#558 - 🚗🛻🚙 Polish Those Skills

TOGETHER WITH

We can’t stop talking about the value of community. This community specifically.

We see others reaching out to connect all the time and we want to get better together.

So, we offer that to you. Need help? Need support? Looking for your next role? Want to know who has gone before you in trying something? Reach out (you can literally hit reply) and let us know how we can help.

We’re a team here to grow with you. And, as always…

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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BUSINESS

No Monkey Business

UAW Moves to Unionize Entire Auto Sector

• Nationwide Push: Following successful negotiations with the Detroit Three, the UAW now has its sights set on the entire non-union auto sector.

• Major Automakers: The campaign includes major players like Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Rivian, Nissan, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

• Publicizing Support Levels: If 30% of workers at a plant seek union representation, it will be made public.

• Rally and Recognition Steps: At 50% support, a rally with Fain will be held, and at 70%, the UAW will push for recognition or a union vote.

• Past Attempts: UAW has historically struggled to organize plants operated by foreign automakers, with failed efforts at Nissan and VW.

These automakers may want to dust off their bargaining chips and polish up their negotiating skills, just in case.

GM’s $9.3B Hit

• Struggles and Challenges: The Detroit automaker has been grappling with the strike's aftermath, issues at its Cruise unit, and EV rollout complications.

• Labor Deal Costs: New labor deals will cost GM $9.3B, translating to an additional $575 per vehicle.

• Stock Buyback: Simultaneously, GM announced a significant $10B in stock buybacks.

• Dividend Increase: The company plans to increase its dividend by 33%.

• Stock Price Movement: GM's stock saw a substantial jump of 9.8%.

• Market Impact: Ford and Stellantis also experienced gains, with their shares rising 4.3% and 4.8%, respectively.

• Cost-Cutting Measures: GM also aims to cut fixed costs by $3B by the end of 2024 and has initiated employee buyouts.

Good ol’ GM to the rescue saving…GM.

Mercedes-Benz Ends EQS Production in the US

• EQS SUV Production Moving: From Vance, Alabama to Bremen, Germany.

• Bremen Factory Expansion: The factory already produces the C-Class, E-Class, GLC, and EQE, and is expected to increase its line by 20K vehicles annually with the addition of the EQS SUV.

• New GLC EV: Will replace the EQS SUV in Alabama, starting Q1 2026.

• Projected Fleet: Up to 50K GLC EVs are anticipated within the first year.

• Tax Credit Eligibility: GLC EV qualifies under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.

If letters had royalties, Mercedes would owe the alphabet a fortune.

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

Roadmap to Success

This isn't just a glimpse into the future of car buying — it’s a roadmap to mastering the digital domain of auto retail. 🗺️

Join our 30-minute webinar on December 13th with Upstart Auto Retail to:

⭐️ Learn how to blend online prowess with in-store digital finesse, alongside top-tier financing and management tools.

⭐️ Discover how to deliver an omni-channel experience that keeps pace with the fast-moving expectations of today’s consumers.

⭐️ Dive into the mechanics of strategic partnerships that power successful dealership transformations.

⭐️ See how Colonial VW and Colonial Subaru accelerated their sales team's adoption of cutting-edge tools with training that's as efficient as it is effective.

Forget the shiny new tech; this is about getting your team up to speed, quickly and competently. Register today! 👈

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Holiday Bike Bonanza

Ah, the thrill of your first bike! 🚲

It's a rite of passage for many kids, symbolizing a new sense of freedom and adventure, but not always an easy get for parents.

That’s why, for the past month, Carter Myers Automotive’s Valley dealerships in Staunton have transformed into veritable Santa's workshops. But, instead of elves, they’ve partnered with customers and community members to generously supply the bikes.

They've racked up an impressive tally of over 200 sets of wheels, a fleet already packed up and ready to be gifted to children in the community by the Staunton Salvation Army.

During the season of giving, these dealerships are not just sharing gifts, they're creating lifelong memories. 🎁

TIE CUTTERS

2024 TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee:
Charles Notbohm

Charles Notbohm is a stand-out nominee for the 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year Award representing the Montana Automobile Dealers Association.

His journey from a public school teacher to a successful car dealership owner is remarkable, beginning with a small Chevrolet store and gradually expanding his business footprint significantly in Montana.

Notbohm's commitment to community service is profound, supporting various youth initiatives including 4-H, local sports, and Erin's Hope Project.

Healthcare's also on his radar. Charles serves on boards like Holy Rosary Healthcare and Intermountain Healthcare, pushing for better community health services.

Congratulations and best of luck, Charles! 👏

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• Wednesday, DECEMBER 13 @ 2:00 PM EST
  ASOTU Edge Webinar with Upstart
  Transforming Car Buying: The Power of Connected Auto Retailing
  Learn how to blend online prowess with in-store digital finesse, alongside top-tier financing and management tools in 30-minutes.
  🧑‍💻 Register now 🧑‍💻
   

• 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 🤝

CULTURE

MINI’s Spike on the Sphere

MINI is stepping into the future with flair, showcasing its revamped 2025 lineup for all to see at the Las Vegas Sphere.

Leading the parade is Spike the Dog, MINI’s new infotainment system mascot and the face of MINI’s ambitious tech overhaul.

But Spike is more than just a charming virtual assistant. Inside MINI’s vehicles, he resides on a 9.4-inch OLED display, surrounded by crisp graphics, animated menus, and even embedded video games. The new system adapts its theme to the SUV's driving mode and even offers cloud-based navigation.

Visitors to Vegas can catch a glimpse of Spike and the 2025 Countryman Electric SUV, MINI’s poster child for its next-gen software, through December 2nd.

Quick Hits

• Apple is making moves to end its Goldman Sachs credit card partnership. 🍎

• A new feature on Spotify Wrapped assigns you a “sound town” based on your musical tastes. 🎶

• Leaving Shark Tank, and now this?? Mark Cuban is reportedly selling his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks. 🏀

History

• 1753: Benjamin Franklin receives the Godfrey Copley Medal for his dissertation, “Experiments and Observations on Electricity." 🪁⚡️🗝️

• 1956: First use of videotape on TV — CBS recorded the live East Coast broadcast of Douglas Edwards and the News, then played back the quarter-hour news program three hours later for stations on the West Coast. 🎥📼📺

• 1960: The first International Harvester Scout leaves the assembly line. 🛻🥇🏭