🚗 Intel Pulls the Plug

TOGETHER WITH

End of the Month, Fam!

Time to dot the "I"s, cross the "T"s, and take a moment to decide when July arrives, what do you wanna do? (It's your thing, after all)

Intel says it's getting out of the auto chip business, which plunged our imagination right back into the Great Chip Shortage. But it seems important to note, back then companies couldn't make enough chips, now they can pick and choose where to use the chips they can make.

Don't be anxious. One less supplier does not make a shortage.

Let's get after it!👇

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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THE NEWS

Intel is Out, 4-Cylinders are In (?), and Dealers Push Back

👆 On The Automotive State of the Union, Kyle and Michael talked about the recent sinking of a cargo ship carrying 3,000 Chinese cars, and how the industry is rethinking things following the event.

🔌 Intel Pulls the Plug on Auto Chips

The chip giant is bowing out of the automotive business, laying off most of its in-car tech team and walking away from what it once touted as a pillar of future growth. For dealers, this doesn’t mean another chip shortage—it means your OEM partners may start rethinking some software-defined features or delay promised connectivity upgrades.

With Mobileye unaffected, the autonomous side of Intel’s portfolio lives on, but the message is clear: not all tech investments have staying power. Keep an eye on which partners your OEMs bet on next.

📉 Dealers Push Back on EV Tax Credit Rollback

A coalition of 19 dealers—including Carmax, Carvana, and Utah’s EV Auto—are making noise in the Senate. Their demand? Phase out the used EV rebate gradually, not suddenly.

Why it matters: converting that credit into a down payment made EVs viable for working-class buyers. Without it, the used EV market could take a serious hit. It’s a rare policy moment where dealer voices are shaping the story—and if you're in the used space, this fight is yours too.

🚨 Tesla’s Robotaxi Debut Is Off to a Bumpy Start

Tesla’s first robotaxi tests in Austin are raising red flags—literally and figuratively. Early rider videos show traffic missteps, dangerous drop-offs, and confusion at intersections. While fans praise the innovation, regulators and safety experts are watching with growing concern.

For dealers, this is less about Tesla and more about the broader conversation around AV regulation. Whether you sell Fords, Kias, or Chevys, now’s the time to make sure lawmakers understand your role in keeping local roads safe and local jobs secure.

🆚 Battle of the 4-Cylinders: Toyota vs. Mercedes

Toyota says its new 2.0L four-cylinder engine could hit 600 hp—channeling tuner dreams and teasing a rebirth of performance ICE.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG is retreating from its own 2.0L hybrid, citing high costs and poor reception.

The takeaway? Enthusiast buyers may still find thrills in small-displacement combustion… if the brand gets it right. It’s another reminder that ICE isn’t dead—it’s just evolving.

🥶 Tesla’s Euro Sales Slump Continues

EVs are hot in Europe—just not Teslas.

While the segment grew 27% in May, Tesla sales dropped nearly 28%. It’s a signal that even market leaders aren’t immune to fatigue, competition, or brand drama.

For U.S. dealers, it’s a reminder: EV adoption isn’t one-size-fits-all, and local trust still wins.

➕ More

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

🥊 Quick Hits

• The Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) is retiring. Long Live the “BSoD” (Black Screen of Death). 🪟 

• Comcast says all new plans will have unlimited data. Welcome to 2025, Comcast. 💾 

• Inflation rose 2.7% in May. More than the Fed expected, or any of us wanted. 🤑 

TOGETHER WITH UBER FOR BUSINESS

Unlock Hidden Profit in Fixed Ops

Customer transportation is now the third-highest controllable expense in fixed ops—and one of the most overlooked. In this fast-paced webinar, Uber for Business will show how to convert those costs into profit levers by eliminating bottlenecks, slashing fleet overhead, and expanding service capacity without expanding your payroll or property line.

You’ll get real-world strategies for transitioning from loaners and shuttles to an on-demand model that drives loyalty, accelerates technician efficiency, and gives service managers more control with less admin. If retention and ROI matter to your department, this is a session you can’t afford to miss.

Register now to reserve your seat today.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

What’s the cost of one bad signature?

A blown sale. A rejected fund. Maybe even a lawsuit.

Brad Miller (ComplyAuto) and Trevor Long (MileOne Autogroup) didn’t hold back at ASOTU CON 2025—and if you missed their session, you’re gonna want to catch up.

Whether you're a GM, F&I lead, or dealer principal, this is your must-read recap on the real risks (and smarter ways) to handle deal jackets, audits, AI tools, and compliance chaos.

It's everything they didn’t teach in legalese—turned into plain, tactical insights your team can act on tomorrow.

Ask yourself:

• Are your deals fully auditable?

• Could tech fix the choke points?

• Is your team truly playing by the same rules?

Fix your flow. Protect your margins. Start with your own playbook.

🔁 Today in History

• 1864 – U.S. President Abraham Lincoln grants Yosemite Valley to California for "public use, resort, and recreation". ⛰️ 

• 1953 – The first production Corvettes leave the factory 🧑‍🏭 

• 1972 – The first leap second is added to the UTC time system. ⌛️ 

🎵 The weekend is too short,
And the Mondays are too many,
But the cure, my friend,
is warm, black, and plenty 🎶