🚗 EV Growth Slows?

🚙 Broken Record, Quiet Cracking, and Robotaxi Babysitters

August 14, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

August 14th.

Today we’re talking about a lot, but first up is a story about a car show that brought the community together and raised nearly $24K for a local charity.

A lot of work goes into an event like this, but once the community gets invited to participate, the impact grows exponentially.

$24K today, but who knows what will become of the generous seeds planted in the neighborhood that day.

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

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Record-Breaking Charity at Tom Ahl

The Tom Ahl Family of Dealerships turned horsepower into heart, raising a record $23,935 for Family Promise of Lima-Allen County at their 11th Annual Charity Car Show.

On August 1st over 260 cars, trucks, and motorcycles filled the lot, each helping local families move toward stability.

Family Promise provides meals, transportation, and housing support to keep loved ones together and on track.

Owner Tom Ahl credits the community’s generosity and the cause’s impact for the event’s success.

Next year’s show is set for August 7, 2026—proof that when a dealership rallies its neighbors, everyone crosses the finish line together.

75 Deals Funded in Just 3 Months

That’s how many deals Auto Boutique Jacksonville funded between April and June 2025 using Upstart Auto Finance—and they’re not slowing down.

Sales Manager David Toxey says it best:

“Upstart has taken half the business from some of our other lenders. Upstart gives us better rates, and most of the time, Upstart gives us better back-end profits. Upstart doesn’t stip us for everything under the sun. We’re definitely selling more cars.”

With lightning-fast funding, typically in just 2 to 3 hours, and nearly all deals approved for buyers with credit scores over 600, the team is closing more profitable deals, faster.

💰 Want to see how Upstart Auto Finance can help you capture more qualified buyers and better back-end profits?

From the Automotive State of the Union

Presidio: Sugar High Over, Game Still Strong

The latest Presidio Group report shows auto retail is shifting from survival to strategy. New-vehicle margins rose for the first time since 2022, public group net income jumped 17.7%, and M&A remains hot with 208 deals in H1. 72% of dealers expect profits to hold or grow.

Also on the Pod

  • SDV Partnerships: Automakers scale back in-house software, embracing open-source and supplier models for efficiency.

  • Quiet Cracking: Workers stay in their jobs but are disengaged; leaders are urged to check in and address burnout proactively before it spreads.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Click to read the full digest.

EVs in July: A Slowdown, Not a Stop

Global EV sales rose 21% YoY in July (slower than June’s 25% but still strong). China cooled to +12% after subsidy pauses, while Europe (+48%) and North America (+10%) surged. GM smashed records, selling 19,000 EVs, including 8,500 Equinox EVs—the best month ever for a non-Tesla EV in the U.S.

Waiting Is the New Driving

Xiaomi’s new YU7 SUV logged 240,000 orders in 18 hours, pushing wait times beyond a year. CEO Lei Jun told buyers to consider rivals if they can’t wait. U.S. wait times range from one to nine months depending on the model.

Also in Today’s Brief

  • Tesla hires NY “robotaxi babysitters” without a permit.

  • Black & Blue market snapshot: Wholesale prices down ~0.56%; July EV incentives hit a record 17.5% of ATP.

  • AI’s energy appetite is pushing power bills higher—are you tracking your usage?

🥊 Quick Hits

  • GE is bringing $3B to the U.S. 🧺 

  • The U.S. treasury secretary calls for a half-point interest rate cut at next Fed meeting. 🤑 

  • Gray Wolves are returning to California, but not everybody is celebrating nature’s ability to bounce back. 🐺 

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

At ASOTU CON this year, Upstart’s Danielle Mills Walden joined Evan Driscoll and Jarrod Kilway to share how AI is quietly becoming the hardest-working member of the sales team.

From smarter lending to automated follow-up, this panel proves AI can boost close rates without stealing anyone’s job.

🔁 Today in History

  • 1885: Japan's first patent is issued to the inventor of a rust-proof paint. 🎨 

  • 1893: The first automobile license plate laws are introduced. 🏎️ 

  • 1935: Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act, formally creating a government pension system for the retired. 🇺🇸 

You ready for Thursday? Because Thursday’s ready for you…

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