🚗 Dealers Adapt Fast

TOGETHER WITH

Friday, July 11th.

Trust Over Tech

In retail auto, you can automate the process, but not the relationship.

We’re living in a time where everyone wants to sell you a shortcut. But the stores are winning right now? They’re not chasing magic. They’re investing in people. In service. In clarity.

Because loving people more than you love cars doesn’t just sound good. It works.

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

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THE UNION

Trust, Tech, and Transparency

From the Automotive State of the Union

Dealers are adapting fast as the federal EV tax credit winds down on September 30.
Liza Borches (CMA) says they’re launching campaigns to help customers move while they still can. Joe Jackson (Bowman Chevy) is betting on leasing to soften the blow. And EV Auto’s Alex Lawrence says adoption will keep growing—just in fits and starts.

The bottom line? Education wins. Liza said it best: “Our job is to be proactive, transparent, and ready to help customers navigate the shift.”

Also on the show:
Tesla’s robotaxi pilot is heading to San Francisco (pending California’s tougher regulatory thumbs-up).
TSA finally lets you keep your shoes on—a little relief for the road warriors among us.

Oh—and yes, Paul spotted Halloween decor at Costco… in July. Let that sink in while you sip your summer iced coffee.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Trust sells better than tech. 

That’s the headline behind today’s digest, led by a standout post from Matthew Lasher reminding us: dealerships are built on people, not buzzwords. That message echoes through five major stories shaping the week:

• Nissan halts U.S. production of Canada-bound vehicles as tariffs snarl trade routes. If your store relies on cross-border volume, start scenario planning now. These shocks don’t stay contained for long.

• BMW holds strong on margins even amid global pressures, proving that slow and steady—plus clear communication—can still win the race in luxury.

• Ram’s new 10-year/100K-mile warranty changes the F&I conversation entirely. It’s not just a retention play—it’s a trust move in an expensive truck market.

• Hertz's AI scanner fiasco reminds us: tech without trust will backfire. As AI shows up in recon and service, the human element remains your edge.

• Q2 sales were strong, but the second half looks rougher. Tariff-driven price hikes are coming. Dealers that stay nimble and customer-focused will keep their lead.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Moo Deng, that baby hippo that broke the internet, just celebrated her first birthday. 🎂 

• An autonomous robot surgeon reportedly removed organs with a 100% success rate. We checked, and that was the goal. Not just like, a gut-stealing robot on the loose. 🤖 

• Coffee prices are expected to rise after the U.S. hits Brazil with a 50% tariff rate. ☕️ 

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DATA & INSIGHT

Retail Beyond Auto

It’s not the tech. It’s the people.

At eTail London, Pandora CTO Garima Singh said what many dealership leaders already know: digital transformation fails when people aren’t ready for it. Her experience shows that adoption stalls not from lack of tools, but from a lack of training, clarity, and trust.

So what works?

• Start by solving real problems—not chasing trends.

• Over-communicate the “why” behind any new tool.

• Appoint an internal “champion” to test and lead change.

• Most importantly, train for understanding, not just usage. If your team doesn’t know where a tool adds value—or where it doesn’t—it won’t stick.

Whether you’re adopting AI, updating your CRM process, or improving internal workflows, the lesson is clear: human transformation has to come before digital transformation.

Dealers don’t need more tech. They need tools that their people believe in.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Define Your Definition of Success

🔁 Today in History

• 1796: The U.S. takes possession of Detroit from Great Britain under the terms of the Jay Treaty. 🇺🇸 

• 1899: Fiat is founded. 🚜 

• 1960: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is first published in the U.S. 📖 

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