🚗 Back-Up Cam Chaos

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to Thursday, Friend!

Looking for a mid-week pick-me-up?

Give More than Cars: The Truth about Car Dealers a watch (or rewatch) on Prime Video, YouTube. or Tubi.

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

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THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Q4 Strategy Week keeps rolling with EV dealer-operator Andy Guelcher. We get into:

• Life after the federal credit means EVs need to sell on their own merit. Lower sticker prices and better infrastructure are easing range anxiety and opening the door to more buyers.

• Used EVs are coming fast and could shift the affordability game. Off-lease volume in the next 18 to 24 months may bring in a younger, tech-savvy customer base with budget-friendly payments.

• Smart dealers are turning EVs into long-term assets for their customers. From vehicle-to-home power to selling energy back to the grid, there’s new value to explain and new revenue to unlock.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Ford’s Latest Recall Hits Nearly 1.5M Vehicles

Ford announced a massive recall affecting almost 1.45 million cars in the U.S. for faulty rear‑view cameras that can go blank or distort while reversing. This hardware issue means each vehicle must visit a dealer for a replacement, no over‑the‑air fix possible. With Ford already dealing with 126 recalls this year, dealers should prep service bays, check inventory, and be ready for questions from both current owners and used‑car shoppers.

VW Faces Possible Slowdowns

Volkswagen warned of temporary production halts thanks to a semiconductor supply disruption tied to Nexperia and export restrictions. The autos giant says its production isn't affected yet, but short‑term risks remain. Dealers will want to keep an eye on inventory and delivery timelines, especially if supply chains start to swell.

GM Diving Into Eyes‑Off Driving

Cadillac Escalade IQ is GM’s first vehicle to feature upcoming “eyes‑off” driving, launching in 2028 and backed by advanced AI and a new high‑speed computing platform. The rollout also includes conversational AI built on Google Gemini, bringing a more human‑like interaction to the cabin. Dealers should start familiarizing their teams with this tech — customers will ask about it.

Uber Offers Drivers Big Money to Switch to EVs

Uber is evolving its ride service brand, renaming “Uber Green” to “Uber Electric” and launching a new driver‑grant program. Eligible U.S. drivers in select states can use a $4,000 grant (plus other incentives) toward new or used EVs. With over 200,000 EVs already on the platform and drivers converting faster than the average consumer, dealers are seeing yet another signal that EV demand is accelerating.

TOGETHER WITH TRADEPENDING

Just The Right Amount of Buttons

What does a good "call-to-action" button stack look like? How many buttons is too many buttons?

After sharing some examples of bad CTA stacks, TradePending offers up a few good examples of dealership websites getting right.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Quick Hits

• 🤖 AI: Amazon is developing AI smart glasses for its delivery drivers.

• 🛒 Retail: Progresso is celebrating its new line of BBQ-inspired Pitmaster soups via the release of a limited-edition Pitmaster Deodorant.

• 💰 Economy: The U.S. government’s gross national debt has surpassed $38T.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Price matters—but trust sells the car.

Lauren Moriarty has spent her career proving that transparency isn’t a risk; it’s a revenue driver. As Director of Sales at iPacket, she helps dealers deliver the details that matter most: reconditioning receipts, warranties, features, and a standardized story that turns “just another listing” into a car someone trusts enough to buy.

Check out the full conversation here.

Today in History

• 1819: The first ship sails through the Erie Canal from Rome,NY to Utica, NY. 🚢

• 1923 :A U.S. patent is issued to American inventor Sebastian Hinton for a playground climbing structure popularly known as "monkey bars.” 🐒

• 1956: The first video recording on magnetic tape is televised coast-to-coast. 📼

Thanks for reading along, Friend!