🚗 Ford's Fire Setback

TOGETHER WITH

It’s the week we’re all thinking about food, gratitude, and giving.

Our friends at West Herr, of course, have shown up for all three. 🦃 

Scott Bieler, West Herr’s President and CEO, personally accompanied a donation of 1400 turkeys and bags of Thanksgiving items to the city of Rochester. The 2025 Turkey Drive brought together employee donations, leadership, and six partner organizations in the community to bless families across the city.

Thank you for sharing the story with the rest of us, Scott!

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

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THE NEWS

At a glance, Ford’s supply chain, Google’s car AI, robotaxis in China, and Mercedes solem vow don’t seem related. But as headlines like these reach the public, your customers' questions and concerns will shift. So let’s stay informed, insightful, and connected to the industry we love!

Ford: Calm Face, Hot Supplier

It’s crazy, but an industrial accident at an aluminum plant in another state matters to dealers everywhere. The supply chain is only as strong as its weakest link after all.

A second fire at Novelis’ New York aluminum plant didn’t rattle Ford.

• EBIT guidance intact: $6B–$6.5B

• Stock: Up ~4%

• Damage from September fire: Up to $2B

• Recovery plan: About $1B regained next year via higher truck output

Of course, with F-150s being aluminum-heavy, any slowdown at Novelis is a slowdown for Ford.

Lightning production is still paused, gas F-150 output is disrupted, but Novelis says repairs should wrap by year-end. Expect allocations to stay lumpy until then.

Robotaxis: From Hype to “Maybe There’s Something Here”

The phantom of robotaxis replacing car buying has been pretty well put to rest. Sure, some people would rather use a robotaxi than a… people-taxi, but few want to bum a ride from R2-D2 when car ownership better suits their life and pace.

However, over in China, robotaxi companies are scaling pretty fast and may eventually hit a proof point about the adoption value of the tech.

• Baidu Apollo Go says they’re making per-vehicle profitability in Wuhan

• WeRide & Pony (dot) ai just got approved to charge fares in Abu Dhabi

• Working with Uber is accelerating global reach for these Chinese brands.

While U.S. efforts continue, but with smaller fleets:

• Waymo is expanding in CA, TX, FL — London next

• Tesla has early pilot tests in TX and AZ

• Zoox is working in the U.S. only for now

If customers ask, “Are robotaxis real yet?”

They’re real, but only in fenced-off zones, and nowhere near rewriting U.S. retail in the near term. So for now, we will watch the overseas experiments (and our blind spots when we’re driving in robo territory).

Gemini in the Car: AI That Rides Shotgun

This story about Gemini isn’t just an interesting piece for folks who use their phone-to-car link-up app. Gemini is making some strong moves in the overarching AI conversation, and becoming the preferred brain in US cars could nudge changes across multiple industries.

So Google’s Gemini now lives inside Android Auto. No CarPlay (yet?). The tool is handy for doing things you may otherwise be tempted to use your phone for while you’re driving. And “Continuous, natural conversation” in case you’re a lonely driver.

Or just want to feel like Tony Stark from the Marvel movies.

Automaker Headlines

Mercedes wants back on top of U.S. luxury. Its plan:

• 400,000 retail sales by decade’s end (+100K)

• Five new models, including a 1,000-hp electric AMG GT

• SUVs targeted to reach ~55% of U.S. volume

• More consistent incentives and U.S.-centric design

Hyundai, meanwhile, says it has overtaken VW as the world’s No. 2 automaker by profit, thanks to aggressive vertical integration and flexible powertrains.

And Renault’s Trafic E-Tech has some openly asking Nissan to bring a version stateside. Can never have enough massive batteries on wheels, right?

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DATA & INSIGHTS

EV Reliability: The 5 Lists Shoppers Consult Most

EV buyers aren’t guessing anymore, they’re researching. And whether they say it out loud or not, most are consulting the same five sources to decide which electric models can actually be trusted long-term.

J.D. Power gathers thousands of owner surveys each year, surfacing the issues that matter most in daily life: charging problems, software hiccups, and usability frustrations.

Consumer Reports blends lab testing with massive reliability datasets. Their latest results put the 2024 Mustang Mach-E near the top for predicted reliability and road-test performance.

Kelley Blue Book analyzes real ownership feedback and expert reviews. The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 stands out here for its battery management and overall durability.

Edmunds focuses on verified range, maintenance costs, and long-term test cycles. Their data continues to favor the Chevy Bolt EUV for stable range and low operating expenses.

Car and Driver evaluates engineering quality and build consistency. The long-running Nissan Leaf remains a reliability benchmark thanks to its simple, proven design.

The Gist:

Shoppers are googlin’, y’all — and these are the results they’re finding. Make sure your voice is part of the story they’re piecing together.

Consider reading and responding to the content from these sources in social media posts or YouTube videos. People want a voice they can trust and respond to in the industry.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• February 3-6: NADA Show 2026, Las Vegas, NV

• May 12-15: ASOTU CON 2026, Hanover, MD

Today in History

Cadillac built its one-millionth car on November 25, 1949—a ’49 Coupe de Ville. The milestone capped decades of innovation, from the first enclosed car to America’s first mass-produced V8 and the iconic V16.