🚗 A Week of Highs

It’s been a busy week for us, and we thank you all for the support, fam!

We’ll be celebrating into the weekend, and we hope you do the same.

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

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ICYMI

Unpacking the Week

The Daily Pushback Email

• On Monday, we kicked off the week with automakers navigating bold moves and big cutbacks—Nissan trimming costs, Rivian betting on U.S.-made batteries, and GM turning its plant into a “Bolt factory.” Plus, Park Place Dealerships warmed our hearts with their “Season of Giving.” 🎁
   

• Then, on Tuesday, we chatted about Italy scaling back EV subsidies, U.S. vehicle recalls increasingly tied to software, and a Deloitte study revealing gas engines still hold strong appeal. 💪
   

• Wednesday was the big day—we proudly dropped Episode 4 of More Than Cars featuring Mohawk Chevrolet, proving yet again how much more to the industry there is than just selling cars. In other news, GM’s stock surged, Nissan’s activist investors caused a stir, and Sioux City Ford honored veterans with impactful service projects. 🇺🇸
   

• On Thursday, Rivian and VW announced a $5.8B EV venture, Ford eased off the EV accelerator, and October’s Ease of Purchase ratings dipped slightly as shoppers faced inventory challenges. Plus, the day marked exactly two weeks until turkey time—better start prepping! 🦃
   

• By Friday, the industry saw Chevy rolled out free EV charging for Texas night owls, while Tesla slashed Cybertruck prices and faced yet another recall. Markets have also surged in a record-breaking rally post-election, with auto loan rates and new-vehicle prices climbing steadily into 2024. It’s been a full-throttle kind of week—cheers to the weekend! 🚀

TOGETHER WITH RENEW ENERGY

Solar Savings Made Easy

Why stop at selling EVs when you can offer customers a full suite of sustainable solutions?

Through their nationwide partnership programs, Renew Energy works with dealerships to help EV buyers embrace solar power in nearly 98% of U.S. zip codes.

With a commitment to transparency and simplicity, Renew Energy ensures homeowners only join the net metering program if it truly saves them money—no out-of-pocket costs, no gimmicks. If solar isn’t the right fit, they’ll let them know.

By making solar part of the EV lifestyle, your dealership can deliver value beyond the sale, helping customers save money and power their future.

Take your EV offerings to the next level—team up with Renew Energy today!

PODCASTS/DOCUSERIES

More Than Cars

Mohawk Chevrolet showed us that a competitive team-building atmosphere can take people new to retail auto and turn them into all-stars.

Learn how you can replicate their drive and success in Episode 4 of More Than Cars.

ASOTU Edge Webinar

Part 1 of our Advertising Strategies Webinar Series delivered must-know insights on reviewing 2024 ad performance with a future-focused approach. Paul, Kyle, and Stream Companies tackled AI's rise, privacy changes, and balancing media mixes while offering actionable tips to prepare for 2025.

From refining metrics to enhancing messaging, this session was packed with strategies to elevate your advertising game. Don’t miss the replay—your 2025 strategy will thank you!

The Automotive Troublemaker

On Thursday, the Automotive Troublemakers reviewed a CDK study that says car buying was harder for consumers in October, learned how Tesla has exhausted its Cybertruck reservation list, and discussed OpenAI’s autonomous Operator that’s coming soon to a computer near you.

Check out the full replay on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🗓️ Coming Soon

⚜️ January 23-26th, 2025 — NADA Show in New Orleans.

🦀 May 13-16th, 2025 — ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland.

SOMETHING FUN

This Solar Farm Powers Millions

Okay, so maybe it’s not quite enough to power a DeLoreon through time, but it’s dang close.

China just flipped the switch on the world’s largest offshore solar project, and it’s making waves—literally.

The 1-gigawatt offshore photovoltaic (PV) project in Dongying, Shandong Province is now online. Covering a sprawling 1,223 hectares, the project will churn out enough juice to power 2.67M homes annually.

This is the first offshore solar farm to deploy large-scale steel truss platform piling technology. Think 2,934 solar platforms, each the size of a basketball court, anchored securely in the open sea. Add in 66-kilovolt transmission lines for high-capacity, cost-efficient power delivery, and you’ve got a marvel of engineering.
 

But wait, there’s more! The project integrates fish farming with solar energy, maximizing the use of marine resources. Talk about multitasking.

The numbers speak volumes: 1.78B kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, saving 503,800 tons of coal and slashing 1.34M tons of carbon emissions. China considers it a big win towards their renewable energy goals and a clear signal to the world—offshore solar isn’t just the future, it’s already here.

Quick Hits

• The Bugatti W16 Mistral is now the fastest open-top car after clocking a jaw-dropping 282 mph last weekend. 🏎️

• Scammer tactics are getting grizzly. Four Los Angeles residents were arrested on fraud charges this week after the reported bear that mauled their Rolls-Royce turned out to just be someone in a bear costume. 🧸

• In celebration of Monopoly’s 90th birthday, Hasbro has teamed up with Nike to create a LeBron James Edition Board Game. 🎲

Thank you for reading, friend! If you wish there was more, then check out our new email — AutoIndustry.ai. It’s where we’re digging into how artificial intelligence is disrupting the retail auto industry and how you can position yourself to stay ahead.

Learn from industry experts and discover the latest and greatest tools for dealerships, all in a way that’s easy to understanding whether you’re a techie or not. Take a look and let us know what you think!