🚗 Ford Shows Up, Ludic Predicts Turbulence

TOGETHER WITH

July 16th.

… and while we’re talking about Consistency.

We all know, it’s not a buzzword with vague implications. But what ARE the implications? What are the empirical pieces of impact “consistency” has in retail auto?

Let’s talk about Carvana for a moment.

No matter where someone sees a Carvana ad in the US, they will have the same experience when they arrive at the big vending machine.

Consistency sets expectations, and expectations dictate the quality of an experience.

Not just for a shopper walking into your dealership, but for any shopper walking into any retail auto dealership.

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

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Congratulations, Mohawk Team!

A little late to the party—but this kind of win deserves its own spotlight.

Mohawk Chevrolet was named 2024 Dealer of the Year, and if you know the Mohawk crew, you know this isn’t just about volume. It’s about values. It’s about a team that shows up every single day for their customers and their community.

This award is a reflection of something real: culture that compounds.

So, to our friends at Mohawk—congrats, and thank you. You’re setting the pace, and we’re proud to be in your corner.

THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Tough calls, big pivots, and Texas-sized heart.

• Volvo just took a $1.2B hit—tariffs, delays, and EV margin pressure are catching up fast.

• Nissan? They're hitting pause on EVs in Mississippi and leaning into SUVs, pickups, and maybe even a resurrected hybrid Xterra (yes, really).

• And Ford showed up. $1.25M in flood relief, loaner vehicles, boots on the ground, and a playbook every dealer should study.

As Kyle put it: “There were EVs… and now we got trucks.”

The rules are changing mid-game. But what doesn’t change? The way this industry rallies. Especially when it counts.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Signals Change.

LinkedIn’s acting weird. Algorithms are off. Paul’s noticing it, and so are we. But it’s not just LinkedIn—it’s retail auto. The rules are shifting mid-game, and clarity is getting harder to come by.

Today’s digest is all about players making moves in the fog.

• Nissan is sunsetting the plant that birthed the Leaf.

• Lucid’s struggling to sell “local” EVs that still depend on global parts.

• U.S. EV sales dipped while the rest of the world surged—but Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia are holding steady with strong hybrids and a stronger strategy.

• GM and LG are rewriting the affordability playbook with new battery tech.

The common thread is change everywhere. Signals are crossed. But you’re here, tuned in. And in this market, staying clear-headed is a real competitive edge.

TOGETHER WITH CARRX BY ELO GPS

A Smarter Way to Drive Retention

The service lane is one of your best chances to build loyalty.

Join Shane Wilson and Levi Baade from Connected Dealer Services on Wednesday, August 6th at 2PM ET for a 30-minute session on how real-time vehicle data is helping dealers reach customers at the right time with the right message.

Learn how CarRx by Elo GPS makes retention easier, smarter, and more consistent.

Save your seat today!

SOMETHING ELSE

Easy to Make, Hard to Trust?

Generative AI is officially flooding the digital ad world. Nearly 90% of video advertisers are using, or planning to use, AI to create and adapt content this year.

And that number’s only going up. More versions, more visuals, more speed.

But while the tools are gaining steam, the audience might be pumping the brakes.

YouTube is cracking down on “inauthentic” content: think templated slideshows, repetitive narration, mass-produced stories. The platform says AI isn’t the enemy—lazy duplication is. And online culture? Reddit, Bluesky, and creator circles are already forming an Anti-AI Art stance that’s more than just a vibe.

So here’s the signal: content fatigue is real. The line between scalable and soulless is getting thinner.

Dealers building content at scale with new tools: don’t just chase efficiency. Keep the humanity in the message. Your customers can feel the difference—and soon, platforms might be enforcing it.

Check out more about how Auto and AI are harmonizing every Tuesday in the AutoIndustry.AI email.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Good Leaders Don't Gatekeep

1 minute and 19 seconds that could change your week! 👆️ 

🔁 Today in History

• 1909: The origins of Audi. 🐣 

• 1935: The first paid parking meter is installed. 🪙 

• 1951: J. D. Salinger publishes his popular yet controversial novel, The Catcher in the Rye. 📚️ 

🥊 Quick Hits

• The Consumer Price Index rose 2.7% YOY in June. 🥫 

• James Gunn’s “Superman” lead to a more than 500% surge in dog adoption interest thanks to Krypto. 🦸 

• A cat has helped its scientist owner discover two viruses. 😼 

From our team to yours…