🚗 Fuel for Thought

Happy Saturday, Friend!

We are super stoked about the premiere of Episode 4 of More Than Cars coming up this week featuring our pals at Mohawk Chevrolet.

If you haven’t already, get hyped up with the trailer and then join us for the watch party on Wednesday—you won’t want to miss it!

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

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ICYMI

This Week’s Highlights

The Daily Pushback Email

• Monday’s edition spotlighted the bumpy road ahead for EV makers after Ford took a $1.2B hit, Stellantis’s revenue shrank 27%, and VW saw profits slide 42%. Rivian stirred the pot with a hot take—calling buttons a “an anomaly”—after partnering with VW on software. We also dove into the slowdown of warranty repairs, exploring why delays and clear communication matter to customers. 🗣️
   

• On Tuesday, the country collectively chewed their nails to the quick as Americans flocked to vote in the 2024 general election. Meanwhile, GM hit their EV goal but dropped CarPlay, VW’s profits continue to plunge with whispers of pay cuts, and Ford doubled down on homegrown battery production. Plus, Rolls-Royce went big (and pricey) with a $420K electric showstopper, and Costco punched up EV discounts to boost stales. 🇺🇸
   

• By Wednesday, we had a new President-elect: Donald J. Trump. The day also brought news of GM’s climb to second in EVs, Aston Martin’s financial strain, silicon batteries gaining momentum, Hyundai’s hybrid surge, and CBT News’ 40 Under 40 stars leading the future of retail auto. 🏆
   

• Then, on Thursday, we talked about October's standout auto trends: EV and hybrid growth, Canoo’s leadership shake-up, and Lamborghini’s waitlist stretching to 2027. We also covered Trump’s proposed 2025 policies and their potential industry impact, Polestar’s U.S. rollout, Toyota’s cautious profit dip, and Canada’s debut of Cybertrucks. 🍁
   

• Before we knew it, it was Friday. We covered Mercedes-Benz’s sleek CLA EV prototype, Mazda’s new efficient engine, and GM’s soaring profits. Stellantis trimmed 1,100 Jeep jobs, Nissan entered emergency mode, and BYD’s Canadian launch was stalled by tariffs. Plus, we noted a post-election market surge and the Federal Reserve’s most recent 0.25% interest rate cut. 🪚

PODCASTS

The Automotive Troublemaker

Donald Trump’s return to the White House could disrupt the auto industry’s EV ambitions. Plus, Elon Musk’s advisory role with the new administration and his plans for autonomous tech. And, IKEA opens its first stand-alone restaurant in London.

🎧 Find out what The Automotive Troublemakers make of all this game-changing news 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.

🎬 Episode 4 of More Than Cars at Mohawk Chevrolet

SOMETHING FUN

The Best of SEMA 2024

Every November, the Las Vegas Convention Center becomes a gearhead haven for the SEMA Show. Thousands of aftermarket pros unveil their newest creations, while automakers show off custom one-offs and push the limits with jaw-dropping builds.

SEMA—formerly the Specialty Equipment Marketing Association—is like Willy Wonka’s factory but with way more chrome and exhaust. It’s where nostalgia and innovation collide to show others what is capable in the industry.

This year, the event attracted 2,400 vendors and showcased over 1,400 vehicles across 1.2M square feet of exhibit space, drawing around 160K attendees from over 100 countries.

Check even out more of the bespoke rides here.

Quick Hits

• The FDA announced plans to remove a common cough and cold medicine ingredient from the market after determining that the oral version is ineffective as a nasal decongestant. 🤧

• Guard your bananas. Forty-three monkeys escaped from a research facility in South Carolina on Wednesday and are still on the loose as of Friday afternoon. 🙈

• The 2025 Grammy nominations released on Friday with Beyoncé becoming the most-nominated artist in the award’s history—11 nominations this year and a total of 99 nominations throughout her career. 🎶