#675 - 🚗 The Final Countdown?

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to Tuesday, Friend!

We have some news from around the industry and some fun dips into details. Of course, its all here to equip, connect, and encourage our community.

So, let us know what you’re seeing. What needs more attention? What isn’t what it appears? What is going to be the biggest story of 2027?

Pretty much anything you want to talk about, we want to talk about.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

_{Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here!
Reading time: 4 mins 57 secs}

BUSINESS

A Little Learning on Tuesday

Ripples in a pond are such a useful metaphor. What happens over here will in some way affect what happens over there.

India courting automakers could impact inventory, exports, and prices across the globe, self-driving tech may one day become as popular as power windows, and even well-established automakers are a few bad hands away from folding out of the game completely.

We prefer being in this pond with y’all, where most of the ripples are good things you’re doing in and around your store.

--

India and the Global Auto Industry

India is merging into the global auto lane in a big way. With ~1.4B people spread across 1.2M square miles, they already buy and drive plenty of cars. But now, they are making regulatory moves aimed at enticing manufacturing giants to bring factories and infrastructure to the nation. Here are the deets:

Policy. India introduced a policy offering concessional tariffs for EV imports. It’s tied to a minimum investment of $500M and stringent localization requirements with goals set at 25% by year three and 50% by year five.

Reaction. The policy has attracted international companies like VinFast, which plans a $500M investment in Tamil Nadu to produce 150K vehicles annually.

Goal. The Indian government aims for 30% EV usage across all vehicle types by 2030, reflecting its commitment to sustainable transportation.

Stakes. India leads the global market in electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers, with significant growth in EV sales driven by government initiatives and rising consumer interest.

Hurdles. Despite facing issues such as insufficient charging infrastructure and range anxiety, India is actively enhancing its EV charging network, expecting substantial improvements within the next few years.

Ford, Tesla, GM: Self-Driving

Ford 

The NHTSA is investigating Ford's BlueCruise system after fatal crashes in San Antonio and Philadelphia. Like its competitors, Ford's hands-free driving system is under scrutiny for its alleged failure to ensure driver engagement. Ford is fully cooperating with the investigation.

Tesla

Tesla recently issues a recall and fix for its Autopilot systems following an similar investigation. Now the NHTSA is investigating Autopilot again to see if the updates did anything for the ongoing concerns over driver engagement.

China is less worried? While the U.S. is investigating, China is accept-igating (not a real word). Tesla's stock surged on potential Chinese approval for its Full Self-Driving package. With so much global market in China, being able to upsell people there means being able to do a LOT of upselling.

GM

These two investigations come just weeks after GM's Cruise says it will restart operations in Phoenix with a fleet of human-driven cars to map and gather road data following a pause caused by a safety incident. No word yet on when they expect to flip the robo-taxis back to robot mode.

Fisker: Down, but Not Out, or Countdown to Tapping Out? 

Like a pirate in a duck-taped dinghy, Fisker is looking for any way to stay afloat. Following failed talks with Nissan, Fisker expanded its dealership network in the U.S. and Europe, cut prices on its 2023 Ocean EV, and is still looking for a partner to patch some of the growing holes in its boat. Here’s what we know of the company's situation:

• Fisker expands its dealership network, adding new dealership partners in Miami, USA, Austria, Denmark, and Europe.

• The company significantly reduced the price of the 2023 Fisker Ocean models in a bid to attract more customers amidst financial challenges. However, people have said the sub-$25K price is still too much for the quality of the vehicle. 

• Despite financial woes and potential bankruptcy, Fisker remains afloat with interest from potential partners, hinting at a future collaboration to secure its operations. Who are they? Who knows. Four companies have signed NDAs with Fisker so that they can chat privately about what they may be interested in giving and getting. 

• As Fisker's cash reserves dwindle to critical levels, the company is preparing for additional layoffs and exploring bankruptcy options, with urgent efforts underway to secure funding and minimize operational costs.

--

TOGETHER WITH WOCAN

Join Today, Lead Tomorrow

Our Friends at WOCAN are joining us for ASOTU CON in 2 weeks, but they are doing a lot more than that.

Each and every member of the Women of Color Automotive Network is on a mission to achieve all they can and bring their community along with them. Experts and allies alike, the group opens doors and shatters ceilings in retail auto for members and women in auto alike.

As with any powerful movement, today is the day to consider contributing to the work and harvesting the reward. Check out membership options here!

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

ASOTU CON: 2 Weeks Away!

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, at ASOTU CON, we have breakfast COVERED. 🍳🥐🥓

Learn more about our Day Two Breakfast Session here and plan to break bread with the industry in Baltimore two weeks from now!

CULTURE

The G-Wagen Goes Electric

The iconic Mercedes G-Wagen is getting an electrified make-over with the all-new Mercedes G 580 EQG.

This boxy beast is now battery-powered with a hefty 116 kWh unit, pushing out a not-so-subtle 580 horsepower and 1,164 Newton-meters of torque. It's basically an electric powerhouse wrapped in fine napa leather.

Off-roading? Sure! If off-roading means cruising over slightly uneven cobblestones on your way to a Michelin star spot. It’s got a fancy tank turn feature and a robust off-road crawl mode to help keep that gourmet picnic basket steady.

The price-tag is a cool $152K to start. But, if you’re feeling extra fancy, the Edition One trim will cost ya over $205K.

And because it’s not a G-Wagen without being a total show-off, the EQG comes with simulated engine noises, dubbed G-Roar. Because let’s face it, if you’re going to spend north of 150 Gs on a car, it better make some noise—even if it’s fake.

While the EQG might still see more action in a Whole Foods parking lot than on actual backcountry trails, it’s clear Mercedes is betting big on luxury electric SUVs being the next big thing.

Quick Hits

• Following a meeting on robotics, Austria calls for “rapid regulation” of killer robots. ⚠️ 

• A Lion King prequel, Mufasa, has its first trailer. 🦁

• The Delorian family wants to remake the classic time machine but will have to wrestle the rights away from the folks who bought the name. ⌛️

History

• 1789: George Washington is inaugurated as first U.S. president. 🥇

• 1925: Dodge Brothers sold to an investment bank in a record-setting transaction. 🤑

• 1993: CERN announces World Wide Web protocols will be free. 🕸

Thanks for reading, friend! Tell us what you got going on today. We love learning more about what the industry cares about. And in case it isn’t clear, the “industry” is just a word for you and the people you work with. 🤗