🚗 Inflation Reduction Act Deflates?

🚙 Claude, Reviews, and "Coming Soon"

January 14, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

9 days until the NADA show in NOLA.

Did you know NADA was formed in 1917 by 30 auto dealers to lobby against a proposed federal luxury tax on automobiles, which would have made cars prohibitively expensive and hurt both the auto industry and American consumers? (It worked, by the way)

Now you do.

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

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🔎 Honda-Nissan Explained, IRA Repeal Efforts, and Porsche's 2024 in China

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🏭 Honda-Nissan Merger: EVs and SUVs, but at What Cost?

Honda and Nissan are eyeing a $50B merger to combine resources and tackle EV market challenges. Honda’s hybrid tech could pair well with Nissan’s SUV lineup to stay ahead of the global market. But shaky finances and looming tariffs complicate the road ahead. As EV demand grows globally, dealerships may see new product opportunities—but also face supply chain and pricing hurdles.

🏗️ IRA Under Fire: Job Gains vs. Political Risks

The Inflation Reduction Act has created 149,000 energy jobs, with 70% in GOP districts. However, some lawmakers want to repeal the act, risking billions in investments and job growth tied to EVs and renewable energy. For dealerships, this political tug-of-war could influence EV incentives and future consumer demand, making the outcome worth watching (and staying ahead of).

🏎️ Porsche Stalls in China: What It Means for Dealers

Porsche’s China sales plummeted 28% in 2024, dragging global figures down 3%. Slowing economic growth and weak luxury demand in China are pressuring automakers. Porsche plans to shrink its dealership network in the region, signaling a cautious pivot. For dealers elsewhere, this reflects broader challenges in the global luxury auto market.

Read the Full Digest

Get the full scoop on these stories and more. Dive into the latest trends shaping the auto industry—read here!

TOGETHER WITH WIDEWAIL

20-Minute Webinar: What 8.1M Google Reviews Reveal About The Dealership Experience—Winners, Losers, and What Dealers Need To Avoid in 2025

Hosted by Widewail CEO Matt Murray, this webinar uncovers the key drivers of the customer experience at an industry-wide scale in 2024 compared to 2023 using modern AI technology. 

Attend this webinar if you’re interested in answering questions like:

  1. What are the key drivers of positive and negative dealership experiences in 2024—and how have they evolved since last year?

  2. How can AI turn customer reviews into actionable insights about your dealership's performance?

  3. How are topics like staff, communication, and price trending over time—and what does it mean for your dealership?

  4. What’s the best framework for measuring customer experience across reviews, surveys, and emails?

🤖 Claude: The Low-Key AI You Need

While ChatGPT dominates headlines, Claude by Anthropic quietly delivers robust performance with a focus on safety and alignment. Named after Claude Shannon, this AI creates content, summarizes complex documents, answers questions honestly, and assists with creative brainstorming.

For U.S. retail auto dealers, Claude is more than another too. Use it to craft snappy marketing campaigns, automate customer support, simplify training materials, and generate follow-up emails. Claude’s adaptability and precision make it perfect for dealerships seeking to streamline operations and sharpen their edge.

If ChatGPT is the celebrity AI, Claude is the under-the-radar genius—less hype, more substance. From writing jingles to explaining warranty policies, Claude is ready to work. The question is, are we ready to let it?

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🗓️ Coming Soon

⚜️ January 23-26th — NADA Show in New Orleans. Find the all best parties here!

📝 January 30th— Public Policy Day with WANADA and the Washington, D.C. Auto Show.

🦀 May 13-16th— ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland.

Auto Collabs

🥊 Quick Hits

  • China’s trade surplus has hit $1T as the nation scrambles to get ahead of incoming tariffs. 🇨🇳 

  • Firefighters in LA are preparing for a wave of even worse conditions. 🧑‍🚒 

  • Former heavy weight boxing champ, Tyson Fury, announced his retirement from the sport. 🥊 

🔁 Today in History

  • 1952: NBC news program Today debuts with host Dave Garroway. 📺

  • 1954: The Hudson Motor Car Company merges with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form the American Motors Corporation. 🔗

  • 1973: Elvis Presley's concert “Aloha from Hawaii” is broadcast live via satellite, and sets the record as the most watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history. 🏝️

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