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đźš— Interest Rates Take a Breather
đźš™ Lotta Tariff Talk, Hyundai Update, and Stop Losing Leads
TOGETHER WITH
Howdy Friend!
We’ve got new podcasts, webinars, and fixin’s all the time at ASOTU.com
Including this new one from our own Michael Cirillo’s show, The Dealer Playbook, called “The Biggest Problem In Retail Auto and How To Solve It.”
Give it a listen and let us know if you learn something new 🙂
Or check out The Dealer Playbook here!
Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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Reading time: 4 min and 36 sec
From the Automotive State of the Union
Automakers & Tariffs
OEMs have absorbed billions in tariff costs (GM ~$5B; Ford ~$3B), keeping MSRPs nearly flat since March (<1% per Edmunds). But fees are creeping: delivery jumped 8.5% to $1,507. Analysts expect gradual price hikes, especially on higher-margin trims, while Hyundai reiterates an affordability stance.
Waymo x Lyft, Nashville
Waymo will test all-electric, self-driving Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in Nashville, with public robotaxi access targeted for 2026. Lyft’s Flexdrive handles fleet ops; rides start in the Waymo app, with Lyft integration to follow—mirroring Waymo–Uber and giving riders more hail options.
Gen Z & Mental Health
According to recent retailer reports, Gen Z ranks mental health as priority number one. Companies are responding with purpose-led, low-anxiety experiences. Dealer takeaway: design calmer, confidence-building sales journeys—single point of contact, transparent pricing, and in-person reassurance.
From The News w/ ASOTU
Click to read the full digest.
Tariff Pressure Rising
Automakers have mostly shielded shoppers from new tariff costs, but that’s starting to shift. GM faces up to $5B in tariff hits, Ford about $3B. While MSRPs rose less than 1% since spring, destination fees jumped 8.5% to $1,507. Expect gradual price increase and a tilt toward higher-margin trims.
Hyundai Bets Big in Georgia
Hyundai is investing another $2.7B in its Georgia Metaplant, adding ~200k units and 3,000 jobs, aiming for 500k vehicles annually by 2028. At the same time, the automaker trimmed 2025 margin guidance but raised revenue outlook — underscoring both confidence and caution in a tariff-heavy climate.
Other headlines to note:
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EVERYTHING ELSE
Quick Hits
🤖 AI: This week, Zuckerberg unveiled their new Meta Ray-Bans, the company’s first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display.
đź›’ Retail: The FTC is taking Ticketmaster and Live Nation to court for allegedly engaging in illegal resale tactics.
🧳 Travel: 93% of surveyed German pilots admit to napping on the job.
MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS
12,000+ School Supplies Donated
Car Pros Automotive Group just wrapped its second annual “Car Pros Cares” Back-to-School Drive, delivering 12,142 school supplies to students in California and Washington (a 35% jump from 2024). Employees, customers, and community partners pitched in, filling donation boxes at all nine dealerships with backpacks, calculators, notebooks, and more.
Each store partnered with local schools and nonprofits to ensure the items reached kids who needed them most. CEO Matthew Phillips said the effort is about easing family burdens and helping students start confidently. A great reminder: dealerships are more than showrooms—they’re community anchors.
Today in History
1932: Ab Jenkins drives a 12-cylinder car for 24 hours straight to promote the reliability and power of the Pierce-Arrow. ⏰
1940: Witold Pilecki is voluntarily captured and sent to Auschwitz concentration camp to gather and smuggle out information for the WWII resistance movement. 🗺️
1991: Ötzi the Iceman is discovered in the Alps on the border between Italy and Austria. ⛏️
We’re almost there, Friend!
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