Origin Driverless Pod: Development on hold.

• Financials: Over $8 billion in losses since 2016, some job cuts.

• Aim: Improve safety and rebuild trust in technology.

Cruise: "Good news, everyone! The random car crash generator is back online, and we're not telling you where... so you won't be afraid..."  

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

Simplify and Amplify

Overwhelmed by manual processes and needing a no-contact sales solution, the Del Grande Dealer Group turned to Upstart Auto Retail. 

Upstart's Contribution? Seamless online sales, AI-powered financing, and efficient staff training across 20 locations. 

DGDG's Result? A dramatic increase in customer satisfaction, a 58% higher PVR, and online closing ratios soared from 8% to 14%. 

Upstart is ready to help dealers like you simplify and amplify their online sales. Why not you? Why not today? Contact Upstart now. 

/Positivity

We know dealers, and we love sharing their stories. With Thanksgiving done and past, we would love to hear how you and your team engaged in the gratitude and generosity of the season so we can celebrate with you and share with our whole community.

DATA & INSIGHT

SEMA State of the Industry-Fall 2023 Report:

• Key Growth: Pickup vehicles lead the automotive aftermarket industry's growth.

• Stable/Increased Sales: Over 75% of pickup segment manufacturers report stable or growing sales in the past year.

• Other Growth Segments: SUVs, classic cars, and sports cars.

• Potential Areas: Hot rodding, overlanding, muscle cars.

• Report Insight: Offers detailed analysis of vehicle segment sales, trends, challenges, opportunities, and a 2024 outlook.

• Audience: Essential for aftermarket companies for strategic planning.

TIE CUTTERS

2024 TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee:

Mark Politte has been nominated for the prestigious TIME Dealer of the Year award!

As a nominee, he represents the Maine Automobile Dealers Association. Politte's journey from an engineer to a successful auto dealer is marked by his passion for cars and commitment to exceptional customer service and community support. His community work positively impacts his community, such as his work with local teachers contributing to the arts.

Congratulations and good luck from the ASOTU team, Mark!

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• FEBRUARY 1 - 4, 2024

  NADA 2024 in Las Vegas

  Are you going to NADA and itching for some eye-catching media coverage? We're your dream team for content creation.

  🎥 Let’s link up 🎥 
   

• MAY 14 - 17, 2024

  ASOTU CON 2024 in Baltimore

  Next year, we’re elevating the focus on context, connection, and dynamic conversations. Unlike traditional conferences, we’re going beyond a passive listening experience, turning every attendee, speaker, and exhibitor into a crucial part of the larger dialogue.
  🤝 Partner with us 🤝

Quick Hits

• Hamas freed 24 hostages on the first day of the Gaza Truce. 🕊

• Hallmark Channel won the Thanksgiving streaming battle. 📺

• Netflix’s animated musical “Leo,” featuring the voice of Adam Sandler, is collecting some favorable attention. 🐢

History

• 1895: the Nobel Prize is established through the will of Alfred Bernhard Nobel. 🥇

• 1924: New York City's Macy's department store held its first Thanksgiving Day parade down a two-mile stretch of Broadway from Central Park West to Herald Square 🍬

• 1996: The last Cadillac Fleetwood 🛑