TOGETHER WITH :
Good morning, Friend,
Tuesday is a great time to remember that each time you see a countdown to ASOTU CON, it is also a countdown to Mother’s Day.
Today, we have about 20 days until ASOTU CON in Hanover, MD.
And just 19 days until Mother’s day.
Don’t wait until the last second for either.
Get our ticket today, and order mom something nice while you're at it.
Keep Pushing Back,
- Chris with Paul, Kyle & Kristi
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Are Customers Still Coming to the Table?
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What’s the point in any of this if we aren’t helping you enhance your dealership to customer relationships?
The language of “pressure comes up a lot because pressure moves anything that isn’t secure. It will move the people of your community toward “shopper” and then onto “customer,” or it could move them toward hiding bundles of cash in their mattresses.
So every shift in the wind is worth noting and asking, “Is this moving folks toward or away from the table?”
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Today’s news has a few interesting things to notice and respond to.
EVs are going hard in Europe.
Automakers are modifying their expectations of hands-free driving.
And dealers are killing it in the service lane, but somehow the wins aren’t adding up to consistent loyalty.
Do these bits of information add up to anything? Let’s find out.
EV Sales Surge in Europe as Fuel Prices Climb
Electric vehicle sales across key European markets jumped sharply in Q1, with March alone seeing more than 50% year-over-year growth. The primary driver is not policy or preference. It is fuel prices. As petrol costs rose due to global conflict, consumers started looking for alternatives that reduce long-term operating expenses.
So that means: when the cost of ownership shifts, shopper behavior follows quickly, even if their original plan does not.
Automakers Scale Back on Hands-Free Driving Expectations
BMW and Mercedes are pulling back, for now, on offering higher-level, eyes-off autonomous driving systems. Both cited high costs, regulatory complexity, and limited customer demand. Instead, they are focusing on advanced driver-assist systems that still require driver attention but are more practical for everyday use.
At the same time, Tesla continues expanding its supervised system under clear regulatory language that it is not fully autonomous.
So that means: the industry is aligning closer to what customers actually use and understand today, rather than what might be possible in the future.
Service Revenue Grows, But Dealer Share Slips
Dealer service departments are generating record revenue, driven by longer ownership cycles and rising vehicle costs. At the same time, the dealer's share of service visits has declined, with more customers choosing independent repair shops.
The data shows most customers intend to return to the selling dealer for service, but many do not follow through. Key gaps include first-visit scheduling, communication, and perceived transparency during the service process.
So that means: the opportunity in fixed operations is not just volume, but retention, and retention is decided during each visit, not after it.
Tax Season Boost Meets Affordability Headwinds
Tax refunds increased year over year, putting more cash in consumers’ hands during peak selling season. However, the impact at dealerships has been uneven. Higher fuel costs and elevated interest rates continue to shape purchasing behavior, and average down payments have not increased at the same pace.
Some dealers reported stronger sales, particularly in value-focused segments, while others saw more cautious buyers.
So that means: even when more money enters the market, it does not move directly into vehicle purchases if other costs are working against it.
So, are people moving toward or away from the table?
They’re still coming to the table.
But they’re quicker to step back if something doesn’t make sense, doesn’t line up, or doesn’t feel right.
And most of the time, that decision isn’t happening in big moments.
It’s happening in the explanation, the numbers, and the service visit.
Profit Starts at the Appraisal
Every car you acquire either builds profit or gives it away. That decision happens at appraisal.
But if you’re still managing inventory with metrics that force you to react by cutting prices and chasing the market — you’re giving up margin along the way.
This free ebook breaks down an appraisal-driven strategy built on four modern metrics so you can source the right vehicles, reduce risk, and protect front-end gross from the start.
If you’re ready to stop reacting and start building profit, this is where to begin.
What happened to our country’s imagination?
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The headline says it all: “China Is Soundly Beating America In The In-Car-Pooping Arena, And We Can’t Let This Happen.”
While US companies are being asked to support the Department of War, Chinese companies are making cars you can go two in without the embarrassing questions like “who did this to my car?” and “chris, why didn’t you go before we left home?”
The design is, thank God, just drawings for now. The company with the patent, Seres Auto, makes EVs, but they are only for driving at this time.
What the heck do you think that knob does??
If you think it’s weird, remember, people go in RVs all the time, and those are on wheels. So there is some distance between the wheels and the throne that makes this feel totally normal to folks.
What do you think is the future of in-car luxury, convenience, and smell control?
And more importantly, how is America gonna reclaim the innovation crown after this devastating blow?
The difference between a car that sits and a car that sells often comes down to how well you understand the story behind it and what it needs next.
That’s where vAuto comes in.
From acquisition to pricing to turn, it brings the data and insight that help you understand what each vehicle needs to perform, so your inventory works with intention instead of guesswork.
At ASOTU CON, vAuto is bringing this approach to the stage, breaking down how dealers are turning insight into action across every unit.
💾 Tech: The Metaverse may get another try since researchers are using ultrasound to put smells in people’s brains now. I say “people” because I, personally, am never going to let somebody put smell waves in my brain, but y’all can knock yourselves out.
🛒 Retail: Maryland has become the first state to ban surveillance pricing.
👽 Weird: Ukraine is sending 25K robots to the front lines.
753 BC – Romulus founds Rome (traditional date).
1967 – GM produces its 100,000,000th vehicle
1983 – C4 Corvette is introduced
The whole day is ahead of you, Friend!
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