#651 - 🚗 Ocean of Questions

TOGETHER WITH

The ink isn’t dry yet, but we are too excited to keep it to ourselves.

Please join us as the first to learn about ASOTU’s new acquisition: The Syracuse Troublemakers.

The Savannah Bananas aren’t gonna know what hit ‘em. ⚾️

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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BUSINESS

April Fool’s Day

The ASOTU Crew are enjoying some time away for Easter today, so we have a shorter biz section. But, that doesn’t means it is without its own “surprise.”

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GM’s Cheap Battery Partner Plan

Blah blah, China's cheap EVs, blah blah, Ford is trying too. 

Oh look, another! GM is in talks with battery leader CATL to bring cheaper Lithium Iron Phosphate battery technology to its EVs, alongside plans for a joint North American manufacturing facility. This strategic move aims to address past production challenges and ramp up EV output significantly, targeting 200,000 to 300,000 Ultium-based EVs this year. 

The collaboration could drastically reduce costs and boost GM's competitive edge in the EV market. It would highlight a commitment to innovation and improve EV affordability for consumers.

Fisker: An “Ocean” Of Questions

Fisker is going cheap, too. They recently said they would sell their Ocean EV for just $25K. There is only one problem — it isn't available. 

The Fisker Ocean, which was announced as the cheapest EV in the US at $24,999, is reportedly not available. Inquiries with Classic Fisker in Atlanta, the only listed Fisker dealership, suggest neither the entry-level Ocean Sport nor the midrange Ocean Ultra at $34,999 currently exists in the US. Dealership insights indicate significant discrepancies between advertised and actual prices due to added options. 

With terms like "entry-level" and "Midrange" to throw around, it is not likely we will ever see a $25K Fisker Ocean or any regulatory actions against the "discrepancy."

That’s right, folks. We got him. THE Elon Musk is teaming up with the Automotive Troublemakers for our Year End Extravaganza! 😎 

Be sure to tune in as Paul and Kyle become the first in the world to receive Neuralink implants, embedded by the man himself, live on stage. It’s bound to be a hoot!

TOGETHER WITH TRADEPENDING

Stop Fooling Your Website Visitors

One of the top reasons people visit your website is for service.

If your website doesn't list your service offers and their prices, you're fooling your customers, and they're taking their business elsewhere.

Sure, you can keep everything up-to-date manually, or you use TradePending. Their Service Offers (aka Fixed Ops Digital) solutions to turn your website from your service business's own worst enemy into a service marketing machine.

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Doing It All With Holman

Usually, these More Than Cars Moments zero in on a single act of giving from one of our friends in the retail world.

This post by Holeman went all out!

A few words about their Days of Caring and several pictures show the quality and quantity of their care for their community.

Clothes, food, coffee, paint, name it and they put their hand to providing it to people. And that’s what it’s about, loving the people you get to love with the things, time, and skills your blessed with.

Way to go, Holeman team!

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

The Agenda

Check out the Agenda and grab your ASOTU CON 2024 ticket now!

CULTURE

Mac n’ Clean

In a cheeky, or should we say, “cheesy,” turn of events, the White House is cooking up a plan to make mac and cheese (and a whole lot more) with clean energy, backed by a hearty $6B funding pot.

The Department of Energy's latest recipe for reducing greenhouse gases spans from the iconic blue boxes of Kraft macaroni to whiskey and ice cream, aiming to cut industrial emissions with a sprinkle of clean tech. Imagine macaroni drying and whiskey aging with zero emissions as 33 projects across the U.S. gear up to serve a greener, cleaner future.

Now if we could just make energy from mac n’ cheese…

Quick Hits

• The Groundhog’s Day groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, and his wife just had two pups. 🐶

• South Carolina has $1.8B in extra money that they can’t explain. Now they are trying to decide what to do with it. 🤑

• The DOJ says the “green bubble shaming” between Android and Apple users is part of Apple’s anticompetitive actions. 💬

History

• 1932: Franklin introduces its V12. 🎉

• 1965: BBC conducts an April Fools “trial” of new technology, Smell-o-vision. 🤥

• 1976: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak founded Apple Computer, Inc. 🍏

Thanks for reading! Happy April Fools’ Day! Tell somebody you’re joining the Russian Ballet and need the rest of the day off to pack.

*Disclaimer: We don’t own a circus/baseball team experience, nor will Elon be at YEE. It’s April 1. Live a little.