🚗 De-Compartmentalized

🚙 Playlists, Power, and SaturdayVibes

February 15, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

It’s been a good week writing to you, Friend.

Some of us work on Saturday, some of us are off, and some of us are off but still working. If your phone buzzes or your inbox dings while you're with your family, we hope it feels like a reminder of why you work—not just a distraction from it.

Compartments are for airplanes.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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ICYMI

Saturday Morning Cartoons Recaps!

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  • Monday: The Eagles flew high in the Super Bowl, and so did auto news. We covered GM’s balancing act between EV profitability and traditional gas-powered vehicles, while dealer profits dipped slightly but remained far from crisis mode. Plus, tariffs loomed, insurance rates squeezed buyers, and California wildfires threatened used car supply.

  • Tuesday: Super Bowl ads drove a surge in auto brand engagement—especially for RAM and Jeep. Meanwhile, China’s BYD shook up the EV world with self-driving tech in a sub-$10K car, and we explored how fleet vans could be the next big win for EVs. Also, Toyota of Surprise made waves by helping 43 dogs find forever homes.

  • Wednesday: Driver-assist tech isn’t as foolproof as advertised—data suggests adaptive cruise control actually increases crash risk. Stellantis stole the Super Bowl spotlight, while Lexus and Honda proved once again that resale value matters. We also broke down state-by-state insurance rate trends (spoiler: North Carolina wins).

  • Thursday: The recall rodeo continued with Tesla, Ford, GM, and Kia all issuing major fixes. Used truck sales surged, and auction volumes hit a five-year high. On the tariff front, Trump’s 25% steel and aluminum import tax has the auto industry on edge, and we questioned whether consumers are becoming unwilling beta testers for automakers’ latest tech.

  • Friday: Nissan and Honda’s failed merger left Nissan scrambling for a new strategy. AI-powered lead management tools are giving dealers a leg up, while Reddit unexpectedly had solid advice for used car acquisition. Plus, Rick Hendrick dropped $3.7M on the first 2025 Corvette ZR1—for charity.

    TOGETHER WITH RENEW ENERGY

EV Charging Costs Are Climbing—Here’s a Smarter Move

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With federal funding for highway EV chargers on hold, public charging rates are heading north. But EV owners don’t have to follow.

Renew Energy’s EV Power for Life keeps charging costs at home between $0.08–$0.11 per kWh—a fraction of the 22+ cents at public stations. Plus, the 30% Investment Tax Credit still applies when bundling solar and a charger, making the switch even easier.

For dealers, that’s a $2,000–$4,000 referral payout when customers choose a setup that saves them money long-term.

Less cost, more control, and a better deal for everyone.

Hit Play and Enjoy!

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2025 has been packed with travel and content. Below are three playlists from our time at Public Policy Day, the JD Power Automotive Summit, and The 2025 NADA Show.

Check them out, and subscribe at ASOTU.be to keep up with everything we find in our travels!

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Public Policy Day 2025 - Playlist

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NADA Show 2025 in NOLA - Playlist

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JD Power Auto Summit 2025 - Playlist

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🗓️ Coming Soon

🥊 Quick Hits

  • Egg prices are so wild they’ve become the target of bandits. The heist of 100,000 eggs in Pennsylvania becomes a whodunit that police have yet to crack 🥚 

  • Somebody’s going to jail. Some people in LA tried to collect an insurance payment for cars damaged by bears. But actually, it was people in bear suits in on the scheme. What a world. 🐻 

  • A Japanese tech company is offering “Hangover Leave” as part of their compensation package to attract Gen Z. 🍺 

🔁 Today in History

  • 1972 – Sound recordings are granted U.S. federal copyright protection for the first time. 🎼 

  • 2001 – The first draft of the complete human genome is published in Nature. 🧬 

  • 2002 – The last Plymouth Prowler 🫂 

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