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- 🚗 Blockchain or Roadblock?
🚗 Blockchain or Roadblock?
🚙 Used Prices Jump, Game-Changing Video, and Digital Wallets Drive New Trends
TOGETHER WITH
Good news, Friend!
From hotels and tickets to schedules and speakers, we’ve got everything you need to make the most of this year’s conference available right at your fingertips.
If you still have last year’s app, be sure to update it—or download the latest version to get access to all the new features.
Start exploring today, and let us know what you’re most looking forward to at this year’s event!
Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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🎩 Used Value Holds, EV Top Spots, and VW + Rivian?
💵 Used-Vehicle Prices: What’s the Deal?
Wholesale used-vehicle prices are rising, with a 0.7% year-over-year increase in January. While tight supply and high new car costs keep the market strong, luxury cars and SUVs are holding value better than sedans. EVs, despite higher depreciation, saw a surprising 2.7% price bump this month.
⚡ Tesla vs. Everyone: EV Sales Shakeup
Tesla leads EV sales, but Hyundai and GM are closing in. Hyundai secured the #2 spot with 124,065 EVs sold in 2024, while GM followed with nearly 80,000 units. Aggressive lease deals and rising EV adoption could make 2025 a pivotal year for the market.
🛠️ Volkswagen and Rivian: A Strategic Dance
Volkswagen and Rivian are exploring a deeper partnership to share resources and cut costs. Rivian benefits from VW’s scale, while VW gains innovative EV tech. This collaboration highlights the growing need for legacy automakers and startups to join forces in an evolving EV market.
Read the Full Digest
Get the full scoop on these stories and more. Dive into the latest trends shaping the auto industry—read here!
DGDG’s Not-So-Secret Weapon
At the heart of Silicon Valley, Del Grande Dealer Group has a reputation for embracing tech-driven solutions without sacrificing the personal touch. So, when Covideo entered the picture, the 18-rooftop group knew they’d found a game-changer.
After piloting Covideo at one store, the results were impossible to ignore:
38% higher lead-to-response rate.
3x increase in lead-to-appointment rate.
2.4x vehicles sold.
Want to learn more? Meet Covideo at NADA Booth #8613 to explore how they can elevate your dealership’s sales. Plus, don’t miss Covideo CEO Craig Zeutzius and industry leaders at the panel discussion “Video Killed the Telephone Star” on Saturday, 12:30–1:15 PM in Room 207.
🪙 Bitcoin, Blockchain, and Bumpers: How Crypto Is Shaping the Automotive Industry
giphy/Disney
If you thought crypto was just for tech bros, think again. With Bitcoin hovering near $100,000, even traditionally cautious pension funds are diving in, and the automotive industry isn’t far behind. Luxury dealerships like Lamborghini Newport Beach and platforms like CryptoAutos are paving the way for buying cars with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and more.
But it’s not all smooth driving:
Volatility roulette: Bitcoin’s wild price swings make some buyers nervous.
Stablecoins for stability: Payments in USDC or similar coins sidestep risks.
Tesla’s on-again, off-again crypto flirtation: Elon Musk keeps everyone guessing.
Beyond payments, blockchain tech is revving up supply chain transparency, automating leases with smart contracts, and even tracking Alfa Romeos with NFTs.
Curious how crypto is rewriting the automotive rulebook? Read the full article here and find out if your next car could be bought with Bitcoin.
AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE
🗓️ Coming Soon
📝 January 30th — Public Policy Day with WANADA and the Washington, D.C. Auto Show.
🦀 May 13-16th — ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland.
🥊 Quick Hits
Waterwheels making a comeback? 🎡
Mortgage rates climb over 7%. 🏘️
Pixar has it’s first series coming out soon on Disney+. Check out the trailer for “Win or Lose.”
🔁 Today in History
1909: Newly formed automaker General Motors buys into the Oakland Motor Car Company, which later becomes GM's long-running Pontiac division.
1946: Kaiser Frazer debuts.
1953: Dwight D. Eisenhower is inaugurated as the 34th President of the United States of America, becoming the first president to begin his presidency on January 20th (after the 20th Amendment changed the dates of presidential terms).
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