🚗 Fixed Ops, Growing Profit

TOGETHER WITH

Howdy Fam!

If you're here, you already know: We got you. Today's news is plentiful.

• Automakers may be dancing the state-side shuffle lately, but savvy dealers can still grow their profits by making changes in fixed ops.

• Of course, you've also gotta deal with the tariff tango. Data shows used cars, which are kinda insulated from tariff price drama, are getting harder to source.

• Then we look at the discount disco. Dealers are apparently dropping the price of the Kia Niro EV by about 25% of MSRP. A small price to pay for all this market share Tesla dropped on their way back to TX.

That's all the dance-themed content for today, but we've got plenty more below.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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THE NEWS

Fixed Profits, Used Inventory, and Kia Discounts

🚗 Fixed Ops: Where the Money Is

The nation’s top-performing dealership groups are pulling millions more out of fixed operations, and the strategies couldn’t be more varied.

• Murgado Automotive Group boosted revenue 45% by letting store leaders launch localized incentives—from $249 oil change packages to labor discounts that keep high-mileage BMWs coming back.

• Holman saw a 48% gain after investing in training and implementing myKaarma for better tech/adviser coordination.

• And Kunes Auto Group leaned into acquisitions and real-time data to lock in a 33% jump.

The common thread? Intentional moves and a deep focus on retention, transparency, and throughput.

📉 Used Inventory Dips Slightly—Affordability Still Tight

Cox Automotive reports used inventory dropped slightly to 2.21M units in early June, with days’ supply tightening to 43—the lowest for this time of year since 2021.

Vehicles under $15K are in especially short supply, with only 31 days’ worth on the lot.

But buyers are still biting: May’s 1.53M used sales held steady. The big insight? Price-sensitive customers are active. Dealers who align pricing with value are winning.

⚡ Kia Niro EVs Slashed Nearly 25%

Some Midwest dealers are advertising the 2025 Kia Niro EV at nearly $10K off MSRP.

Why? It’s not a fire sale—it’s a smart response to evolving EV demand. With 253 miles of range and low-key looks, the Niro is a strong second-car pick for practical EV shoppers.

For dealers, this signals broader EV inventory shifts and the return of aggressive incentives.

➕ More

We’ve got more on these and several other stories in our Daily Digest.

🥊 Quick Hits

• A new docuseries looks at underdogs who pull off miracles. No, not More Than Cars, a different one called “Underdogs,” narrated by Ryan Reynolds. 🐕️ 

• Meta’s WhatsApp has ads now. Looks like Discord isn’t far behind. Y’all wanna go back to just calling one another on big rotary phones? ☎️ 

• A trailer for The Naked Gun with Liam Neeson is out, and it’s everything you’d expect: A few minutes of footage from the movie, cut into a brief overview of the plot, with a few jokes and a hint of soundtrack. 👮 

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

Smarter, More Flexible Financing with Upstart

“Credit has been tighter than I’ve ever seen it. With AI lending, you can get more competitive rates.”

That’s how Alex Balk, General Manager at CARite, describes the impact of offering smarter, more flexible financing options through Upstart.

With Upstart Auto Finance, independent and franchise dealers alike can tap into an AI-powered lending platform that expands approval opportunities and helps you maximize profit on every deal. 

🚗 Want to see how Upstart Auto Finance can help you reach more buyers and close more deals?

Visit Upstart at booth #318 at NIADA next week in Las Vegas!

The Raptor Rally

Every Saturday, we set some time aside to look at the good going on in our community. This week, we spoke with a friend about his team’s work with Make a Wish, mud, and Raptors.

Check out the conversation with The Automotive State of the Union.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Speaking of Fixed Ops…

In this energizing episode of ASOTU Unscripted, host Errol Bomar sits down with Kyle Newsom, founder of Vasperio, to explore his transformational journey from technician to Fixed Ops leader, to bold entrepreneur. Kyle shares how his early days working in a family-run business shaped his strong work ethic, and how meeting his wife eventually became the catalyst for a life-changing move and career evolution. Their shared decision to sell everything—including their home—and go “all-in” on launching a people-first training company exemplifies a powerful commitment to values and vision.

🔁 Today in History

• 1579 – Sir Francis Drake claims a land he calls Nova Albion (modern California) for England. ⚓️ 

• 1885 – The Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor. 🗽 

• 1939 – Last public guillotining in France: Eugen Weidmann, a convicted murderer, is executed in Versailles outside the Saint-Pierre prison. 🇫🇷 

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