🚗 EV Credits Get a Lifeline

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to Wednesday, Friend!

You are capable of great and powerful and wonderful things, and we see our community doing them every day. For their families, for their team-mates, for their people.

Keep it up. We see you, and we appreciate you.

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

_{Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here!
Reading time: 3 min}

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Driving Toward Healthier Futures

his fall, Steele Auto Group is putting their values in the driver’s seat—literally.

Through their Driven to Give campaign, Steele is rallying support for children and families facing serious illness in Atlantic Canada and Texas. Their message? Kids deserve more than a fighting chance—they deserve communities that show up.

The campaign launches September 2nd, but the mission’s already rolling: bring brighter days to those who need it most.

THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

IRS Loosens the Deadline

The IRS just gave dealers and buyers a break: EV tax credits can still apply if there’s a signed contract and deposit by Sept. 30—even if delivery happens later. Expect a push to turn reservations into real deals before the buzzer.

Hyundai's Human Advantage

Hyundai’s $5.5B Georgia plant is robot-heavy—but not robot-only. With a 2:1 worker-to-robot ratio, the company says humans still drive quality and confidence. Translation: the future’s automated, but still hands-on.

Gen Z Buys Both Ways

Yes, they live on their phones. But Gen Z still shops in-store. 69% start online, 29% buy offline, and 64% find products via social media. TL;DR: if your store isn’t omnichannel, it’s invisible.

From The News w/ ASOTU

A Better Customer Experience Pays Off

Cox Automotive’s new report shows satisfaction climbing from 60% in 2016 to 68% today. Shoppers feel most confident when staff are knowledgeable, transparent, and supportive—yet trade-ins and F&I still drag scores down. Dealers who consistently meet both emotional and practical needs are twice as likely to see stronger performance and loyalty.

BMW Canada Reopens U.S. Imports

After a months-long pause, BMW is resuming shipments of U.S.-built X-Series models to Canada. Inventory is finally returning, but at a cost—tariffs and duties push import expenses up more than 30%, forcing BMW to spread higher prices across the lineup.

Also in today’s Digest:

• Nissan stock drops 6% as Mercedes sells its stake

• Job hopping loses its wage premium as the labor market cools

• Shoppers are feeling more confident about buying, but trade-ins remain a sticking point

🥊 Quick Hits

• Cracker Barrel scraps new logo after backlash. ⏪

• Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are officially engaged. 💍

• SpaceX launches giant Super Heavy-Starship rocket on critical test flight. 🚀

TOGETHER WITH CARS.COM

Reputation = Revenue: Build Yours on Cars.com

Your reputation shouldn’t just look good, it should drive results. With Cars.com, their tools connect your team with ready-to-buy shoppers that deliver measurable returns:

🚗 Leads that close double digits higher than marketplace averages
👤 Salesperson profiles that connect real shoppers with your team
⭐️ 4X more positive reviews with automated requests

Ready to turn your reputation into revenue?

Let’s Build Your Rep

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

If you’re in Vegas this week for NAMAD, come and say hi! We’ll be heading up the podcast stage to talk shop with guests and get the inside scoop. See you there!

🔁 Today in History

• 1859: Petroleum was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania leading to the world’s first commercially successful oil well. 🛢️

• 1869: The first international boat race is held on the River Thames. 🚤

• 1955: The first edition of the Guinness Book of Records is published in Great Britain. 🥇

Thanks for sticking around, Friend. Enjoy your Hump Day!