🚗 Numbers Don’t Lie

Welcome to Saturday, Friend!

We hauled a whole mess of content back from the LA Auto Show last month.

We’ve been head-down editing since to bring you all the fresh insights and inspiration from everything we filmed.

The first convos are live with more on the way.

Follow along on YouTube and LinkedIn to catch what’s rolling out as it drops.

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

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ICYMI

Recapping the Week

Monday

The week kicked off with a policy-heavy slate. Europe debated whether biofuels should get a seat at the post-2035 table, automakers pushed hard for AI-driven quality gains, and Congress sparred over the price impact of new safety mandates. Tesla’s China sales also hit a three-year low.

All of it matters because global policy and production shifts eventually shape what lands in your showroom.

Tuesday

Tariffs took the spotlight as automakers raced to localize production and avoid massive monthly fees. Hybrids surged as Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia doubled down on U.S. manufacturing and electrified options. Tesla’s European drop contrasted with a Norway surge, showing EV demand is fragmenting, not collapsing. Even off-road nameplates grabbed attention as more brands join the overlanding arms race.

Bottom line: product mix is evolving fast.

Wednesday

Midweek was all about the practical impact of headlines on real buyer behavior. The U.S. cut tariffs on South Korean imports, Tesla posted a surprise November bump in China, and Ford confirmed a Bronco-branded plug-in hybrid for Europe. EV sales cooled as tax credits expired, but hybrids and ICE stayed steady.

Through it all, shoppers kept asking the same thing: what’s the payment?

Thursday

EV sales declines dominated Thursday’s news, but the real story was a broader market recalibration. Volvo, Ford, Hyundai, and Honda all saw EV drops while hybrids surged and ICE remained stable. Nissan leaned harder into U.S. sourcing to manage tariff exposure. Dealer sentiment slipped according to Cox, reflecting soft traffic, rising inventory, and cautious profitability.

Not doom and gloom, just the return of real retail conditions.

Friday

Policy, product, and pricing converged to close out the week. U.S. fuel rules may ease, Europe confirmed combustion engines can continue after 2035 with cleaner fuels, and GM restructured its leadership to speed up product development. Payments stayed top of mind, with average new-car notes around $749. Shoppers remain rate-sensitive, but stability in mix and sourcing is taking shape.

Plenty of opportunities ahead for dealers who stay clear and proactive.

PODCASTS

Automobility LA

Recorded live at the LA Auto Show, we sit down with Assistant Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Symington to unpack how Honda is approaching its multi-year partnership with the LA28 Olympics and Team USA.

The conversation then moves from global stage to everyday showroom, which makes this episode a surprisingly grounded look at what “the future” really feels like on the inside.

Watch the full episode to discover how Honda is shaping its next chapter.

The Dealer Playbook

Some dealerships chase trends. Lang & Fetter Ford built a community.

In this conversation, Noella Salter shares how a rural Canadian store turned honest storytelling, consistent creativity, and a willingness to show real people into a social presence the entire industry now studies.

You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of how to build real connection online without overthinking the algorithm.

Check out the replay here.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

The Real Cost of Courtesy

Vehicles, insurance, staffing, maintenance—there’s a whole stack of hidden costs hiding behind the friendly shuttle driver.

So, on Wednesday, December 10th at 2pm EST, we’re bringing in two people who actually live in this data: Trevor Stanco from Uber for Business and John Church from Lithia Motors.

Together, we unpack what courtesy transport truly costs dealerships today and why major groups are exploring more flexible, variable-cost models.

If you have ever questioned your shuttle or loaner program, this is the conversation to catch. Save your spot today!

SOMETHING FUN

Hyundai’s MobED Is on the Move

Hyundai just unveiled its first production-ready autonomous robot platform: the Mobile Eccentric Droid (MobED, for short).

Originally shown as a concept at CES 2022, MobED is now ready for the real world, complete with AI-powered navigation, adaptive posture control, and a modular design.

The platform comes in two models. The Basic version is manually controlled, while the Pro version adds full self-driving capabilities. Both are compact and capable, with a four-hour runtime and payloads of up to 125 pounds.

Designed to reduce the need for specialized robots, MobED can be adapted for delivery, logistics, research, or factory work. Commercial sales begin in 2026, positioning it as a practical tool for a wide range of industries.

Quick Hits

• Pantone names “Cloud Dancer” the 2026 Color of the Year. ☁️

• The national average for a gallon of regular gas dips to under $3 for the first time since 2021. ⛽️

• The New York Times is suing the generative AI search company, Perplexity, for copyright infringement. 🗞️

• X has been hit with a €120M (~$140M) fine by the European Commission over the deceptive design of its blue checkmark. 🐦

Thanks for reading along, Friend!