🚗 Nostalgic Horsepower?

🚙 AI-Animals, China All Over, and Convenient is the Expectation

November 11, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Most of our team saw snow yesterday. Some (the Syracuse team) more than others (the Nashville team).

Of course, some saw none at all and never will. (Looking at you, Florida team)

At the risk of sounding boring, how’s the weather in your part of the world?

Tag us with your most interesting fall leaves, snow piles, or beachside sunsets on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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From the Automotive State of the Union

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Kyle and Michael kicked off the week, reminding us why Mondays matter — “It’s the day we get to connect with people and put our hands to the ground.”

Ford is reportedly rethinking the all-electric F-150 Lightning after $2.2B in losses and soft demand. Production’s still paused after a supplier fire, and sales have flatlined. As Kyle put it, “Great products still need great distribution.”

At SEMA, automakers turned nostalgia into horsepower — Ford’s Maverick 300T, Honda’s rally-ready Civic, Toyota’s retro Trail Cruiser. “It’s like Hollywood,” Michael joked. “No new plots, just better remakes.”

And Progressive’s new ad features AI-generated animals driving cars. Weird, yes — but a sign AI videos are picking up steam… maybe.

Whether it’s EVs, personalization, or AI llamas, innovation only works when people buy in.

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The Daily Digest

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We’re putting the “info” in “infomercial.”

China: The Quiet Power Behind the Noise

The global auto story keeps looping back to China — sometimes as the solution, sometimes as the headache.

Renault is reportedly swapping a French supplier for a cheaper Chinese stator in its next-gen rare-earth-free motor, a reminder that “Made in France” still needs China to pencil.

Honda, meanwhile, faces growing pressure from Chinese EV makers like BYD, whose fast, affordable models are eating into Japan’s longtime hold on Southeast Asia.

And Beijing made two quiet but important moves:

  • Suspending port fees on U.S.-linked ships for a year, softening trade friction.

  • Restarting chip exports from Nexperia, easing the supply squeeze for automakers like VW and Bosch.

So yes — China is still both the problem and the solution. And as those global ripples settle, they shape the flow of parts, production, and new-model timing back here at home.

India: Party Like It’s Diwali

While China tightens, India’s auto market is exploding.

October was the country’s best month ever for vehicle sales — up 40.5% year over year, boosted by tax cuts, festivals, and rural demand.

Two-wheelers led (+52%), passenger cars rose 11%, and dealership traffic hit records. Automakers are pouring billions into Indian factories, turning the country into both a growth market and a global supply hedge.

Seems like “Made in India” could soon be stamped on parts and vehicles heading this way, too.

EV Limbo: The Pause Between Songs

After federal tax credits expired, EV sales fell 47% in October, but J.D. Power says interest is holding strong: 60% of shoppers still plan to consider one, and 94% of EV owners will stay electric next time.

The floor isn’t empty — people just stepped off for water. EV demand isn’t dying; it’s digesting.

Porsche vs. The Collection: A Case to Watch

Down in Coral Gables, The Collection is suing Porsche AG for $100 million, claiming the automaker limited vehicle allocations after the dealer refused to build a stand-alone Porsche store.

A Florida judge just cleared the case to head toward trial after rejecting Porsche’s latest dismissal bid.

It’s one dealership, one dispute — but if it sets precedent, it could redefine how exclusivity demands and allocation power play out across luxury brands.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

Today in History

  • 1889 – The State of Washington is admitted as the 42nd state of the United States. 🇺🇸 

  • 1978 – The Dukes of Hazzard film iconic jump 🦘 

  • 1993 – A sculpture honoring women who served in the Vietnam War is dedicated at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. 🕊️ 

Bye for now!

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