🚗 Inventory, Communication, and Service

TOGETHER WITH

Knowledge is power and all that, but auto is one of the only places we know where knowledge is profit.

Where people combine their collective skills, wisdom, and know-how to earn enough money for the needs, growth, and health of their people and community.

When we say we believe in and work for retail auto, it’s much more than a method for getting cars to people. It’s how people across the country find meaningful work that enables them to take care of their needs.

It’s something worth showing more people, strengthening, and even protecting when situations come up.

We’re excited to bring that passion together at ASOTU CON next month.

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

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THE NEWS

Solutions, Audi’s Freeze, and Stellantis to Aid Suppliers

ICYMI: Automotive retail in 2025 is dealing tariffs, shifting customer expectations, and uncertain OEM moves. Here's what we’ve gathered to help dealers make sense of the moment and stay in front of it.

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📈 Strategic Inventory Management

Trump’s 25% import tariffs are hitting both vehicles and parts, pressuring floorplan costs and retail pricing.

• Prioritize Domestic Stock: U.S.-built vehicles offer more predictable costs.

• Pre-Tariff Advantage: Leverage pre-April inventory in messaging—it may not last.

• Used Is Heating Up: Wholesale prices are rising, and retail values are following.

Cox says prices could climb $6K on imports and $3.6K on U.S.-built models. That’s not a ripple. That’s a wave.

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💬 Transparent Customer Communication

Customers aren’t watching the tariff news. They’re feeling it. Help them understand where it’s coming from, and how they can avoid some of it.

• Explain the “Why”: Tie pricing shifts directly to global policy in simple terms.

• Build Confidence: Offer clear alternatives and emphasize long-term ownership value.

Be the calm voice in a noisy market.

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🔧 Enhancing Aftersales Services

Lithia CEO Bryan DeBoer put it bluntly: “It’s not a technician issue. It’s a mindset issue.”

• Drive Engagement: Service advisors must own the lane, not wait for it to fill.

• Balance Warranty & Customer Pay: Both matter. Don’t let one cannibalize the other.

• Stock Up on Essentials: Parts pricing is already shifting. Plan accordingly.

Aftersales isn’t a backstop. It’s your most stable path to profit right now.

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🚗 OEMs React: Audi Freezes, Stellantis Supports

• Audi has paused U.S. vehicle shipments post-tariff, leaving thousands of cars in port limbo. Their Q5, built in Mexico, is now a tariff bullseye.

• Stellantis is considering aid to suppliers to avoid pushing price hikes onto customers, all while promoting employee pricing.

• Ford leans into niche plays like the Maverick Lobo to keep customers engaged. It’s part truck, part trend.

Some OEMs are holding the line. Others are holding inventory.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Apparently, all that smart-car tech may solve a real problem for some drivers—97% say they’d prefer to pay tolls from inside the car. 🪙 

• The markets see a much-needed rally. 🛑 

• A recruiter recently discovered an AI imposter interviewing for a job. Why the AI wanted a job we’re still not sure. 🤖 

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

Webinar: AI Powered Profits!

Ready to boost profitability and convert more shoppers into buyers, especially in this environment when shoppers are looking to make a quick purchase?

In just 30 minutes, Marri Stokes from Leif Johnson Ford and Danielle Mills Walden from Upstart will show you how to convert more shoppers from your website to in-store buyers and provide competitive and flexible financing options.

Don’t miss out on these expert tips and proven tactics to help your dealership stay nimble in today's rapidly changing automotive market.

Register now to secure your spot!

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

ASOTU CON 2025: Big Questions

The biggest question on our minds today is usually: What new nonsense is coming, and how will I bring my team through it stronger?

ASOTU CON 2025 is dedicated to the people and processes that transform challenges into profit.

Let’s be real: ASOTU loves what dealers do, who they are, and what they mean for our country, but without a strong foundation of selling cars, we won’t be able to “[l] oving people more than cars” mean much.

So, grab your ticket today as a sign you believe in dealers winning tomorrow, no matter what it brings.

Don’t Miss Website Bootcamp at ASOTU CON

DealerOn, in collaboration with RML Automotive, is bringing a data-driven keynote to ASOTU CON 2025: Website Bootcamp: Strengthening Vendor Management & Performance.

Christina Cuatto from DealerOn and Elizabeth Shults from RML Automotive will share insights on how to optimize vendor relationships, shift focus from leads to engagement, and improve site speed for a flawless user experience.

DealerOn’s data-driven websites and advanced digital advertising solutions help dealers generate more leads, close more sales, and boost profitability.

Join us at ASOTU CON 2025 for actionable takeaways and networking with top industry experts!

Find out more and connect with DealerOn at ASOTU CON!

🔁 Today in History

• 1784: The Treaty of Paris is ratified by King George III of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ending the American Revolutionary War. Copies of the ratified documents are exchanged on May 12, 1784. 🕊️ 

• 1978: The very first American-made Volkswagen rolled off an assembly line in Pennsylvania. 🪲 

• 2003: Baghdad falls to American forces during the Iraq War. 🪖