🚗 Avant-Garde Autos

It’s been a full week at NAMAD, and we’re taking the weekend to soak in all the moments, stories, and conversations we experienced with this incredible community.

We captured 22 interviews covering everything from marketing to tech, compliance to F&I, DEI, and more.

We can’t wait to share them with you soon. Stay tuned!

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

_{Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here!
Reading time: 3 min and 29 sec}

ICYMI

The Week That Was

The Daily Pushback Email

• On Monday, West Herr gifted a wheelchair-accessible van to a high school senior with muscular dystrophy, EU–U.S. tariff negotiations showed signs of progress, while Adobe reported a 4,700% spike in retail traffic from Gen AI. Meanwhile, Urban Science revealed sharp disconnects between how dealers and consumers view affordability, service costs, and the future of the traditional model. 📊
   

• Then on Tuesday, Hyundai and its Western Mass dealers relaunched a campaign to honor everyday heroes with a new Tucson giveaway, while Hertz deployed golden retrievers at airports to comfort stressed-out travelers. Auto sales surged 8.2% in August, AI-driven traffic reshaped digital retail, and the All-Stars list spotlighted standout industry innovators. 🏆
   

• Wednesday, the IRS extended eligibility for EV tax credits to vehicles, Hyundai doubled down on its human-robot balance at its Georgia plant, and Steele Auto Group launched a campaign to support children facing illness. 💞
   

• On Thursday, we discovered that August sales surged to a record $54.6B, and Stellantis paused its Level 3 rollout despite earlier promises. Meanwhile, Gallup revealed North America leads global workplace engagement—but stress remains high—and the Walk the Lot fundraiser prepped to support veterans with service dogs. 🐾
   

• Finally, Friday. New car inventory dropped to its lowest level since February while demand keeps climbing, and Volkswagen expanded its AI-powered partnership with AWS across 43 plants. At NAMAD, dealers voiced the need for smarter tech decisions, and the DVL Awards recognized vehicles resonating with America’s evolving majority. 🏆

PODCASTS

The Automotive State of the Union

Cox Automotive’s Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke joins Paul to talk tariffs, pent-up demand, and why Q3 might be best experienced with a little Abba.

It's a data-rich conversation with serious implications for dealers navigating policy shifts, EV adoption, and consumer behavior.

You don’t want to miss this one. Check it out here!

Tariffs, EVs, and a Little ABBA

With over a decade in automotive, Shasta Haddock has built high-performing BDC teams and even created the industry’s first elite response team that turns social media traffic into real showroom appointments.

If you’ve ever wondered why some leads vanish, how to make your first customer touchpoint more powerful, or what role AI should really play in your dealership today, this episode will give you plenty to think about.

Watch the episode here.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Develop Your Process-Based Pipeline

Every dealer needs used vehicles to keep pace with current sales and meet customer demand.

Join us on September 10th as we chat with Patrick Janes (of vAuto) and Adam Claiborne to unpack how Mike Shaw Kia proactively pursues these opportunities to win vehicles and make deals with customers.

Join us on September 10th—register today!

SOMETHING FUN

Art on Wheels

Five of BMW’s most iconic Art Cars will be on display at the 2025 Goodwood Revival, running September 12 through 14. The showcase is part of the BMW Art Car World Tour, a global celebration of the collection’s 50th anniversary.

The lineup includes David Hockney’s 1995 850 CSi, Frank Stella’s 1976 3.0 CSL, Roy Lichtenstein’s 1977 320i Turbo, Ernst Fuchs’ 1982 635 CSi, and Jeff Koons’ 2010 M3 GT2. Each vehicle reflects its artist’s distinct style while staying rooted in BMW’s racing heritage. Many have even competed at Le Mans or other events.

It’s easy to think of design and engineering as separate lanes. The Art Cars prove they’re better together.

Quick Hits

• A federal appeals court ruled that most of President Trump’s global tariffs are illegal. ⚖️

• Labor Day gas prices are expected to average $3.15/gallon this year, the cheapest since 2020. ⛽️

• Spirit Airlines files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the second time in a year. ✈️

Enjoy a very happy holiday weekend, Friend. You deserve it.