🚗 Carvana’s Comeback?

TOGETHER WITH

Friday at last!

We’ve got one weekend between us and ASOTU CON 2025 in Hanover, MD.

We’ve talked a lot about it in the last few weeks, and we appreciate you listening along and seeing what we’re inviting you into.

Know that soon the “you should come” talk will end.

But, the “you should have been there” talk will begin in your community.

It’s not too late—join us!

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

_{Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here!
Reading time: 3 min and 04 sec}

THE NEWS

Carvana, Tesla, Toyota, and More

🚀 Carvana’s Comeback: From Dumpster Fire to Dollar Signs

Carvana just posted its best quarter ever — 133,898 used cars sold, $373M in profit, and a CEO flexing about “margin to work with.” From chaos to cash cow, they’ve become the poster child for profitable pivots (and maybe a few lucky tariff tailwinds).

📈 Used Car Prices Did Something

The Manheim Index leapt 2.7% in April — 10x the usual bounce — as buyers sprinted to beat tariffs. Wholesale costs are climbing, retail prices are pushing $25K, and if you’re feeling that margin squeeze…yeah, you’re not alone.

🔋 Tesla’s Cyber-Flop: No More Range Extender

Tesla canned its $16K Cybertruck range extender. That’s $2K back for hopeful buyers — and one less thing for dealers to answer questions about. The dream of 470 miles? RIP. But hey, maybe just sell a truck that actually exists.

💸 Fed Hits Pause. Your Customers Probably Will Too.

No rate cuts (again), and tariffs are keeping inflation spicy. New car loan rates are flirting with 25-year highs, used loans are slightly down, but shoppers are clearly spooked. Expect longer lead times, more haggling, and fewer “impulse buys.”

🇯🇵 Toyota’s Tariff Tantrum: $6.7B Profit Hit Incoming

Toyota’s forecasting a 21% profit drop, mostly thanks to tariffs and currency swings. The U.S. arm just posted a 100B yen loss. If you’re a Toyota dealer — brace for impact. If you’re not — someone else’s pain might be your gain.

➕ More

We got more news and views in the Digest. Check it out!

🥊 Quick Hits

• North Dakota is joining other states in changing the interstate speed from 70 to 80. 🚦 

• Bitcoin jumps above 100K for the first time in a while. 🤑 

• Monty Python and the Holy Grail is coming back to theaters for its 50th anniversary. 🎬️ 

TOGETHER WITH CARCUTTER

Seeing Is Believing!

Our friends at CarCutter know that driving high-intent buyers into your showroom often starts online. In fact, so much of the looking, researching, and deciding what vehicle a buyer wants to purchase happens on your website, before they even step foot inside your dealership.

Therefore, it’s crucial you impress your customers and stand out from your competition by adopting a powerful digital merchandising strategy. Join CarCutter during their Mini-Keynote at ASOTU CON 2025 to learn techniques you can implement to improve your customers’ digital experience.

Mini Key-Note Topic: Seeing is believing: How the right visuals sell more cars
Time & date: Wednesday May 14th, 1:45pm EDT
Presented by: Brian Free, AutoNation, and Daniel Able, CarCutter

Don’t miss out, get your ticket now!

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Breakfast with the Best

Byers Airport Subaru rolled up with gratitude and goodies for the educators at Beechwood Elementary—delivering a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast that’s as thoughtful as it is tasty.

Teachers pour out every day for our communities. Dealerships like Byers show us what it looks like to pour right back.

Hats off to the whole Byers Auto crew. That’s what we call going the extra mile (even when it’s not on the lot). 👏 

🔁 Today in History

• 1662: The figure who later became Mr. Punch makes his first recorded appearance in England. 🎪 

• 1926: Admiral Richard E. Byrd and Floyd Bennett claim to have flown over the North Pole (though later discovery of Byrd's diary appears to cast some doubt on the claim). 💈 

• 1969: GM announces the end of Corvair. 🔚