🚗 More Robots on the Road

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning, Friend.

In case you missed it, Paul and Kyle spent some time yesterday talking about what it truly means to be about “more than cars.”

Check out The Automotive State of the Union podcast on Apple or Spotify for more morning moments of loving people more.

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

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THE UNION

From The News w/ ASOTU

Check out the latest automaker announcements, market data, insight & action, and More than Cars moments in our 5-minute digest. Today we have:

Mexican Tariffs

Mexico just threw down a 50% tariff on China-built cars—a move framed as protecting local jobs but seen as bowing to U.S. pressure ahead of the 2026 USMCA review. Expect near-term import pull-aheads, pricier sourcing shifts, and ripple effects on compact EVs eyeing North America.

More Robots on the Road

Robotaxis are finally going public. Amazon’s Zoox launched free rides in Las Vegas with steering-wheel-less pods, while Lyft and May Mobility started a pilot in Atlanta using Toyota Sienna AVs. Different tech stacks, same goal: dense, tourist-heavy corridors where uptime and fleet economics rule.

Also in the mix:

• Ford wiped its Instagram clean to launch a lifestyle pivot: “Ready Set Ford.”

• Honda’s kei EV, Ford’s $30K electric truck, and Toyota’s Corolla refresh signal an affordability cycle.

• August U.S. EV sales hit a record 9.9% share, even as lenders tightened credit slightly.

TOGETHER WITH CALL-Q

Triple Your Phone Call Conversions

What if your dealership could triple phone call-to-appointment conversions? With Call-Q, that’s exactly what dealers are achieving. On average, clients see a 224% increase.

Here’s how: Call-Q combines real human coaching + AI-powered call analysis, not just call tracking. Unlike most solutions that report on what happened after the fact, Call-Q scores and analyzes every call, so nothing slips through the cracks. Then, expert human coaches deliver personalized training using their proven framework to consistently turn more calls into booked appointments.

Sales teams using Call-Q aren’t just answering phones, they’re converting quality appointments that fuel growth.

Ready to triple your results? Learn how with Call-Q.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Quick Hits

• 🤖 AI: Some people are using AI to interpret lab results. 🥼 

• 🛒 Retail: Gen Z is cutting back following spending power drops. It could add up to a 5% loss for retail holiday spending.

• 👽 Weird: A British zoo has announced the hatching of 8 iguanas with no father. 🦎 

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Patrice Banks had it all: national headlines, Hollywood pilots, even calls from Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson.

But behind the scenes, her shop was struggling.

In this NAMAD Session, she shares why she turned down fame, how she’s rebuilding Girls Auto Clinic, and why recruiting the right talent matters more than retention.

This one is a masterclass in choosing focus over distractions.

Check out the full write-up here.

Today in History

• 1912: The introduction to the first transcontinental highway. 🛣️ 

• 1966: The press meets the Chevrolet Camaro. 📰 

• 2013: NASA confirms that its Voyager 1 probe has become the first manmade object to enter interstellar space. 🛰️ 

Friday at last.