🚗 Emails, Podcasts, and Movies

🚙 ASOTU CON is 38 Days Away!

April 05, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

It takes about 30 minutes to listen to an album. Some are a little longer. Some are a little shorter.

But that album takes weeks to record, months to write, and years to develop the skills needed to translate the artist’s intentions into something other people can experience and enjoy.

If Saturday, April 5th doesn’t feel like you’re great work of art, maybe you’re still gathering what will someday be your next big hit.

Be patient. Some songs are just slow burns.

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

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AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

ASOTU CON 2025!

Just 38 days until ASOTU CON 2025 in Hanover, MD.

TO DO:

👀 Check out the Agenda and ask yourself, “Would my team and I be more successful with this content in our toolbox?”

🤔 Consider making a submission to pitch at Pitch Tank—due by April 11th!

🏨 Book your hotel stay (rooms are limited and going quick).

🎟️ Grab your ticket and start making travel plans.

ICYMI

Content Recap

The Daily Pushback

  • Monday: Consumer confidence dipped hard—unless you're under 35. Gen Z is still dreaming big while everyone else tightens up. Meanwhile, dealership valuations are peaking, 25% import tariffs hit April 3, and Amazon’s new used-car marketplace looks surprisingly pro-dealer (for now). Big questions for the showroom: Who’s buying? Who’s selling? And who’s ready for Amazon to “just help” forever?
     

  • Tuesday: Lithia held its #1 spot as Holman’s mega-acquisition shook up the Top 150. Cox revised forecasts down, thanks to looming tariffs that could squeeze inventory and balloon prices. Meanwhile, Toyota’s hybrids are facing multi-month delays. Dealers with inventory? Congrats—you’re the new Black Friday. Buyers are prepping, and the power balance is shifting faster than expected.
     

  • Wednesday: Tariffs went live, and Brian Kramer offered tactical advice for dealers on how to get ahead, not just cope. Tesla’s stock tanked as Q1 slumped, Musk backlash rose, and GM celebrated a 17% Q1 jump. Turns out, having a balanced lineup is still a vibe. Buyers want answers, not drama—and GM dealers seem ready to give 'em.
     

  • Thursday: March madness wasn’t just basketball—tariff chaos drove real showroom traffic. GM, Kia, and Hyundai posted double-digit gains. Dealers like Zac “Tariff Sheriff” Kinch became consumer educators, turning questions into closings. Toyota thrived, Tesla tanked, and India’s EV deal with Tesla sent a global signal: even local loyalty has limits when price and policy collide.
     

  • Friday: Ford went full-send with A-Plan pricing for all, a savvy move as tariff tremors spread. Lucid’s conquest campaign against Tesla is gaining traction—especially with ex-fanboys. And while Canadian/Mexican exemptions softened the blow, analysts warn the second-half of 2025 might feel more like 2021… but without the cheap money. For now, the smart money is moving fast.

TOGETHER WITH REYNOLDS & REYNOLDS AND GUBAGOO

Friends Don’t Let Friends Use Crummy Data

Data is the lifeblood of your dealership’s operations. The right data is a powerful ally that can help you make winning decisions. The wrong data can hinder your business by providing misguided suggestions based on an incomplete picture.

Reynolds' unified AI data layer, Spark AI, provides clean, accurate data to fuel AI applications across your dealership. Enable smarter AI recommendations and higher-quality assistance with your team’s manual, time-consuming tasks.

While Spark AI unifies your dealership’s AI data, Gubagoo’s unified intelligence engine, Curator, unifies your customer data to deliver unprecedented insights into each customer while ensuring accuracy in your CRM. Gain a 360-degree view on every lead and deliver the best possible experience by equipping your sales team to sell more cars, meet customers where they are, and send tailored communications for their unique situations.

Join Reynolds and Gubagoo at ASOTU CON, May 13-16th in Baltimore to experience the transformative impact unified data has on your business!

PODCASTS

Automotive State of the Union

We had an exciting week on the morning show. Multiple guests stopped by to talk about this moment in retail auto.

We’re joined by Brian Kramer, EVP of Cars Commerce to talk about the upcoming auto tariffs and how Tesla’s market share is declining. Plus, as the deadline to sell TikTok nears, some surprising potential buyers have emerged.

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Consumers hit showrooms ahead of tariff hikes, juicing March sales and making record months and Q1s. Dealers like Rhett Ricart and Zac Kinch fielded a flood of buyers with questions and Amazon dropped Nova Act—an AI agent that shops, browses, and books like a pro.

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COO of Matthews Auto Group Vincent Salvagni discussed the question on every Dealer’s mind; What should I be doing with my inventory level? As consumers rush to beat tariffs, Dealers are worried about overpaying for replacement inventory and getting stuck holding the bag when things normalize.

🥊 Quick Hits

  • The U.S. adds 288,000 jobs in March, way more than expected. 💼 

  • Artificial sweeteners shown to trick the brain into being hungrier. 🧪 

  • April 20-26th, two meteor showers will light up the sky at the same time. ☄️ 

CULTURE

Movie You Can Talk To People About

People like movies. Seems there is just as much enjoyment in talking about movies, or wanting movies as there is in watching movies. So, here are some trailers for upcoming movies.

Superman

James Gunn’s Superman is flying in with a fresh face, a hopeful tone, and—thankfully—underwear on the inside. It’s a reboot with actual optimism, aiming to reboot the reboot of the reboot.

🗣️ Ask someone in your showroom:

  • The one who’s still mad about “Man of Steel”

  • Anyone who owns more than two Funko Pops

  • The customer who "used to draw comics" in high school

  • The sales manager with a Superman tattoo they don’t talk about

The Naked Gun

Liam Neeson plays the clueless cop in this reboot of the slapstick classic. Expect puns, pratfalls, and hopefully one banana peel too many. Justice is blind—and apparently, so is this detective.

🗣️ Ask someone in your showroom:

  • The one who quotes movies no one remembers

  • That technician who insists Airplane! is the greatest film ever

  • Anyone who laughs too hard at walkie-talkie jokes

  • A customer trying to explain Mel Brooks to their kid

M3GAN 2.0

Our favorite murder-doll is back and glitchier than ever. If you thought the first film was a tech warning disguised as a dance meme—this sequel looks to double down on both.

🗣️ Ask someone in your showroom:

  • The service writer who’s "not scared, just doesn’t trust Alexa"

  • The customer whose kid keeps singing in minor keys

  • That F&I manager who’s too into true crime

  • Anyone who says, “I love horror… but not scary horror”

🔁 Today in History

  • 1923: Firestone begins balloon tire production. 🎈 

  • 1940: The Buick Y-Job makes its press debut. 📰 

  • 1974: “Carrie,” the first novel by American author Stephen King, is published with a print run of 30,000 copies. 📕 

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