🚗 Conversations That Matter

TOGETHER WITH

Happy Thursday, Friend!

Ya know, life gets to feeling pretty heavy sometimes

That’s why it’s important to have the right people in your corner to help carry the load when it’s too much to shoulder alone.

We want to be that partner for you, however we can. Just hit reply, and let us know: how we can serve you?

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

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

On Sunday, September 14th, members of the automotive community will gather in Garner, NC for the first annual Walk the Lot fundraiser benefiting K9s For Warriors. Hosted at Blue Line K-9, the event supports the nonprofit’s mission to pair service dogs with veterans facing PTSD and other service-related challenges.

With a strong veteran presence in retail automotive, the connection feels natural. The event will feature guest speakers who have transitioned from military service into careers in the industry, along with raffles, food trucks, and training demos. Attendees—including their dogs—are invited to take part, with proceeds going directly to K9s For Warriors.

It’s a grassroots effort with a big goal: helping more veterans find healing and purpose alongside a four-legged companion.

THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

NAMAD Day 1: Connection > Content

Paul and co-host Erroll Bomar III recap a powerful opening day at NAMAD—where the hallway conversations hit just as hard as the sessions. OEM presence is deep, dealer energy is high, and the partnerships? They’re real.

August Sales = 🔥

J.D. Power says consumers are dropping a record $54.6B on new vehicles this month—fueled by a Labor Day calendar boost and a rush to snag expiring EV credits. EV share hit 12%, incentives stayed lean, and ATPs reached $44,750. It’s a sprint finish, but it’s working.

From The News w/ ASOTU

North America Tops Engagement Charts

Gallup’s 2025 workplace report shows U.S. and Canadian employees are the most engaged globally, with 1 in 3 saying they’re engaged and half saying they’re thriving. But stress levels remain high—48% reported feeling stressed “a lot” the day before. The takeaway: engagement is strong, but better manager support is key to sustaining it.

Stellantis Shelves Level 3

Despite saying its AutoDrive system was ready, Stellantis has paused its Level 3 rollout. High costs, technical hurdles, and low demand mean the automaker will stick to Level 2+ for now, delaying true hands-free, eyes-off driving.

Also in today’s Digest:

• Porsche begins CEO search as Blume’s dual role faces scrutiny

• Mazda patents a gasoline-to-hydrogen engine that captures carbon

• Stress and success continue to run side by side in North America

🥊 Quick Hits

• It’s Pumpkin Spice Latte season already with Starbucks releasing the drink earlier than ever this year. 🎃

• A stolen Lamborghini was recovered after the owner used ChatGPT and Google to track the car from Instagram photos. 🕵️

• A new trend shows that wealthy Americans are traveling to Europe to dodge tariffs on luxury goods. 🌍

TOGETHER WITH QUANTUM5

Put Employees First. Watch Profits Follow.

Jim Rohn, the legendary business philosopher, once said, "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want."

Cathy Palochko, COO of Quantum⁵, believes this wisdom has never been more relevant as the automotive retail industry faces its worst talent crisis in decades. With years of learning and development expertise in automotive, she points to the connection between employee experience, customer satisfaction, and profitability.

According to Cathy, most dealers chase monthly numbers first and worry about the employee experience later. But top stores flip this approach, knowing that happy employees don't just impact customer satisfaction—they ARE it.

Read Cathy’s full article here.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

When Nick Askew of Space Auto first plugged AI into his daily marketing work, it was like flipping a switch—from a grind to a productivity cheat code.

In this episode, Nick sits down with Kyle Mountsier to unpack why that moment in late 2023 marked a true before-and-after for how work gets done in the auto industry.

They dig into how AI went from a party trick to a power tool almost overnight and how it’s now reshaping dealership operations from the inside out.

If you’ve ever felt bogged down by your tech stack or your task list, this one’s for you.

🔁 Today in History

• 1884: First known photograph of a tornado is taken near Howard, South Dakota. 📸

• 1898: Caleb Bradham renames his carbonated soft drink "Pepsi-Cola.” 🥤

• 1907: United Parcel Service is founded by James E. Casey in Seattle, Washington. 📦