🚗 Good News, Big Bows, and Headlines

TOGETHER WITH

It’s Christmas Eve, and today we want to share some good news from our friends at Vehicles for Change, a little holiday trivia, and finally some news from the auto world.

We hope you’re working well if you’re working, and resting well if you’re resting.

We also hope that if you’ve crossed paths with an ugly sweater this year, you’ll send us a picture 😊

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

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TOGETHER WITH VEHICLES FOR CHANGE

Give the Gift of Going

A veteran and his wife spent most days stuck at home.

The kind of stuck that quietly shrinks your world. No reliable way to get to the store, to appointments, to anywhere.

Then someone donated a wheelchair-accessible van to Vehicles for Change, a nonprofit that turns cars and donations into life-changing momentum.

That single act gave the couple something they hadn’t had in years: the ability to move, to show up, and to live fully.

Moments like this don’t happen by accident. They happen because people like you decide to show up in whatever way they can. Some give cars. Some give time. Some help fund the whole operation so the wheels can keep turning.

If something you have could help someone else move forward, donate today. Your next move could be someone else's first.

THE NEWS

Loving People More Than Cars!

Speaking of Vehicles for Change.

Three Baltimore-area drivers received vehicles this week through Vehicles for Change, opening up access to work, family, and opportunity.

One of the recipients, Omithong Milfort, has a unique connection to the moment. He previously worked with Vehicles for Change through its hands-on training program, learning automotive repair while helping prepare vehicles for placement. This time, the keys were handed to him.

The cars came from public donations, restored and placed where they can make the biggest difference. It is a reminder that mobility still changes lives in very real, very practical ways.

Also, Because It’s Christmas Eve

If you are giving someone a car tomorrow, there is still time to do it properly.

According to Axios, the giant red car bow became a holiday staple thanks to Lexus’ “December to Remember” campaign, which launched back in 1999 and is now somehow in its 26th year. And now a surprise car without one feels a little unfinished.

A few fun facts, courtesy of Axios:

• Lexus’ iconic 38-inch red bow even has an official part number, but dealers only get a couple each year and usually loan them out for photos.

• Handmade fabric bows can cost $500 or more.

• More reasonable options exist, with large bows available online starting well under $50, including versions that attach with magnets or suction cups.

The takeaway still holds. The bow does a lot of emotional work.

Just Because It’s Christmas Eve Doesn’t Mean the News Stopped

Zoox recall

Amazon-owned Zoox is recalling a small number of autonomous vehicles due to a software issue that could cause unsafe behavior at intersections. A software update is on the way. Source: Reuters.

Europe keeps buying cars

New car sales in Europe rose for the fifth straight month, driven largely by electric and hybrid vehicles. EV momentum continues across major markets. Source: Reuters.

Ford recall

Ford is recalling more than 270,000 electric and hybrid vehicles due to a potential roll-away risk tied to parking system software. Repairs will be handled via updates. Source: AP News.

Fuel economy uncertainty

Shifts in U.S. fuel economy policy are adding another layer of uncertainty for automakers already navigating electrification and global competition. Source: Forbes.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Dealer Conferences and Industry Events (2026)

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

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

EVERYTHING ELSE

Integration Is the Issue

More than half of U.S. dealers say AI is already increasing sales and revenue. Nearly 90% are using it or planning to. That part is no longer the question.

The real issue showing up now is integration.

According to recent Urban Science research highlighted in AutoIndustry.AI, dealers see the biggest AI gains in lead response, website chat, targeting, and inventory management. Speed matters. Prioritization matters. But customers notice when context drops, conversations reset, or systems stop talking to each other.

AI works best when it understands the full customer journey. When systems stay siloed, AI feels repetitive, mechanical, and out of sync with the buyer. That friction quietly erodes trust, especially as dealers push deeper into digital retail and long-term loyalty.

This week’s AutoIndustry.AI breaks it down clearly:

• Where dealers are actually seeing ROI from AI today

• Why privacy and integration matter more than shiny features

• How disconnected workflows turn “smart” tools into customer pain points

• A practical prompt to audit your own AI stack through the customer’s eyes

It also includes fresh tools worth a look, expert insight on global auto competition, and quick hits on Waymo, AI regulation, and platform updates.

If AI is part of your operation already, or about to be, this is a solid checkpoint.

Read the full edition for this and more.

Today in History

• 1777: James Cook is the first documented European to visit Kiritimati, aka Christmas Island. 🎄

• 1818: Silent Night premieres in the church of St. Nikolaus in Austria. 🕯️

• 1955: NORAD tracks Santa for the first time in what will become an annual Christmas Eve tradition. 🎅

Thanks for checking in on the Holiday, Friend! It’s important to me I’m working on things you actually need, so please let me know in the poll below what you’d like to see more of!