🚗 Carvana, Rate Improvements, and Tesla Bets on Musk

TOGETHER WITH

The book The Speed of Trust makes a strong claim: trust is built on Character and Competence.

That means every customer today is evaluating what you do—and how you do it. Both matter. A lot.

So bring your skills.
Bring your heart.

That’s how trust and reputation get built.

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

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SOMETHING FUN

A truckload of hot dogs turned a Pennsylvania highway into a full-blown meat slick Friday morning. Crews cleaned it up, but as the fire chief warned, “Hot dogs are very slippery. I did not know that.”

Truly a commuter’s wurst nightmare.

THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Carvana’s comeback just rewrote the playbook.
Once seen as a cautionary tale of overreach, Carvana has stunned the market with a 10,000% stock rally since late 2022.

In Q2 alone, sales reached $4.84B, retail units increased by 41%, and net income surged to $ 308M.

Short-sellers? Burned to the tune of $7.4B. CEO Ernie Garcia III is calling it “the most profitable automotive retailer,” and some on Wall Street agree. The question now: is this a one-off rebound or a redefinition of what retail success can look like?

Also on today’s rundown:

• Underwater trade-ins hit a 4-year high, with average negative equity topping $6,700 and monthly payments nearing $1,000.

• Gen X isn’t done yet. The overlooked generation is now the highest-spending demographic and is driving trends across AI, brand loyalty, and multigenerational buying power.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Before the headlines, a quick reminder from our friend Dave Foy: Retail Auto still offers one of the clearest paths to a meaningful career—no degree required, drive. That’s the energy we’re carrying into today’s drop.

VinFast is betting big on India, launching its first overseas EV plant with eyes on 150K units per year and early orders already coming in from neighboring markets. It’s a bold move while many OEMs hit pause elsewhere, and a signal that supply chains are shifting.

Meanwhile, 0% financing is quietly making a comeback—but only for the most creditworthy. With no rate cut from the Fed, it’s OEMs and lenders driving affordability right now, and dealers who know how to work the tiers will win the deals.

Also in today’s edition:

• BYD and Nio stumble as China’s EV price war deepens.

• Tesla bets $29B to keep Elon Musk in the driver’s seat.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Boeing workers have gone on strike. 🪧 

• Vegas reports an 11% year-over-year tourism decline. 🎰 

• In a world with…just…so many challenges and opportunities, scientists are trying to make ice cream that doesn’t melt. 🍦 

TOGETHER WITH CARS.COM

Reputation = Revenue: Build Yours on Cars.com

Your reputation shouldn’t just look good, it should drive results. With Cars.com, their tools connect your team with ready-to-buy shoppers that deliver measurable returns:

🚗 Leads that close double digits higher than marketplace averages
👤 Salesperson profiles that connect real shoppers with your team
⭐️ 4X more positive reviews with automated requests

Ready to turn your reputation into revenue?

Let’s Build Your Rep

SOMETHING ELSE

You Get What You Give

In today’s market, purpose performs.

A growing body of research says what many dealers already know from experience: supporting your community boosts brand trust, team morale, and customer loyalty. In fact, 85% of consumers say they view a company more positively when it gives to charity. And the most powerful impact? It’s not just that you give—it’s how you give. Local. Consistent. Sacrificial. That’s what builds a real connection.

From boosting employee retention to earning the kind of goodwill you can’t buy with ad dollars, charity turns into brand equity when it’s done with heart. So don’t wait for a big check presentation. Start small. Be visible. Be real.

The ROI isn’t just emotional—it’s cultural. And in this business, culture drives everything.

🔁 Today in History

• 1899: Henry Ford starts his first car business, the Detroit Automobile Company. 🧑‍🏭 

• 1955: The one millionth VW Beetle is produced. 🥳 

• 1957: American Bandstand, a show dedicated to the teenage "baby boomers" by playing songs and showing popular dances of the time, debuts on the ABC television network. 💃 

The week is still young, Friend.