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- š Is Elon Still Running Tesla?
š Is Elon Still Running Tesla?
š Tariffs rise, trust slips, and one man makes it rain over Detroit.

TOGETHER WITH
Tuesday, July 8th!
Weāve got plenty to see, read, and chew on today, but nothing stuck with us like a thought we took from our time reading Steve Greenfieldās 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
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Strategy, Survival, and a Final Flyover
Tesla is back in the headlinesābut not for the reasons investors hoped. Elon Muskās surprise launch of the āAmericaā 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 Muskās political ambitions are distracting from a much-needed business reset. Brand perception is also slippingāTesla 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 Chinaās 129 electric and plug-in hybrid brands are likely to survive through 2030. Those survivorsālike BYD and Li Autoāwill 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 āno-haggleā used car pricing sparked hundreds of responses from retail pros and buyers alike. Itās 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 Avenueāone last act of generosity from a man known for it.
ā More on LinkedIn
š„ Quick Hits
OPEC+ alliance said it would pump an additional 548,000 barrels daily beginning in August. š¢ļø
Cough medicine Ambroxol is showing promise in slowing the progression of Parkinsonās. š
Weāve 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. šŖ°
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, youāll 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.
The event only happens once a year, but its impact lasts all year long.
CULTURE
You Canāt Substitute for Strategy

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A new study from HBR highlights what retail pros already know: even small fulfillment failuresālike missing or substituted itemsācan chip away at customer trust and long-term loyalty. Across 5,000 shoppers, researchers found that when an online order wasnāt 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 isnāt just logisticsāitās customer experience. If your offsite vehicle is delayed, your reconditioning info isnāt accurate, or your inventory page doesnāt 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 āsurprise and apologizeā 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, weāre not just selling cars.
Weāre fueling Americaās stability, innovation, and security: one job, one part, one product at a time.
š Today in History
1776 ā 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. š
1889 ā The first issue of The Wall Street Journal is published.
2010 ā Smart Car says you can have ANY color you want šØ
2011 ā Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched in the final mission of the U.S. Space Shuttle program. š
Till tomorrow, my Friendā¦

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