🚗 Cold Weather, Hot Opportunities

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to Monday, Friend!

We’re getting the whole gang together in Syracuse this week for our holiday get-together.

There’s been talk of karaoke. There’s definitely going to be too many cookies. And likely a whole lotta shenanigans and smiles.

What are you looking forward to this week?

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

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THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Kyle and Paul catch up with Ed Roberts, who just moved into the COO seat at Bozard Ford Lincoln. They get into what the new role actually changes (spoiler: not much day-to-day) and how Bozard uses change as fuel, not fear.

Same Bozard, Different Titles
Bozard Ford Lincoln shuffled the leadership deck, but it’s less about job titles and more about building for what’s next. Ed moves into COO. Jeff King becomes CEO. The goal? Let Jeff focus on growth while Ed keeps the internal engine tuned. It’s not about changing direction. It’s about being ready when growth hits the gas.

Why Reinventing Yourself Isn’t Just a Self-Help Cliché
Ed talks through how reinvention became Bozard’s baseline. They don’t “shake things up.” They just never stop asking how to do it better. That includes vision-casting, getting buy-in, and being okay when the first route needs a few recalculations. Fear of change doesn’t spread when people feel like they’re the ones building the map.

Don’t Find Great People. Grow Them.
Ed’s background includes homelessness before rising through fixed ops to COO. So when he says reinvention is for anyone willing to do the work, it lands. His team doesn’t wait around for a perfect hire. They double down on development—because if you want to scale your business, you better have the people ready to carry it.

TOGETHER WITH UBER FOR BUSINESS

Balancing Costs with Courtesy

Complimentary transportation has always been a service department staple. But, is it still the smartest spend?

In this ASOTU Edge Webinar this Wednesday, December 10th at 2pm EST, Trevor Stanco from Uber for Business and Lithia’s John Church join us to uncover the real economics behind courtesy transport.

Save your spot today!

From The News w/ ASOTU

Carvana Levels Up

Carvana is set to join the S&P 500, which is quite the plot twist for a company that spent the last few years bouncing between underdog and obituary. A cleaner balance sheet and a roaring share price earned them a seat at the big table, at least in the eyes of Wall Street.

Dealers may roll their eyes, and fair enough. An index upgrade doesn’t magically solve the messy parts of selling cars without service bays, trade-in triage, or real human backup when things get weird. But it does give Carvana fresh legitimacy with consumers who don’t know (or care) how the sausage gets made.

It’s a good reminder to keep your digital storefront sharp, not because you need to be Carvana, but because shoppers still compare experiences even when they prefer yours.

Waymo’s Robotaxis Get a Recall

Waymo is recalling its software after multiple self-driving cars illegally passed stopped school buses while kids were unloading.

Thankfully there were no injuries, but it’s a very bad look. It’s a reminder that autonomy is still learning in public, and the public is not thrilled about being the test subjects.

Michigan Tops the Winter Danger Charts

New data ranks Michigan as the most dangerous state for winter driving, thanks to ugly crash numbers and long seasonal freeze time. Snow, ice, and overconfidence are still undefeated.

It’s a perfect moment to spotlight AWD, winter prep packages, and service-lane safety checks. Sell the peace of mind, not the panic.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Quick Hits

• Consumer Reports’ auto safety experts break down the how to safely transport trees and decorate your vehicle this holiday season. 🎄 

• Spotify Wrapped 2025 had more than 200M engaged users in its first 24 hours. Here’s how they calculated the metrics. 🎼

• Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to sell its movie, television and streaming assets to Netflix in a deal valued at $82.7B. 📺

• Ralph Lauren is creating fashionable uniforms for Team USA as they head to the 2026 Winter Olympics. ❄️

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• February 3-6: NADA Show 2026, Las Vegas, NV

• May 12-15: ASOTU CON 2026, Hanover, MD

Today in History

• 1863: President Abraham Lincoln issues his Amnesty Proclamation and plan for Reconstruction of the South. 🎩

• 1886: American Federation of Labor (AFL) is formed by 26 craft unions. 🛠️

• 1925: Automaker Studebaker became the first major U.S. manufacturer to offer a factory-built pickup truck. 🛻

• 1941: President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his famous "Day of Infamy" speech the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. 💬