🤓 Cars Keep Getting “Smarter”

TOGETHER WITH

Ever watched a busy showroom or service lane and thought “this feels a lot like a great jazz band”? Well, we do. The drummer keeping things steady, the pianist walking up the bass line right on time, and the sax keeping an eye on the perfect time to strike out and improvise. The magic when everyone is in the pocket, like a symphony of customer service unfolding before your eyes.

Play some jazz today.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, & Chris

DEALERS

Nurse Appreciation Week

For many, nurses are there to welcome them into this world and see them off to the next. While the job is undoubtedly full of rewarding and worthwhile moments, it is always good to show gratitude to people who play such a humble and powerful role in our society. 🩺

Last week, TommyCar Auto Group visited a local hospital with gifts and appreciation notes for the first day of Nurse Appreciation Week.

President Carla Cosenzi shared on LinkedIn, "Thank you for your unwavering dedication, compassion, and hard work. Your tireless efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we are so grateful for everything you do to keep us healthy and safe."

The celebration is every year from May 6 - May 12. If you haven't done so already, thank a nurse today!

Telling it like it is - Nurses should really be celebrated every day. We don’t even want to imagine a world where their care and comfort isn’t around to heal our ouchies. ❤️‍🩹

AUTOMOTIVE

In-Car Software: Diverse and Unavoidable?

Ready or not, the future of software-defined vehicles is here and revving up.

First off, let's hit the road with Google. They're turbocharging the in-car experience for Android-equipped vehicles with features like YouTube, video conferencing apps, and for some reason, video games. The company will also introduce an "Android for Car Apps Library" so third-party developers can design their own apps.

Meanwhile, General Motors is shifting gears, developing its own in-car software to replace Apple CarPlay. You may wonder, who has GM entrusted with its Non-Apple future? His name is Mike Abbot, and he just left a big-boy role at Apple. It's like a "hair of the dog" situation or something happening over there.

VW Group is also shaking up some leadership at their software unit, Cariad. Smooth and on-time software deployment is what the company is after, and a former Bently Manufacturing Board member, Peter Bosch, is the basket in which VW has placed all its eggs. He takes over June 1 and, if everything goes well, will usher VW into the age of software-defined vehicles.

Telling it like it is - A few facts to pull from this pile of news:
1. Cars are going to continue getting more software.
2. Some automakers seem fully committed to owning the software part of the customer experience wherever possible.
3. Dealers are going to need to know more about these systems to help customers navigate these changes confidently.

TOGETHER WITH MORE THAN CARS

Watch From Home!

If you missed us in Tampa, don’t worry because we are coming to you through the power of the internet!

Our friends at TrueCar have joined us to host a watch party for the pilot episode of More Than Cars later this month.

Please join us for a mid-day viewing of automotive’s only docu-series on May 24 at 1 PM ET/12 PM CT.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

David Long’s All Things Used Cars

A wise man once said, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”

Join David Long and the All Things Used Cars community for their 2-year celebration! We will talk about efficient recon and, of course, sweet, sweet speed!

AUTOMOTIVE

Motor Morsels: Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, and Ford

🦌⏫🗡️

Rivian is bucking the trends by keeping prices high for its electric pickup trucks and SUVs, even as competition in the market intensifies. Despite many rivals slashing prices and traditional automakers entering the EV space, Rivian says they intend to maintain their luxury price-tag by offering luxury features.

While some see this strategy as risky, Rivian remains confident in its ability to meet customer demand and differentiate itself from competitors, with plans to produce more affordable vehicles in the future.

🐌⏳🙊

Volvo announced a delay in the production of their first fully electric SUV, the EX90, sending their shares down 5%. The company now expects to begin production in the first half of 2024, but declined to speculate when the models are expected to reach dealer showrooms.

📉🚗🎬

Another Swedish automaker, Polestar, has also revised their 2023 production guidance, citing delays in the production start of its Polestar 3 and a “challenging industry environment.”

Not sure they’re going about it the right way…Because the “industry environment” isn’t likely to be less “challenging” with their plans to cut jobs by 10%.

🚪🤷‍♀️🔥

Get ready to place your orders for Ford's F-150 Lightning…you may just have to wait a while for the door handles.

A source told Reuters on Wednesday that Ford is facing another snag due to a supply shortage of door handles. It seems the automaker can't catch a break, with plenty of setbacks to the model’s production timeline like that small, fiery mishap.

TL; DR - Rivian stays high, Volvo slows down, Polestar makes cuts, and Ford can’t open the next door.

CULTURE

DYK?: G-Wagon Edition

We all know that the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon combines a rugged build with modern luxury, and that rappers are contractually obligated to give them a shout-out in every song. But, did you know that they are also:

🤏 Succinct. The “G” in G-Wagon is short for Geländewagen, which means all-terrain vehicle in German.

🧑‍🏭 Handmade. All G-Class models are meticulously manufactured by hand at the Magna Steyr Automobile Company in Graz, Austria, producing approximately 25K vehicles annually.

👑 Royal. The first models were commissioned as a military request for the Shah of Iran in the late 1970s. Once Mercedes recognized their potential, it began offering short and long-wheelbase versions to the masses. They ultimately underwent a rebranding in 1998, resulting in the birth of the term "G-Class" for its new glamorous incarnation.

🎖️ Spacious. Because the G-Wagon was originally designed as a military vehicle, spacious proportions were necessary to accommodate heavy combat gear and fully-equipped soldiers. The roominess of the interior remains largely unchanged to this day.

🏔️ Tested. Every G-Class vehicle undergoes rigorous testing, including conquering the challenging 5.6 km route on Schöckl Mountain in Austria with steep gradients and side slopes, ensuring it meets stringent standards before going into production.

Telling it like it is - Is the G-Wagon worthy of all the praise, or is it overrated? Hit reply and let us know what you think! 📩

Quick Hits

• ​​Apple has had a hidden Bitcoin easter egg in every Mac since 2018, and people just found it a month ago. The company says it will remove it with an update soon. 🐣

• Buddy Holly (no, not that one) wins the 2023 Westminster Best In Show. 🐶

• Disney+ lost millions of subscribers and dropped nearly 9% in the market. ✌️

• A skin patch to treat peanut allergies shows promise in toddlers. 🥜

• To further tarnish the good name of Winnie the Pooh, B21 is releasing a video game based on the recent horror movie. 🍯

History

• 1551: National University of San Marcos, the oldest university in the Americas, is founded in Lima, Peru.

• 1926: The Italian-built airship Norge becomes the first vessel to fly over the North Pole.

• 1988: The Ford Probe debuts with buzz about being the next Mustang.