🚗 Crash Avoidances Crashes

🚙 Reputation MGMT, Insurance Won't Quit, and AI.AI

February 12, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Catch yesterday’s AutoIndustry.AI email?

The ‘Prompt of the Week’ section alone is worth a look, and maybe, if you’d like to keep some humanity in the cold metal world of robot butlers, you could sign up for the weekly email.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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Driver Assist Doesn’t(?), Stellantis at the Bowl by the Data, Value Retention Winners.

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🦉 Wise Tech or Wishful Thinking?

ASOTU knows dealers aren’t just selling cars—they’re trusted advisors helping customers navigate the latest automotive tech (even when automakers overpromise). With self-driving hype heating up and new data on driver-assist systems, here’s what you need to know to stay ahead—and keep your customers informed.

  • Adaptive Cruise = A False Sense of Security? A study found that while most driver-assist tech reduces accidents, cruise control actually increases crash risk—because drivers tune out. Dealers can help customers understand what these systems actually do (and don’t do).

  • Tesla’s "Robotaxi" Rollout = More Confusion: Musk says self-driving ride-hailing launches in Texas this June, but it’s a geo-fenced, teleoperated service— not the full autonomy Tesla buyers expected.

  • Texas = Fewer Rules, Faster Rollout: Unlike California, Tesla can launch without much oversight. Expect more consumer questions.

Customers trust dealers for real answers about tech that automakers overpromise.

Also! Curious about the ongoing crossover between auto brand and software dreams? Check out our new article: Defining Software Definition.

🚀 Stellantis Goes Solo at Super Bowl 59

Stellantis didn’t just show up to the Super Bowl—they owned it. With every other automaker sitting this one out, Stellantis used two high-profile ads to reintroduce itself to the American market. Jeep leaned into patriotism with Harrison Ford, throwing shade at the Ford Bronco, while Ram opted for humor with Glen Powell.

The timing? No accident. Following a 15% sales drop in the U.S. and the abrupt exit of CEO Carlos Tavares, Stellantis needed a statement. This wasn’t just a marketing play—it was a fight to stay relevant in an industry shifting under their feet.

Want more about Stellantis?

🌟 First Choice Second Hands

Lexus and Honda are the undisputed resale value kings, topping the 2025 J.D. Power U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards for the fourth year straight. Lexus dominates premium brands, Honda leads mass-market, and Toyota isn’t far behind. What’s their secret? Steady pricing, restraint on incentives, and smart trim-level strategies that keep their models in high demand. Dealers take note—high resale value = stronger margins and faster turnover. Stock smart, avoid incentive-heavy duds, and remember: some cars age like fine wine, while others become “$500 OBO” Craigslist specials.

Webinar Alert: Reputation Management Masterclass

A bad reputation can tank a dealership’s sales… FAST. 🚨

→ 80% of car buyers say online reviews influence their decision.
→ One negative review can turn away dozens of potential customers.
→ Inconsistent or outdated listings make you invisible to shoppers.

But here’s the good news: You can take control of your reputation.

Join us for an exclusive webinar with Widewail to break down:

✅ The biggest reputation killers for dealerships
✅ How to generate real, positive customer reviews
✅ Strategies to manage & respond to negative feedback
✅ Using AI tools with the right up-to-date strategies

📅 Wednesday February 19th, 2pm EST

🇺🇸 Insurance Rates by State

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Car insurance prices are climbing nationwide, but where you live plays a big role in how much you pay.

Full-coverage premiums jumped 24% in 2023 and were up another 15% in 2024.

Some states have regulations that keep costs in check, while others face steep rates due to crime, accidents, and severe weather risks.

Insurify

If you’re driving in Connecticut, brace yourself for the highest average liability rates in the country at $230 per month.

Other high-cost states include Michigan, Nevada, and Florida, where factors like high traffic fatality rates, insurance fraud, and extreme weather push premiums higher.

  • Michigan has the highest liability requirements, adding to its sky-high costs.

  • Florida requires the least coverage but still ranks high due to fraud and weather-related claims.

  • Nevada and Kentucky see frequent severe accidents, which drive up insurer payouts.

Insurify

On the other end of the spectrum, North Carolina offers the cheapest liability coverage at just $57 per month. Iowa, Vermont, and Wisconsin also rank among the most affordable states.

  • North Carolina keeps rates low through strict state regulations that limit insurance price hikes.

  • Iowa’s low accident rates and minimal liability requirements reduce insurer risk.

  • Rural states like Vermont and Wisconsin tend to have lower theft and accident rates, keeping premiums down.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🗓️ Coming Soon

🥊 Quick Hits

  • Meta allegedly torrented more than 80 terabytes of pirated books to train their LLMs. 🏴‍☠️

  • A new study indicates that the average student remains a half a grade level behind pre-pandemic achievement in both reading and math. 📚

  • The U.S. and the UK have refused to sign the Paris summit declaration on “inclusive and sustainable” AI. 🚫

🔁 Today in History

  • 1865: Henry Highland Garnet becomes the first African American minister to preach to the U.S. House of Representatives. 🏛️

  • 1873: U.S. Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1873, abolishing bimetallism and placing the country on the gold standard. 🌟

  • 1909: The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is formed. 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾

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