🚗 Voices, Values and Vibes

Welcome to the weekend, Friend!

We know a lot of you are still in the store today. Holding it down, making things happen, doing the work.

So, this is your official permission slip: Blast your music extra loud. Buy those shoes you’ve been eyeing for weeks. Splurge on the guac.

Whatever your version of a little win looks like, you’ve earned it.

Treat yourself to something good today.

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

_{Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here!
Reading time: 3 min and 55 sec}

ICYMI

Hitting the Headlines

The Daily Pushback Email

• On Monday, Ford, GM, and VW dropped EV lease credits after scrutiny, sending prices up. Carvana expanded same-day delivery to 20 states, pressuring local dealers. Tesla faced a probe into 3M vehicles, and EV factory slowdowns hit the South. 🐢
   

• Then on Tuesday, California passed a new dealer compliance law mandating price transparency and 3-day used car return windows. Charging networks faltered due to software failures, Jeep's OTA update bricked vehicles, and Elon’s AI firm eyed $20B. Meanwhile, Capitol Nissan of Salem was named Automotive News’ 2025 Best Dealership to Work For. 🏆
   

• By Wednesday, Ford halted production of key models after a supplier fire crippled 40% of U.S. aluminum sheet output. GM took a $1.6B hit scaling back EV plans, Jeep previewed a 647-hp hybrid Grand Wagoneer, and a new study showed most employees feel unheard. ☹️
   

• Thursday, tellantis pledged $13B for U.S. manufacturing, creating 5,000 jobs and five new models. NADA named Sandy Fitzgerald Angello as its next vice chair. Amazon expanded auto loan options, AI concerns sparked union action, and the average negative equity hit $6,905 (up 64% from 2021). 🔻
   

• Before we knew it, it was Friday. TrueCar’s founder moved to take the company private with a $227M buyout, used‑market trends show 50% of sub‑$30K cars are now high mileage or older models, and First Brands filed for bankruptcy with $10B in liabilities. 💰

PODCASTS

Auto Collabs

On this episode of Auto Collabs, JB Burnett (GM at Preston Automotive Group) tell us he went from serving tables at 20 to running his first dealership at 23.

He’s now opening what Ford calls the world’s first Signature 2.0 facility—a wide-open, concierge-style showroom where advisors work on iPads, coffee comes before paperwork, and financing options hit the screen in about a minute and a half.

We get into the “why” behind the build, team prep, culture shifts, and why experiential retail is resurging right as everyone debates online vs. in-store.

Check out the full video here.

The Dealer Playbook

Michael Cirillo recently sat down with Tara Willis, a seasoned automotive professional who turned her childhood love for cars into a 20-year career working with major automotive brands like BMW, Subaru, Nissan, and Infiniti.

In this episode of The Dealer Playbook, they talk about how she found her footing in a predominantly male space, the lessons she’s learned sitting in boardrooms across the automotive world, and what it really takes to create workplaces where every voice can be heard.

If you’re passionate about car sales, automotive leadership, or the human side of this business, this conversation will remind you why the industry is worth believing in.

NAMAD Sessions

Ron Wheeler spent 31 years on the retail side before moving into wholesale and technology. Now, as president of Infinity Dealer Services, he’s helping dealers protect customers in ways most people never think about.

In this conversation, Ron explains how a 90-second data cleanse can safeguard customers, boost compliance, and even open new revenue streams.

Watch the full video here.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Start Moving Smarter

Join us October 22 at 2:00PM ET as vAuto and Modern Automotive Group share how top dealer groups are rethinking vehicle transfers. Learn when, why, and how to move cars for maximum return without creating friction between rooftops.

This session breaks down the data, process, and communication strategies that turn inventory transfers from a headache into a high-return advantage.

Register now to learn the new rules of the road.

SOMETHING FUN

Great Scott Meets Great Merch

The iconic film Back to the Future turns 40 this year, and everyone wants in.

From LEGO sets to Crocs to watches, brands are rolling out anniversary merch faster than you can say 1.21 gigawatts.

Universal’s full-throttle celebration includes everything from guitars to Polly Pockets to tarot cards. Yes, really. It’s a flex in multi-category branding and proves that nostalgia still moves product.

If you’re in retail or marketing, take notes. The future isn’t just about innovation, it’s about remembering what people enjoy, and giving them a reason to love it all over again.

Quick Hits

• F1 races are coming to Apple TV in 2026. 🏎️

• Food assistance from the government is safe through October, but may be at risk if the shutdown continues. 🥗

• As if we don’t have enough to deal with, wildlife officials in Florida recently discovered the second case of “zombie deer disease.” 🧟‍♀️

Have a stupendous day, and a…