🚗 Lithia Remains #1 Public Group

TOGETHER WITH

Howdy Friend!

Just a warning, it is April Fools’ Day. Don’t trust anything anybody says today.
Nobody.

Except ASOTU.

Speaking of ASOTU, did you know that people who come to ASOTU CON will have their wildest dreams come true?

You should get your ticket today, huh?

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

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THE NEWS

Top 150, Revised 2025, and 2-9 Month Delays

👑 The Top 150 Dealership Groups now control 26.6% of U.S. rooftops—nearly double their 2011 share. Holman jumped to #15 after acquiring 27 Leith stores, nearly doubling its size. Lithia remains #1, with AutoNation, Penske, Group 1, Asbury, and Sonic rounding out the top public players. Private groups like Holman, Bergstrom, and Murgado are scaling strategically—building clusters, emphasizing culture, and promoting from within.

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✂️ Cox Automotive revised its 2025 new-vehicle sales forecast downward to 15.6M–16.3M units. The biggest factor? Potential 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada if Trump’s policies take hold. These tariffs could raise prices, cut production, and squeeze supply—especially for foreign brands. Incentives are already sliding, dropping to 7.1% of MSRP in Q1 from 8% in Q4. Cox’s used-vehicle forecast was also adjusted to 37.6M–38.0M units.

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🐌 Toyota is facing 2–9 month hybrid wait times due to a shortage of key components like magnets, inverters, and motors. Prius models are out of stock at some U.S. dealers, and Camry hybrids are hard to find. Hyundai and Kia are reporting similar issues globally. Even with Toyota’s new North Carolina battery plant coming online, hybrid inventory will remain tight well into 2025.

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➕ More

Read more on these stories and several more in our Daily News Digest.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Google's AI drug spinoff Isomorphic Labs raised $600M in funding. 💊 

• Amazon’s new AI will shop for you. 🛍️ 

• Gold prices are doing really well ahead of the tariffs. 🥇 

TOGETHER WITH REYNOLDS & REYNOLDS

DMS Without the Drama

Looking for the folks who actually understand why your CRM keeps fighting with your DMS?

The Reynolds & Reynolds crew is rolling into ASOTU CON as our Presenting Sponsor, and trust us—they're bringing more than just swag!

While some of us have been duct-taping our systems together and praying they talk to each other, Reynolds has been quietly building their Retail Management System that actually makes departments play nice together. Plus, their game-changing Spark AI layer speaks fluent Dealership so that you’re always on the same page.

With Reynolds, you can minimize errors, eliminate the costs of duplicate work, empower your team, better serve your customers, and drive profitability—all at the same time.

Pop by the Reynolds booth at ASOTU CON to test-drive their latest features and discover what your dealership can achieve when your tech actually pulls its weight!

TECHNOLOGY

We Found (And Read) This SEO Article So You Don’t Have To

Brian Dean (Backlinko) published a mega SEO strategy article that’s honestly too long—but there are a few gems worth your time if you’re on a retail auto marketing team.

Here’s what’s actually useful:

• Keyword Research Using Google Suggest
  Skip the tools if you want—just type stuff into Google. That “Best SUV for…” autocomplete? It’s literally telling you what your customers care about.

• Study the First Page Before You Write
  Are listicles ranking? Infographics? Local guides? Don’t guess—check. Then give ‘em something better or different.

• Don’t Reinvent, Just Reframe
  Already wrote about EV tax credits? Cool. Make it better. Add a chart. Add a local angle. Add clarity.

• Use Internal Links and Keep URLs Simple
  Link blogs to your VDPs. Use /used-ford-trucks not /blog?id=4728. You know this. Do it.

• Design Matters
  No one’s reading your post if it looks like Craigslist 2004. Add a chart, a pic, a banner. Just one upgrade makes a difference.

• Match the Intent
  If your content says “Schedule Service,” but they wanted “Brake Light Blinking, Now What?”… you lost them before they clicked.

It’s not new info, but it’s a good checklist if your team is auditing content or planning for Q2. Here’s the full article if you want to wade through it.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

ASOTU CON 2025

Big questions need big answers.

So, with the help of our friends and collaborators, we’re bringing both to Hanover, MD in May.

This event is no simple stroll through a gallery of “vendors” looking to land new deals. It is a point of meeting between the people in dealerships and behind dealerships who meet the mobility needs of folks every day.

So, come with questions, come for answers, and plan to share a few of your own.

Get your ticket now.

🔁 Today in History

• 1932: Franklin introduces its V12. 💥 

• 1970: AMC introduces the Gremlin. 👺 

• 1976: Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found Apple Computer, Inc. 🍏