🚗 Margins in the Mayhem

TOGETHER WITH

In case you missed it on LinkedIn, we caught Myles putting one of our core actions in big letters across the Syracuse office windows: “How can we serve you?”

It’s a perfect fit alongside the other values glowing in neon around the office like honesty and connection, and a daily reminder to go the extra mile today (and every day).

Do you keep any values or mantras front and center in your stores?

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

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

A New Set of Wheels for Double H Ranch

Yesterday, Mohawk Honda did more than hand over a key. They donated a brand-new 2025 Honda Odyssey to Double H Ranch and packed it with purpose.

Double H is where kids with serious illnesses go to be campers, not patients. Think bonfires, cabins, belly laughs, and freedom in the fresh air.

With this new Odyssey, more families can get to those moments. More gear gets hauled. More smiles get delivered.

That van will carry more than people. It will carry memories.

THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Reynolds Drops New Report

The 2025 Fixed Ops Golden Metrics Report from Reynolds & Reynolds reveals where service departments are gaining ground and where they’re leaving money on the table. From labor rates to technician efficiency tools, the spread between high-volume urban shops and small rural stores is wider than you think.

Inventory Back to Normal-ish

Dealer supply has finally steadied at 73 days, right on target. But with Toyota/Lexus running lean and Ram and Land Rover sitting on months of stock, “normal” really depends on the badge.

Robotaxi Roulette

Waymo’s Atlanta debut has locals canceling ride after ride just to snag a self-driver. With only dozens of cars in the mix, scoring one feels more like a game than the future of mobility.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Tesla Stretches the Model Y

China gets the new Model Y L: 7 inches longer, six seats in a 2-2-2 setup, starting around $47K. A U.S. release? Still TBD, but it’s a signal Tesla sees room for a family-friendly crossover without a full redesign.

EV Chargers Stir Up Dust

A UCLA study shows DC fast chargers can kick up more pollution than some gas stations thanks to cabinet fans stirring road dust and debris.

Also in today’s Digest:

• Nissan Leaf grabs “cheapest EV” crown.

• Seat complaints rise for the first time in 9 years.

• Dealership perceptions start with you.

Let’s change the narrative to this industry. Together.

🥊 Quick Hits

• The U.S. Secret Service has tapped GM for a new off-road fleet. 🛻

• Spotify will now allow users to add their own transitions to playlists. 🪇

• The FDA has warned against eating certain brands of shrimp because they may be radioactive. ☢️

TOGETHER WITH WIDEWAIL

Turn Reviews Into Results

In this 30-minute session, we’re teaming up with Widewail to analyze millions of Google reviews from dealerships nationwide to uncover the trends, risks, and opportunities shaping customer sentiment this year.

We’re talking:

• Which brands are gaining (and losing) ground in customer perception

• How EV buyers’ expectations are evolving and how dealers are responding

• What top-performing dealerships are doing differently to stay ahead

Whether you’re a GM or marketing leader, this data-driven update will help you focus your team, improve your customer experience, and compete more effectively in the second half of the year.

Join us TODAY at 2:00pm EST to see where you stand—and where to go next.

DATA & INSIGHT

The Market is Stressed, Dealers Are Not

You wouldn’t know it from the headlines, but 2025 is likely going down as a win for retail auto.

Yes, affordability is still a beast, rates are high, and prices aren’t dropping. But Dave Cantin Group’s midyear report shows consumers are still buying, and dealers are quietly stacking margin (up 0.6% compared to just two years ago).
 

 
Fixed ops and F&I are carrying a lot of the load. At some groups, those two alone are bringing in as much as 75% of total profit.

More than half of Q2 transactions involved negative equity. One in five new car loans now stretches 84 months. Delinquencies are climbing, but shoppers aren’t walking. They’re just switching brands, skipping trim levels, and prioritizing reliability (Buick and Mazda are especially having a moment).

Bottom line: smart dealers aren’t waiting for clarity. They’re winning in the chaos.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Strategy Beats Spaghetti

Everyone is doing something to influence how their dealership shows up online.

But in 2025, to show up in the top spots on Google with reviews, you can’t just throw spaghetti at the wall. You need a strategy that gives you an edge.

Learn how in this webinar with Widewail ahead of today’s new episode!

🔁 Today in History

• 1896: The dial telephone is patented. ☎️

• 1965: The Rolling Stones release their hit single "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in the UK. 🤘

• 1989: The teen sitcom “Saved by the Bell” premieres on NBC. 🛎️

Thanks for sticking with us, Friend! We see you and we appreciate you.