🚗 Is Elon Still Running Tesla?

TOGETHER WITH

Tuesday, July 8th!

We’ve got plenty to see, read, and chew on today, but nothing stuck with us like a thought we took from our time reading Steve Greenfield’s new Intel Report:

The real risk is showing up late.

The industry is changing. Innovation is costly. But getting left behind is expensive.

Sooner or later, missed investments become obligated fixes.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

_{Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here!
Reading time: 3 min}

THE UNION

Strategy, Survival, and a Final Flyover

Tesla is back in the headlines—but not for the reasons investors hoped. Elon Musk’s surprise launch of the “America” political party has raised eyebrows (and blood pressure) as Q2 deliveries fell 13% and share prices dropped 20% year-to-date. Analysts and fund managers are openly questioning whether Musk’s political ambitions are distracting from a much-needed business reset. Brand perception is also slipping—Tesla ranked dead last among 19 EV makers in a recent U.S. consumer survey.

Meanwhile, in China, the EV boom is turning into a war of attrition. According to AlixPartners, only 15 of China’s 129 electric and plug-in hybrid brands are likely to survive through 2030. Those survivors—like BYD and Li Auto—will dominate the space, but for now, most players are losing money and leaning heavily on local government support. Still, the pace of innovation is staggering, and the pressure on global OEMs is real.

That brings us to Brazil, where BYD is opening a new factory, not just to expand, but to outmaneuver rising tariffs. U.S. automakers are still trying to recalibrate, while BYD is building.

On the domestic front, a viral Reddit thread about “no-haggle” used car pricing sparked hundreds of responses from retail pros and buyers alike. It’s clear: negotiation might not be dead, but explanation has never mattered more.

And finally, a different kind of story from Detroit. At the funeral of beloved car wash owner and drag racer Darrell Thomas, his family dropped $5,000 in cash and rose petals from a helicopter over Gratiot Avenue—one last act of generosity from a man known for it.

➕ More on LinkedIn

🥊 Quick Hits

• OPEC+ alliance said it would pump an additional 548,000 barrels daily beginning in August. 🛢️ 

• Cough medicine Ambroxol is showing promise in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s. 💊 

• We’ve all been there. The US government is breeding billions of flies to dump over Texas and Mexico to combat flesh-eating insects in the region. 🪰 

TOGETHER WITH NAMAD

NAMAD in Vegas!

From NextGen workshops and economic deep dives to keynote sessions with industry powerhouses like Jonathan Smoke and Saundra Douglass Morgan, this multi-day event is packed with insights, networking, and celebration.

Whether you're eyeing dealer growth, employment law trends, or M&A strategy, you’ll find your people and your path forward here. Wrap each day with receptions, happy hours, and the can't-miss After Glow with DJ D-Nice.

Grab your ticket today

The event only happens once a year, but its impact lasts all year long.

CULTURE

You Can’t Substitute for Strategy

A new study from HBR highlights what retail pros already know: even small fulfillment failures—like missing or substituted items—can chip away at customer trust and long-term loyalty. Across 5,000 shoppers, researchers found that when an online order wasn’t delivered as promised, customers waited longer to return and spent less when they did. Substitutions made that drop-off even worse.

Sound familiar?

As dealers expand delivery, online sales, and off-site service, the lesson is clear: fulfillment isn’t just logistics—it’s customer experience. If your offsite vehicle is delayed, your reconditioning info isn’t accurate, or your inventory page doesn’t match reality, customers notice. And they remember.

Retailers like Walmart and Tractor Supply are already adapting with smarter systems and customer-controlled substitutions. In auto, the analog is better ops, clearer communication, and fewer “surprise and apologize” moments.

Because in retail today, every small failure is a future order at risk. The same logic applies whether you're shipping floor mats or setting service expectations: precision today protects loyalty tomorrow.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

10 Million Americans, 5% of GDP, and National Defense

John Bozzella says, we’re not just selling cars.

We’re fueling America’s stability, innovation, and security: one job, one part, one product at a time.

🔁 Today in History

• 1776 – Church bells (possibly including the Liberty Bell) are rung after John Nixon delivers the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. 🔔 

• 1889 – The first issue of The Wall Street Journal is published.

• 2010 – Smart Car says you can have ANY color you want 🎨 

• 2011 – Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. 🚀 

Till tomorrow, my Friend…