#692 - 🚗 Markets and Milestones

TOGETHER WITH

We hit a huge milestone yesterday after reaching more than 10K followers on LinkedIn! 🥳

We’ll never get tired of saying it — thank you, thank you, thank you! Bringing like-minded, people-loving, passion-driven folks like yourself into the “More Than Cars” fold is our absolute favorite. Cheers to the next 10K!

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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BUSINESS

Ready for the News?

Those Chinese tariffs that have been the talk of the town are officially going into effect in August, California has introduced some controversial new policies that may affect drivers, and VW joins the long list of automakers hitting the brakes on EV production.

. . .

Proposed Policies in California

California is pushing forward with two new legislative proposals affecting its state’s drivers — a mileage tax to replace dwindling gas tax revenues and a bill to alert drivers when speeding.

• Mileage Tax Proposal — To counter lost gas tax revenue from increasing EV adoption, California is testing a pilot program to charge drivers per mile, aiming to more fairly distribute road maintenance costs among all vehicle types.

• Speeding Alert System — Another new bill proposes that vehicles be equipped with a system to warn drivers when they exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph. The system would use GPS to provide visual and audio alerts, with proposed implementation by 2032.

• Current Status — Both bills are still in the early stages of testing and implementation. The mileage tax pilot program is currently underway, while the speeding alert bill narrowly passed its first test in the state senate.

VW Delays its ID.7

Volkswagen announced a delay for its ID.7 electric sedan launch in North America, citing a slowdown in EV interest and market changes.

• Launch Delay — The ID.7 electric sedan’s U.S. and Canadian debut, initially slated for this year, has been postponed. “Until when?,” you may ask. Well, it’s anyone’s guess at this point as they have yet to provide an updated timeline.

• Market Challenge — VW noted that the delays reflect the ongoing challenges in the EV market, including high prices, charging infrastructure challenges, and waning demand.

• Looking Ahead — The German automaker says it isn’t giving up on EVs by any means. It still plans on launching in Q4 the ID. Buzz, their highly anticipated electric Microbus-inspired van.

Chinese Tariffs Go Into Effect August 1st

The U.S. is implementing steep tariff increases on Chinese imports starting August 1st in an effort to protect domestic jobs and industries from cheaper imported Chinese products. The tariffs are set to significantly impact EVs, batteries, and semiconductors, among other goods.

• Tariff Jumps — Import duties on Chinese EVs will quadruple to over 100%, and semiconductor tariffs will double to 50%, along with other dramatic increases on things like medical supplies and machinery.

• Strategic Focus — The tariffs target $18B in imports, particularly focusing on lithium-ion batteries.

• China's Response — China has promised to take necessary measures to protect its own interests, arguing that the tariffs will only raise costs for U.S. companies and consumers.

. . .

We wanna know what you think…

TOGETHER WITH UPSTART

Peas of Mind with Upstart

For a new salesperson, the first day on the showroom floor is intimidating — but Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) finds that using a tablet builds confidence for both green peas and customers alike.

“When you think about a brand new team member that’s never sold cars before, for them to be able to use a tablet for the in-store piece where our guests are coming in — they have the steps of the sale right in front of them,” said Elwira Wilczynska, Director of Sales Training at DGDG. 

You can hear more about how DGDG is improving its onboarding experience and delivering an exceptional customer experience in the process in the latest Leadership in the Dealership episode here, or on Apple, Spotify or Youtube. 

DATA & INSIGHT

The Why and How of Unreasonable Hospitality

In a day and age where customer service is often just lip service, Will Guidara, the visionary behind the book "Unreasonable Hospitality," offers a refreshing perspective.

We had the pleasure of hosting Will at this year’s ASOTU CON, and his keynote speech was a masterclass in going above and beyond, sharing stories that can transform the way any business interacts with their customers.

Read our key takeaways here! 🔑

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

Mark your calendars, friends! 🗓️

We’ve already got dates secured for ASOTU CON 2025, right back at the Live! Casino and Hotel in Baltimore from May 12th-16th.

Our gears are already turning on how to bring our community even more epic conversations, connections, and collaborations next year, so save the dates and stay tuned! ⚙️

Quick Hits

• Airbnb is teaming up with ChargePoint to provide hosts a discounted rate to buy, install, and manage a home EV charger. 🔌

• Cheez-It opened a retro diner pop-up in Woodstock, NY complete with Cheez-It milkshakes and cheezcake. 🧀

• After claims of a fraudulent foreclosure, a judge in Tennessee blocked the planned auction of Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley. 👑

• Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, Circle K is hosting a nationwide “Fuel Day” today. offering savings of up to $0.40/gallon. ⛽️

History

• 1785: Benjamin Franklin announces his invention of bifocals. 🤓

• 1934: American outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow are killed by police in an ambush near Sailes, Louisiana. 👫

• 1984: "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," the second in the film series, premieres. 🤠

Thanks for reading, friend! Just cause we’re curious — how are you planning to spend your Memorial Day weekend? Hit reply and let us know!