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š Fast Cars Meet Fine Art
š Looking Back, ASTOU CON Countdown, and 50 Years of Art Cars
TOGETHER WITH
Thanks for playing along in this past weekās Mythical Motor Madness, Friend!
The people have spoken, and the winners areā¦*drum roll*ā¦
Ecto-1 and the A-Team Van! These iconic rides are rolling into the next round. š»š
Stay tuned for next weekās match upāthe Delorian versus the Mach 5āand donāt forget to have a little fun today.
Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris, and Kristi
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ICYMI
The Week in the Rearview
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The Daily Pushback Email
On Monday, new-vehicle affordability showed signs of improvement, with prices down and incomes up. Plus, GM CEO Mary Barra met with Trump to push for tariff clarity, and a McKinsey report revealed that dealership tech investments arenāt boosting productivity, pointing to a need for better training and compensation. š¾
On Tuesday, the used-car market saw its biggest jump in years, surging 16% in February. Then, Teslaās Autopilot got fooled by a painted road, reigniting the camera vs. LiDAR debate, and BYD blew minds with a five-minute EV charger. Meanwhile in Alabama, Howard Bentley Buick GMC showed what More Than Cars really means, smashing records in support of United Way. ā¤ļøāš„
Then, on Wednesday, a cyberattack hit over 100 dealerships through a third-party provider, exposing vulnerabilities in website security. Audi slashed 7,500 jobs while eyeing U.S. tariffs, and Teslaās used car values continued their freefall, dropping faster than any other brand. Plus, Family Nissan in New York saw an ugly moment at another dealership and chose to respond with something goodāgifting a car to a young woman who deserved better. Not because they had to, but because sometimes, the right thing is just the right thing. š
Thursday, Amazon shook up the used-car space by offering a new way for dealers to sell inventory online. Plus, Japanās automakers braced for potential 25% U.S. tariffs, with Toyota and Honda banking on their U.S. plants to soften the impact. And, future auto techs took center stage at the Greater Charlotte Auto Tech Competition, proving the next generation of mechanics is ready to roll. š§
Before we knew it, it was Friday. Looming tariffs on Canadian and Mexican auto parts could drive service costs up 15% by April 2nd, plus AutoCanada is pulling the plug on its U.S. operations, offloading its Illinois dealerships after years of losses. In the markets, investors are backing away from U.S. stocks, luxury EVs like BMW and Rivian are gaining ground, and Teslaās resale values continue to slide. š
Unlock the Secret to Smarter Sales
As our Presenting Sponsor at ASOTU CON, Reynolds and Reynolds is looking forward to bringing practical, AI-powered solutions to all our guests at this yearās event.
Their sessions cut through the talk to show how dealers can improve efficiency and drive sales with artificial intelligence and data.
With the Reynolds Retail Management System, dealers get a unified system designed to eliminate inefficiencies and keep every department connected.
Spark AI builds on that foundation, simplifying complex tasks so dealerships can focus on what mattersāserving customers and increasing profitability.
Want to see it in action? Snag your ticket to connect with Reynolds and Reynolds at ASOTU CON in May!
PODCASTS
The Automotive Troublemaker
On Thursdayās episode of the Automotive Troublemaker, Paul and Kyle talk about Amazon dipping its toe in the used car market, GM is going all-in on AI with Nvidia, and new data that reveals some surprising trends.
PLUS, donāt forget to tune in to our extra special 1,000th episode this Tuesday. š„³
The Dealer Playbook
Nick Askew is a man of many talents. From composing music to selling cars to building game-changing tech for dealerships, this CEO of SpaceAuto proves that creativity, sales, and innovation are more connected than we think
Learn how to harness your own unique skills to serve your current role in the replay on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.
š” Catch Nick in person at ASOTU CON for even more tips and tricks.
NADA Show 2025
At NADA 2025 in New Orleans, Michael Cirillo caught up with Erin Richmond, the CEO of sMedia, to discuss the future of marketing in the auto industry.
Learn more about the power of clean data, AI-driven video ads, and how dealerships can optimize their digital marketing strategies with the replay here.
AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE
Coming Soon
Join us in Baltimore this May 13th through 16th for ASOTU CONāa one-of-a-kind industry event that you wonāt want to miss. Weāre bringing together top industry leaders, groundbreaking ideas, and game-changing conversations.
Donāt just keep upālead the way with insights you canāt get anywhere else. Be there.
MTC: The Truth About Car Dealers
More Than Cars isnāt just a docuseriesāitās your stories.
Weāre shining a light on the people, passion, and purpose that drive this industry forward, proving once and for all that dealerships are about way more than just selling cars.
šŗ Stream it now on Amazon Prime, YouTube, or Tubi.
SOMETHING FUN
50 Years of BMW Art Cars
BMW
For half a century, BMWās Art Cars have transformed automobiles into rolling canvases, blending speed, design, and artistic expression like no other.
To mark the milestone, the BMW Art Car World Tour is taking these legendary works on a multi-continent exhibition, showcasing pieces from artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney, and more at prestigious museums and art events worldwide.
The tour kicked off in Vienna on Thursday. Meanwhile, Julie Mehretuās BMW M Hybrid V8, the latest Art Car and the first to compete in Le Mans, was unveiled at Art Basel Hong Kong.
As BMW gears up for its next 50 years, the Art Car series continues to drive the intersection of art, technology, and performanceāone masterpiece at a time.
BMW
Quick Hits
Finland leads the world in happiness for the eighth year in a row. š„
LEGO just dropped an F1 steering wheel you can actually use. šļø
Carhartt just honored five educators with $10K grants because skilled labor starts with skilled teachers. š ļø
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