🚗 Need a Hand?

🚙 Weekly Recap, Navigating Customer Complaints, and A Handy Robot Assistant

 

Welcome to the weekend, Friend!

Don’t you just love that Saturday energy? Everything just tends to feels a little less serious, and a little more laid back.

Less traffic? Casual attire? Shorter coffee shop lines? What’s your favorite thing about Saturdays?

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

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ICYMI

The Daily Pushback Email

Yarn

  • On Monday, we kicked off the week with Rivian’s new electric trucks, a $3B U.S. battery investment, and Europe’s luxury car challenges. We also highlighted O’Brien Mitsubishi’s community-first approach and touched on the iconic Dodge Challenger’s debut. 🆕
     

  • Tuesday, we highlighted GM’s EV surge, Nissan’s budget-friendly Versa, and VW’s tough union talks. We also covered the U.S. government’s move to block Chinese tech in vehicles and celebrated Full Circle Auto’s latest class of mechanics powering through second chances. 🛠️
     

  • By Wednesday we were covering Kia’s rollout of free NACS adapters, Mercedes pushing hands-free driving tech, and Stellantis hunting for a new CEO. Plus, we celebrated Car Pros Auto Group’s back-to-school supply drive, reminding us that no act of kindness is too small. Oh, and Mozart apparently dropped a new single—who knew? 🎶
     

  • Then, on Thursday we dove into the latest used car price drops, a potential U.S. import ban affecting GM and Ford, and Thailand’s auto industry struggles. Plus, we covered how dealerships might be eligible for a CDK settlement payout, and gave a nod to the world's oldest cheese. 🧀
     

  • Before we knew it, Friday had arrived, and we wrapped up the week by diving into Q3’s projected sales decline, Walser Automotive’s efforts to tackle the tech shortage, and the impact of the Fed’s latest rate cut. 🔪

PODCASTS

The Automotive Troublemaker

On Thursday, we talked about how former Nissan Chairman Carlos Ghosn was ordered to hand his superyacht over to Nissan, Walser Automotive’s partnership with Wichita State University Tech, and the effects of retailers putting products behind locks.

Plus, we celebrated the one year anniversary of ASOTU CON 2023!

Check it out on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

ASOTU Edge Webinar

As regulatory bodies like the FTC and state attorney generals increase their enforcement activity, it’s more important than ever to understand how unresolved complaints put your dealership at risk.

We break down the latest trends in enforcement and show you how to navigate this complex environment to keep your dealership compliant and protected in our latest 30-minute webinar.

Join Paul, Kyle, Shannon Robertson, and Stephen Fucile as they dive into the overlooked signals that could save your dealership from costly fines and audits.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

😎 We’re Hiring!

Want to join a dynamic team that’s passionate about the retail auto industry? Enjoy working with people and helping others succeed?

We are looking for a rockstar Partner Development Manager who loves the industry the way that we do and has the stamina to join a company that moves fast on its feet. Our energy is on fire and we are looking for a new member to join our team and help drive sales and care for our partners.

Think you’re up for the gig? Apply here! 👈

🗓️ Coming Soon

🤠 November 5-8th — Opening presenters at the 2024 ATAE PR & Communications Focus Group Meeting in Austin, Texas.

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

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

SOMETHING FUN

Nothing is Out of Reach

EPFL LASA / YouTube

Move over, Addams Family’s Thing—there’s a new hand in town. 👋

Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne have created a robotic hand that can detach, crawl, and grab stuff all on its own thanks to a magnetic connector.

This five-fingered wonder doesn’t just wave goodbye when it detaches; it helps grab objects that are difficult or out of reach, and can even multitask when reattached.

With this new tech, your robot’s days of complaining about something being out of reach are officially over—finally!

Quick Hits

  • Managers at Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory in Germany are making house calls to employees on sick leave. Not to bring soup, just be sure they’re really ill. 🤒

  • California’s new “click to cancel” law will require companies to make subscription cancelations as easy as sign-ups. ❎

  • Buyers can now visit Rolls-Royce’s newly opened studio in the Meatpacking District of NYC to design their custom rides. 🍎

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