- ASOTU Daily Pushback
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- 🚗 CARS Rule Tossed Out
🚗 CARS Rule Tossed Out
🚙 Effortless Watch, Dealer of the Year, and Cars Commerce
TOGETHER WITH
Welcome to your Daily Push Back Email, Friend!
Seems every time we venture out into the world, we end up telling somebody about the Daily Email and get two general replies:
“Sounds great! How do I sign up?”
“I never open emails… My inbox has eighty-one-thousand unread messages.”
And, of course, we get that. So we don’t just make emails. We make podcasts, YouTube(s), and “More Than Cars,” a docu-series from inside some of our favorite retail auto teams.
All steps toward the goal of keeping dealers connected, correctly perceived, and ahead of the next crisis.
Check out the rest of what we’ve got for you and your team at ASOTU.com.
Enjoy today’s email, and…
Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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The CARS Rule
👩⚖️ Fifth Circuit Tosses FTC's "CARS Rule," Dealers Score a Procedural Win
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The Fifth Circuit struck down the FTC’s CARS Rule, designed to curb bait-and-switch tactics and hidden fees, citing a procedural misstep: the FTC failed to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM).
This wasn’t about the intention of the rule but about the FTC's failure to follow its own regulations. While the rule is paused, this isn’t a free pass for unethical practices. Dealers should, as the vast majority DO, stay focused on transparency and trust to keep consumer confidence high.
With 27,000 comments driving the rule, it’s clear the spotlight on dealership practices isn’t dimming anytime soon. Regulators? It's time to practice what you preach.
Read our full write-up here.
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. Get the app!
The NADA show just ended, and we’re already counting the days until we can all get together again! ASOTU CON has improved each year, and we are ready to guarantee this year will be as unique as it is unmissable.
🎪 Tesla's Tight Rope, BYD's Shark, and The UAW's Big Play
🙏 Tesla’s Tightrope Walk
Tesla is navigating uncharted waters with its first-ever delivery decline, Elon Musk’s political gambit, and heavy reliance on AI innovation. While the refreshed Model Y and the elusive $25K Tesla offer glimpses of optimism, fierce competition and shrinking subsidies cast doubt. The question looms: Can Tesla maintain its edge, or is its reign slipping away?
🦈 BYD’s Shark Attack
BYD’s Shark pickup is making waves in the global truck market, boasting a 500-mile range and aggressive pricing that undercuts American rivals. Its uncanny resemblance to U.S. icons like the F-150 signals a bold challenge, even as quirks reveal room for improvement. As BYD rapidly expands, global automakers face mounting pressure to keep pace—or risk losing ground.
🛠️ UAW’s Power Play
The UAW is reshaping the auto industry with high-profile wins, from unionizing Ford’s BlueOval SK battery plant in Kentucky to reopening Stellantis’ Illinois facility. These moves bolster worker representation and safety standards but come at a cost. Automakers are bracing for tighter margins, and dealerships could face higher vehicle prices. How will the industry balance labor rights and market competitiveness?
Read the Full Digest
Get the full scoop on these stories and more. Dive into the latest trends shaping the auto industry—read here!
Watch This: Effortless Follow-Up w/ Lifelong Brand Impact
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If you’ve seen the Carvana ad for Value Tracker that lets people get monthly emails tracking their car’s value over time and thought to yourself, “Dang, I wish I had something like that for my dealership”, you need to check out TradePending’s newly launched Value Watch.
The first of its kind for franchise dealerships, Value Watch lets your customers, and your leads, subscribe to automated monthly emails and texts branded from your store that track their vehicle’s value over time, while also promoting your service offers.
You get a lifelong brand awareness campaign without lifting a finger.
Check it out here!
🏆 TIME Dealer of the Year Announced at NADA Show!
Amid the buzz of the NADA Show in New Orleans, Raymond L. Farabaugh of D-Patrick Inc., Evansville, Indiana, took home the coveted 2025 TIME Dealer of the Year Award. And no, it’s not just about the cars. Farabaugh beat out 49 nominees nationwide by showing what happens when leadership extends beyond the dealership lot.
From empowering employees to investing in causes like the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the Koch Family Children’s Museum, Farabaugh’s philosophy is simple: people first, profits follow. His support for his team’s professional and personal growth has created not just a thriving business but a community cornerstone. Fun fact: his controller spearheaded a $5 million campaign for the museum—with full support from Farabaugh.
Starting his career with a psych degree and a stint at EDS before joining the family biz, Farabaugh proves that investing in people pays dividends. Accepting the award, he humbly celebrated his team, his family, and the nominees.
Congrats, Raymond—you’re the kind of dealer that makes this industry proud! For the full scoop, check out the original article here.
More From The NADA Show
🥊 Quick Hits: DeepSeek, Sports, and Lookin’ to Linger
🔁 Today in History: Rome, Shelby, and 40M
98 – Trajan succeeds his adoptive father Nerva as Roman emperor; under his rule the Roman Empire will reach its maximum extent. ⚔️
1965 – Shelby GT350 goes on sale 🏇
2022 – 40 millionth Ford F-Series truck for US sales leaves assembly line 🧑🏭
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