🚗 Drawn to the Future

Progress doesn’t start with a finished product.

It starts with a sketch on a napkin. A wild idea in a boardroom. A prototype that may never see the road but pushes the conversation forward. This industry moves because people are willing to imagine something different.

Creative solutions are all around us. You just have to be willing to look for them.

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

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ICYMI

The Weekly Wrap

The Daily Pushback Email

• On Monday, the EV market gave us a paradox. Global sales hit a record 1.7M units in August, but YoY growth slowed. Dealers saw a surge ahead of tax credit cuts, while Hyundai’s battery plant stalled after a federal raid. Plus, cyberattacks are still 150–250% above pre-CDK levels—especially on holidays and weekends. Stay sharp. ⚔️
   

• Then, on Tuesday, used cars regained momentum. August sales hit 1.55M, loan debt ballooned to $1.66T, and BMW reminded us that people still love volume knobs. 🎛️
   

• On Wednesday, Ford cut 1,000 EV jobs in Germany, Nissan slashed Leaf output, and Stellantis shelved its all-electric Ram 1500. Lucid dropped lease prices to $509/month, bracing for the credit expiration. Meanwhile, Chinese EVs stole Munich’s spotlight, outshining local brands. 🇨🇳
   

• Bitcoin hit the showroom floor on Thursday. Plus, new prices stayed flat, creating a rare sweet spot for dealers, Toyota says diesel’s got a decade left, JLR’s cyber meltdown tallied $1.36B in losses, and Brian Ortega reminded us that content doesn’t just sell—it connects. 🔗
   

• On Friday, the Fed cut rates but auto APRs still climbed to 9.43% (new) and 14.15% (used). Meanwhile, Gen Z shoppers are craving calmer, more purpose-led buying experiences, and Car Pros donated 12,000+ school supplies to students across CA and WA. 🎒 

PODCASTS

NAMAD Sessions

DJ Sardana has spent 24 years in automotive chasing one thing: results you can measure. Now at C-4 Analytics, he’s helping dealers replace vendor chaos with a single system that delivers.

But this episode isn’t just about numbers. DJ shares how loyalty, accountability, and custom strategy built his career—and why he’s writing to inspire the next generation too.

Catch this NAMAD Session for a roadmap to selling more cars with less waste.

More Than Cars

With 30 stores across Western New York and 3,000 employees, their culture of empathy runs deep at West Herr.

In this episode of More Than Cars, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier uncover love stories, resilience through hardship, and the impact a dealership can have far beyond the showroom.

Watch the full episode here.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Keep More of the Money You Make

Join us for a 30-minute webinar this Wednesday, September 24 at 2PM EST to gain practical insights and strategies that will help you streamline operations, improve margins, and set your store up for sustainable success.

Register today!

SOMETHING FUN

A Fleet of Sci-Fi EVs

GM just revealed five futuristic EVs under its “Tomorrowland” design initiative, and they’re wild.

A rugged off-roader, a sleek AI-powered coupe, a sporty ride with no windshield, a utility pod with blades on the side, and yes, even a flying one. All five are on display as scale models at EPCOT in Florida.

The project covers five categories: road, racing, utility, adventure, and vertical takeoff. None of the designs play it safe. There are aerodynamic pods, surfboard-ready off-roaders, and wheels pushed to the far corners of sculpted bodies.

Even if none of these make it to production, they plant a flag in the future. Not everything has to be practical to be useful. Sometimes, it just needs to remind us what’s possible.

Quick Hits

• Carvana recently launched Shaqbot, a voice-guided AI shopping assistant that sounds exactly like you think it does. 🏀

• Project Firewall is the Labor Department’s new plan to protect U.S. jobs by cracking down on H-1B visa misuse. 🔥

• Lamborghini is teaming up with Cayago for a high-powered underwater scooter. 🤿

Thanks for reading along, Friend!