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- #609 - 🏈📺🧑⚖️ Ball and Law
#609 - 🏈📺🧑⚖️ Ball and Law
VW's US Plans, Just Announced, and Educator EVs
TOGETHER WITH
Monday again!
Today we celebrate a few things:
Less Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce highlights
Marketers everywhere fighting over the best commercial
Chiefs win (for some)
You…well, because you are the hero of our story!
But just for fun…
What was the best Super Bowl Commercial?Yeah....we had to ask (sorry if we missed yours) |
Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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BUSINESS
Superb Owl LVIII in the Books
Giphy
Today, we see more diversity of thought in the industry. VW has its hands in every market with just as many strategies.
Time will tell which wins, but even now we can see it will never be one-size-fits-all.
--
Volkswagen in the US
VW says quitting is for quitters. They are sticking to their EV and Super Bowl ad plans and aren't embarrassed to tell people.
The German car maker is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a Super Bowl commercial highlighting its American history.
They also have 25 electric models planned for North America by 2030, including SUVs and the minibus.
Why leave now? Unlike some other brands and models, VW ID.4 still qualifies for the U.S. $7,500 clean energy tax credit for its U.S.-sourced battery components and Tennessee assembly.
In 2023, the ID.4 was the fifth best-selling EV in the US.
Reliable Radios
Like the quality of fast food in the last 10 years, J.D. Power released its Vehicle Dependability Study and things are declining.
The problems per 100 vehicles increased by 4 to 190 compared to last year.
Infotainment systems are the most problematic category, with Android and Apple's connectivity being the most common issue.
Plug-in vehicles (EVs and Plug-in Hybrids) had more issues than ICE and Hybrid vehicles, with BEV tire replacements accounting for a large part.
J.D Power
Toyota and Lexus win? The overall highest-ranking brand for dependability was Lexus for the second consecutive year, while Toyota was the mass-market brand leader.
Dependable enough to pay double? A weird headline caught our eye when we were looking for more Toyota/Lexus content. Apparently, in France, CO2 emission taxes have increased by A LOT. A Toyota GR Yaris now costs nearly $100K due to its emission levels.
$49K is only the emission tax, so the car's cost is essentially doubled. Wow-wee. 🤑
FTC Redo
As suggested by the NADA, a member of Congress has taken up a bill to nullify the CARS Act. The bill uses language like "actual data" and seeks "adequate" public input before implementing the Act.
Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-North Dakota, introduced the FTC Redo Act, which would kill the rule NADA has decried as burdensome and redundant to auto dealers.
While the U.S. Supreme Court is predicted to uphold the constitutionality of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's funding, lawmakers are hearing dealer requests, and hope a conversation is still there.
TOGETHER WITH VEHICLES FOR CHANGE
Changing Lives Together
Last year, our charity partner for ASOTU CON, Vehicles for Change, joined us for an auction unlike anything else in auto. A custom guitar and pair of shoes met more people’s needs through the ongoing work of the non-profit.
We love More Than Cars Moments like those and want our community to participate in them. Our friends Vehicles for Change help people every day overcome mobility and employment challenges, and this May in Baltimore, MD, at ASOTU CON 2024, they will be giving a car to a local Baltimore family to ensure they don’t let distance keep them from the life they deserve to live.
Keep an eye out for how YOU can participate in sending this deserving family home with more than new wheels but a carload of generosity from our community.
Tickets are available now!
/MTCM
Every day across this lovely industry and nation, you put your money where your mouth is. Or…your heart where your money is? Or, maybe your heart and money where your community is? Yeah, that’s the one!
We want to hear about your community and the things you’ve participated in for the good of the people near you. 🕊️
MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS
Teachers Gonna Teach
Giphy/PBS
TOYOTA, the Automobile Dealer Education Institute (ADEI), and the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA) recently shared a video of their Champions for Automotive Education Awards, where they gave a selection of top-notch automotive educators Toyota bZ4X EVs.
Winners were from across the DC metropolitan area, including the District of Columbia, Prince George’s County, Howard County, Fairfax County, and Montgomery County. The award honors all they have done while equipping educators to confidently teach the next generation of students.
Great stuff! Check out the full video on LinkedIn.
AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE
Coming Soon
Will Guidara, best-selling author of Unreasonable Hospitality, will be the keynote speaker for ASOTU CON 2024 in Baltimore this May 14-17th!
Will is a renowned figure in the customer service business, recognized for transforming Eleven Madison Park into the world's top restaurant.
His book Unreasonable Hospitality is an approach rooted in human connection and emphasizes creating extraordinary experiences by giving people more than they expect.
Many of you have already read his book or encountered the ideas, but there is nothing like hearing it straight from the author.
Podcast
Enjoying our daily email? Then, we expect you’ll dig our daily podcast, too!
The Automotive Troublemaker is a quick look at the day’s business, tech, culture, and of course, automotive news.
Quick Hits
The film industry wanted Reddit to turn over 7 years of data regarding users who discussed movie pirating. Reddit said no and won the decision. 👩⚖️
Bitcoin had its biggest week in four months. 📈
Disney is investing $1.5B in Epic (makers of Fortnite) for a multi-year project to create a persistent online space that sounds like a metaverse. But, nobody invited Zuck, so who knows? 🥽
History
1924: Calvin Coolidge became the first U.S. president to deliver an address by radio. 📻
1963: Construction begins on the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.👷♂️
2014: Sinkhole swallows Corvettes at museum. 🏎
Our favorite way to start the week is reading weird facts (and news) with y’all. Thanks for helping us start the week strong, and please stay away from sinkholes!