#626 - 🤝❣️🎨 Collabs, Culture, and Creativity

Intelligence says tomatoes are fruit.
Wisdom knows you don’t put tomatoes in fruit salad.
Innovation calls tomato fruit salad “Salsa,” and the rest is history.

Got any tomatoes sitting around this Saturday?

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

ICYMI

The Daily Pushback Email

• On Monday, the U.S. plays material chess, BYD undercuts with budget EVs, Tesla swings the price axe again, GM flirts with hybrids, and Hyundai-Kia fast-track to EV credits, proving the auto world's geopolitical game is all about making strategic new moves. ♟️

• Xiaomi races into EVs aiming at luxury, Europe and China eye car collaborations, Renault and MG electrify Geneva, and Volvo's EV sales hit record highs on Tuesday. 📈

• Then, on Wednesday we find that hybrids are winning hearts in Consumer Reports' 2024 picks, Toyota shines with eco-friendly options, Honda's hydrogen CR-V bets on California, and vehicle-to-grid tech promises smarter energy use. We also take our first dive into Will Guidara’s incredible book, “Unreasonable Hospitality.”

• Thursday, Jaguar Land Rover decided to stick with traditional sales methods in Europe, while Hyundai is still causing a stir in the car buying scene due to its partnership with Amazon. Plus, we all enjoyed our 24-bonus hours for Leap Day! 🐸

• Then Friday, Renault revs up nostalgia with the electric reboot of its classic Renault 5, and debates over EV bans and Chinese imports stir the pot. We wrap up the week with some market insights and considerations to ponder over the weekend. 🧠

Auto Collabs Podcast

We dive into the heart of the EV revolution on our most recent episode of Auto Collabs, featuring John Foley, the visionary co-founder of Recharged.

Explore how Recharged is steering the used EV market into uncharted territories with its groundbreaking Experience Center, and uncover John's unique approach to satisfying the burgeoning curiosity of first-time EV buyers.

Catch the full replay here.

The Automotive Troublemaker Podcast

Tune into the latest episode of the Automotive Troublemaker podcast, where we navigate the turbulent waters of the auto industry. From Hyundai's controversial partnership with Amazon to Fisker's financial hurdles and the surprising sale of a Tesla Cybertruck, we dissect the pivotal moments shaping the future of car buying.

Check it out on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, or Google.

Coming Up

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.

🎟️ Get your early bird tickets today! 🎟️

SOMETHING FUN

The Chameleon Car of Tomorrow

BMW's i5 Flow Nostokana is basically the mood ring of cars, but like, way cooler.

Inspired by Esther Mahlangu's iconic art on the '91 BMW 525i, this ride isn't just sporting fun colors, it's rocking a dynamic exterior that shifts patterns and hues on the fly.

Thanks to a collaboration with Mahlangu herself, this beast features 1,349 E Ink segments that can switch up its look in a snap, making it the first car that's as much about showcasing art as it is about driving.

This artful beauty paves the way for vehicles that can be personalized with the same speed and ease as changing the wallpaper on a cell phone.

The evolution from BMW’s simple color shifts to a spectrum of 32 colors and complex designs highlights the company’s commitment to pushing the tech needle forward with an equal blend of exciting innovation and slick design.

Quick Hits

• Adobe’s Project Music is being described as an early-stage music application that allows users to create audio from text prompts. 🎼

• Congress passed a temporary stopgap spending bill, preventing a partial government shutdown…for now. 😓

• Artists are utilizing digital tools to help protect their works from AI generative training. 🛡️