#594 - 🔀🤸‍♂️🔮 Flexibility and Future-Proofing

TOGETHER WITH

The EPA’s vehicle emission guidelines are under review, Waymo is picking up where Cruise left off, Stellantis is getting fancy in their flexibility, Ford introduces an XL digital dash, and Vroom made a major announcement.

The auto industry sure is a wild one. It moves quickly, it’s always on the bleeding edge, and it keeps us on our toes. That’s part of the reason we love it so much.

But, the heart of our passion? That will always be the community we've built with you.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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NADA 2024

Yo, Looking For A Party?

BUSINESS

Leading Industry Updates

EPA’s Proposed Emission Cuts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's recent proposal, currently under White House review, mandates a significant reduction in vehicle emissions by 2032. If implemented, the plan could drastically accelerate the industry's trajectory into more environmentally-friendly alternatives.

💨 Drastic Emissions Reductions — The EPA's ambitious strategy calls for a 56% reduction in fleet average emissions compared to 2026 model year standards.

⚡️ Electric Vehicle Surge — To meet these stringent requirements, automakers are projected to increase EV production to 60% by 2030 and 67% by 2032.

🔍 Intense Scrutiny and Concerns — The plan, now undergoing interagency review after over 250,000 public comments, faces considerable pushback from major automakers who argue that the targets are neither reasonable nor achievable within the given timeframe.

Vroom Gloom

Yesterday, Vroom Inc. announced it will be discontinuing its online used vehicle sales and e-commerce operations.

🚘 Ecommerce Operations Ceasing — Vroom is halting its online vehicle sales and planning to liquidate its current inventory through wholesale channels.

💼 Strategic Refocus — The company aims to concentrate on its profitable segments like United Auto Credit Corporation and CarStory which specialize in auto finance and AI-powered digital services.

📉 Market Challenges — Despite efforts to secure additional capital and extend its vehicle floorplan facility, Vroom has been unable to overcome continued market and demand difficulties.

Waymo Eyes Expansion Into LA

Despite recent GM Cruise snafus in California, Alphabet Inc's Waymo is planning to venture into Los Angeles to expand its own driverless services.

✉️ LA Expansion Plans — Waymo has applied to the California Public Utilities Commission to operate its autonomous driving service fully in Los Angeles, currently testing rides on an invitation-only basis.

🦺 Community-Focused Expansion — The company plans to collaborate with LA's local authorities and community groups, indicating a commitment to integrate its services responsibly into the city.

🧪 Widening Reach — Beyond LA, Waymo is testing driverless cars in Phoenix and exploring expansion into Austin, Texas, adapting its strategies amidst the industry's regulatory challenges.

Stellantis' Targets the Fullsize Market

Stellantis has introduced its STLA Large platform, a base framework for building a variety of large vehicles like SUVs and sedans. Think of it like the foundation of a house upon which you can build different styles of home. With its high adaptability and future-proof design, STLA Large offers unprecedented options for vehicle design and performance.

🚂 Multi-Powertrain Compatibility — The STLA Large platform is designed to accommodate BEV, hybrid, and ICE powertrains, catering to a wide range of fullsize vehicles.

🔋 Electrification and Range — Emphasizing electric mobility, it promises up to a 500-mile range for sedans, equipped with fast-charging technology.

📐 Customizable Dimensions — The platform allows adjustments in vehicle size and configuration, offering flexibility for various model designs.

Ford Unveils A Super-Sized Screen

Following the “bigger is better” trend happening in automotive, Ford's newest in-car technology feature is a 48-inch digital dashboard. The mega-display will debut in the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus with more models to follow.

📺 Supersized Screen Experience — The curved display with 4K graphics stretches across the dashboard, placing Ford alongside luxury brands like Tesla and Mercedes-Benz in offering expansive in-car screens.

📱 Versatile Connectivity — The new system, built on the Android Automotive OS, integrates native Google apps and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It features personalization, modularity, 5G connectivity, and driver recognition that automatically adjusts the settings.

🔄 A Shift from Sync — Moving away from its BlackBerry QNX-powered Sync, Ford's new system promises a unique OS experience while retaining the option for individual vehicle models to choose their screen configurations.

TOGETHER WITH WIDEWAIL

42 vs. 10.4

The latest data is in, and the result? 10.4.

Widewail looked at 3M dealership Google reviews in 2023 and found the average dealer generates 10.4 monthly reviews per rooftop.

Compare that to the average Widewail dealership client, which generates 42.

Generating 42+ reviews/month will put your dealership in the top 11% of dealers nationally.

How? Automation, SMS & personalization.

And if you've been following along with our latest reports, you'll know that poor communication is the #1 driver of negative reviews.

Widewail's newly reimagined reporting suite can provide the same level of topic and sentiment analysis we've put together for the industry, specific to your dealership.

Come see why teams like Lithia, Lexus, BMW, MINI, Herb Chambers, Koons, Dealer.com, Gee, Cavender, Swickard, McGovern, Greenway, Germain, Garber, Yark, Rohrman and thousands more trust Widewail.

Find us at Booth #6306N in the North Hall at NADA — get a meeting on the calendar today.

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

From Cars To Coats

Joining forces for a noble cause, Walser Automotive Group recently teamed up with Operation Warm as part of the Subaru Loves To Help initiative in order to brighten the lives of over 150,000 children by providing them with some much-needed winter essentials.

This compassionate endeavor provided brand-new coats, shoes, and socks to youngsters facing homelessness and other hardships.

Walser Automotive is constantly searching for ways to help their community, proving they are so much more than a car company and this collaboration is about much more than coats. It's about giving warmth, confidence, and hope to children when they need it the most. ❤️‍🔥

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

Join us at the NADA Live Stage for the ASOTU Docu-series "More Than Cars" Preview and Community Meet-up!

📸 Wear your Love People More Than Cars T-shirt and join the ASOTU Crew for a group photo.

🥰 Get your free More Than Cars metal badge pin to show that you are part of the community that's pushing back on the negative dealer narrative.

👏 Support Paul and Kyle as they go on stage with Andrew Guelcher from Mohawk Chevrolet (Episode 4, sponsored by UVeye) to showcase how their dealership puts people first.

🤗 Meet other community members face-to-face.

See you there!

Quick Hits

• The U.S. Department of Defense will install rooftop solar panels on the Pentagon as part of the Biden administration’s clean energy initiative. ☀️

• A Chuck E. Cheese-themed game show is in the works. 🐭

• A yogurt company is offering $10,000 to ten people willing to put their smartphones into a lockbox for one month. 📵

• This Spring, two different broods of cicadas will emerge by the billions at the same time in a rare event that last occurred in 1803. 🦗

History

• 1849: Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman in the U.S. to earn a medical degree after graduating from New York's Geneva Medical College. 🩺

• 1964: The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution is ratified barring poll tax in federal elections. 🗳️

• 1973: President Richard Nixon announces an accord has been reached to end the Vietnam War. ☮️

• 2018: LeBron James becomes the youngest player to reach the 30,000 NBA point milestone. 🏀