🚗 Fewer. Better. Faster.

TOGETHER WITH

Some truths only show up when you look beneath the surface.

And what we’ve found runs all the way to the bone.

Fewer. Better. Faster.

Not a slogan. Not surface talk.
These are the rules to creating scalable momentum.

On 10.01, you’ll see what it looks like in motion.

In person or online, you can be there when it happens.
Details at: www.morethancars.com

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Farley’s Crossroads

Ford CEO Jim Farley says the “essential economy” is getting overlooked. While AI might vaporize half of office jobs in the next decade, the U.S. is already short 600K factory workers and 500K in construction. Germany apprentices, America… scrolls LinkedIn. Farley’s pitch: there’s more than one way to the American Dream.

Subaru’s Glow-Up

First redesign since 2007: the “Connection Hub.” Think starry columns, lifestyle vignettes, even dog parks. Ninety dealers are in; others are eyeing the invoice. Subaru says it’s more than design—it’s identity.

Vibe Coding Fizzles

Remember the “AI builds your site” craze? Traffic’s plunging. Lovable, Vercel, Bolt—all down double digits. Turns out high churn + price hikes ≠ future of no-code.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Greenwood Chevrolet = Our Heroes!

Dealers continue to prove they’re more than metal movers. Greenwood Chevrolet in Ohio donated $5,000 to expand access to life-saving breast care, demonstrating the company's deep commitment to supporting its local community.

Automakers Say Roll Back Emission Rules (cept’ Tesla)

On the policy front, Tesla is breaking ranks—urging the administration to keep emissions standards even as most automakers push to loosen them. At the same time, new tariffs taking effect on Oct. 1 (including a 25% rate on heavy trucks) could ripple through fleet costs and dealership operations.

People are Hurrying to Delay Their Fizzly-Surge EV Buying…?

Sales are running hot: Cox now projects 16.1M units for 2025 as buyers rush ahead of tariff hikes and the EV tax credit cutoff.

However, IRS delays in paying those credits leave dealers in a cash crunch, and analysts warn that Q4 could cool quickly once incentives vanish.

Porsche Fans Like Porsche

Meanwhile, Porsche once again tops premium-brand loyalty—proof that consistent CX keeps customers coming back.

TOGETHER WITH UBER FOR BUSINESS

Transform Your Dealership's Operations

Courtesy transportation isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential. 

That’s why 80% of dealerships say offering Uber rides helps retain customers. 

With Uber Central, you can book rides on behalf of customers—even if they don’t have the app. It’s a seamless way to elevate service, supplement shuttles or loaners, and streamline parts pickup and delivery. 

Request one-way or round-trip rides, add multiple riders or stops, set spend and distance limits, and track trips in real time. Plus, you'll get monthly reports to keep track of everything. 

Ready to cut shuttle costs and reduce loaner liability? Partner with Uber for Business today.

Click here to learn more!

EVERYTHING ELSE

Quick Hits

• 🤖 AI: ChatGPT’s not waiting for your questions anymore — it’s reading the room. “Pulse” now preps reports, plans, and rundowns overnight. Congrats, AI just claimed the morning meeting.

• 💰 Economy: The U.S. economy is rolling strong — Q2 GDP revised up to 3.8%, powered by steady consumer spending. Despite tariffs and mixed signals, resilience rules. Dealers, take note: buyers haven’t flinched.

• 👽 Weird: Ads before action? China’s new “pay-per-ply” toilets make you watch commercials for TP. Miss the skip button? Pony up 5p. Capitalism’s final frontier: the bathroom break.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

ASOTU Edge Webinars: Best Dealership Cost Reduction Targets in 2025

Building profitability in 2025 might not mean selling more—it might mean spending smarter.

In our latest ASOTU Edge webinar, Douglas Austin (StrategicSource) and Matthew Haiken (Prestige Auto Collection) joined Kyle Mountsier to unpack the real opportunities hiding in your expense categories.

Here’s the headline: most stores have 130+ expense categories, but 95% don’t have purchasing departments—and that can lead to 25–30% overspending across the board.

The good news? You don’t have to slash or switch vendors to save. With a focused sourcing process—starting with just three categories at a time—dealers can unlock 1–2% net profit gains without touching sales volume.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Where’s the money going?” this session lays out where to look, how to benchmark, and how to negotiate better deals while keeping relationships intact.

Check out the breakdown here.

Today in History

• 1913 – Inventor of the Diesel engine mysteriously disappears from ship ⚓️ 

• 2004 – The asteroid 4179 Toutatis passes within four lunar distances of Earth. ☄️ 

• 2008 – The stock market crashes after the first United States House of Representatives vote on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act fails during the beginning stages of the Great Recession. 🤕 

Fewer. Faster, and…