TOGETHER WITH
Good morning, Friend!
You know, GPT has some cliches we can go without, but it’s pretty accurate to call retail auto a “complex and shifting landscape that favors the most skilled navigators.”
Since it is impossible to know where the day will end, these morning emails can only help get you started. But Paul, Kyle, and ASOTU are on the task all day.
Connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube to receive multiple touchpoints of the good stuff daily
Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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Reading time: 3 min
MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS
Dealers Drive Impact Far Beyond the Showroom
Big props to #1 Cochran Youngstown for showing what dealership leadership looks like off the lot.
On Friday, the team joined the 2025 Panerathon Sponsor Dinner at The Lake Club of Ohio—an evening celebrating community and raising funds for the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center in Youngstown.
Every dollar fuels care, hope, and healing for families in the Mahoning Valley.
From the Automotive State of the Union
Big thanks to our guest co-host and good friend Ben Hadley for jumping in with the perfect mix of data, dealer ops, and spicy takes.
This one hits the sweet spot for operators:
EVHQ at Friendly Chevrolet — a dealer-built charging park that actually prints loyalty and revenue.
BYD’s global surge, local squeeze — record volume, thinner margins, lessons for U.S. pricing strategy.
Google’s “Nano Banana” image gen — shockingly useful, fast, and dealership-friendly for creative, merchandising, and ads.
If you sell cars, build brand, or run a store, this episode is a playbook.
Come for the EV flywheel, stay for the banana shirt. 🍌
From The News w/ ASOTU
Click to read the full digest.
(Some) Ford Dealers Go All-In on EV Charging
Ford is turning its dealer network into a national charging map. More than 800 stores will host over 3,000 public fast chargers, accessible through BlueOval, PlugShare, and Shell apps. Dealers report the investment is drawing foot traffic, boosting local businesses, and could pay for itself within five years.
Cadillac’s Luxury EV Comeback
Once written off as yesterday’s luxury, Cadillac is suddenly leading the EV charge. Between 25–33% of its U.S. sales are electric—far ahead of the industry’s 6–8%. Nearly 80% of new buyers are defecting from German brands, with even Tesla owners switching. Dealers may be witnessing Cadillac’s prestige reset in real time.
Other Key Headlines
“Show Me the Money!” is More than a Movie Line — It’s What Every Dealer Wants from F&I
With CarRx, dealers aren’t just closing a deal in finance, they’re unlocking long-term value. It’s great that our top dealers add $1,200 PVR with 90% penetration rates in F&I, but that’s only the start. Where CarRx really stands out is extending profitability beyond the F&I office by keeping customers tied to your service drive with proactive, vehicle-specific reminders.
The result? More repeat visits, stronger retention, and customers who are far more likely to return for their next purchase.
The best F&I products don’t win once—they win for life.
🥊 Quick Hits
AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE
Missed appraisals are easy money…
If you know how to re-engage.
Join us for a chat with Patrick Janes of vAuto and Adam Claiborne of Mike Shaw Kia on September 10th at 2:00 PM ET to learn the process that keeps customers (and their cars) from walking out your door for good.
🔁 Today in History
1777: The flag of the United States flies in battle for the first time. 🇺🇸
1833: The first newspaper, The New York Sun, begins publication. ☀️
1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Wilderness Act into law which protects over 9M acres of federal land. 🏞️
Welp…it’s been real.
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