🚗 $800 payments, Chinese brands, and what dealers can control

TOGETHER WITH

Howdy Fam!

We woke up today more grateful than ever for the auto industry and our place in it.

Did you catch the new episode of The Truth About Car Dealers yesterday?

Check it out now, and take a moment to appreciate the good happening in this business every day.

Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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If you sell cars in the U.S., it is easy to file “Chinese auto brands” under tariffs, someday, maybe. But recent reporting suggests the risk is less about timing and more about conditions already in place.

Three forces are converging.

Major outlets report average new-vehicle prices above $50,000, with average monthly payments over $800. Roughly one in five loans now exceeds $1,000 per month. When buyers are stretched, they shop harder and become more open to unfamiliar brands if the payment works.

Coverage around shifting federal EV incentives and the California waiver dispute points to a market where automakers may be balancing two regulatory tracks. When direction is unclear, product plans slow. Slower plans struggle against competitors moving quickly.

Analysts including Rhodium Group argue that cost advantages are not just about subsidies. They are rooted in vertical integration, battery control, scale, and lower overhead. In China’s domestic market, where more than 100 automakers compete, price wars are intense. Recent BYD promotions offering multi-year 0% financing reflect survival pressure in an oversupplied market. Exporting excess production becomes rational.

Surveys covered by Autoweek and TIME show meaningful openness among US buyers to Chinese-made vehicles, particularly when affordability gaps are wide.

If it comes, it is unlikely to be a sudden wave of new rooftops. It is more likely partnerships, contract manufacturing, or US-based production that reduces political friction.

We collected more info on China and how consumers are feeling so you're team can meet them where they are. Check it out here.

Your dealership has untapped revenue opportunities, from service-due customers to unsold leads and inactive buyers. Turn those opportunities into booked appointments automatically.

Outbound Campaigns with Mia help you:

Mia hit campaign goals with 75% fewer outreach attempts than the competition — driving more bookings with less effort.

See what proactive, AI-driven outbound can look like in your store – book a demo and let Mia show you how to turn follow-up into booked appointments.

Aston Martin is cutting 20% of its 3,000-person workforce after a £493 million loss and a 21% revenue drop. Leadership points to disruptive U.S. tariff rules and weak China demand, with 2026 deliveries expected to be roughly flat around 5,448 units. The upbeat angle: more Valhalla hybrid deliveries should lift pricing and improve results. Even legends have to tighten lug nuts.

Lucid whiffed on Q4 earnings, posting a $3.62 loss per share (worse than expected) while revenue beat estimates at $523M. After recently cutting 12% of U.S. salaried staff, it’s guiding 2026 production of 25,000–27,000 vehicles, up roughly 40%–50%. Gravity SUV is expected to lead. Dealer-friendly read: EV demand is slower, but product mix and execution win.

Hyundai Motor Group is expected to unveil a multi-billion-dollar South Korea investment, with reports pointing to about 10 trillion won (~$7B) over five years. The plan reportedly includes robotics, an AI data center, and hydrogen infrastructure, tying into its broader tech push (including AI chips for autonomy and smart factories). Translation for dealers: Hyundai is betting on scale, tech, and future-ready inventory.

Have a great Thursday, Friend! Tomorrow we end the week strong, and start the weekend stronger!