🚗 Pints, Policies, and Pizza

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to National Chocolate Ice Cream Day, Friend!

Whether you’ve been crushing it since sunrise or just barely staying vertical, we think everyone deserves a little treat for their efforts.

(Fun fact: Chocolate ice cream dates back to 1775, when an Italian doctor recommended it to cure scurvy, so it’s practically a medicine.)

So, go ahead and indulge a little today. We won't even tell if you pick a different flavor.

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

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ICYMI

The Weekly Highlights

The Daily Pushback Email

• On Monday, GM pulled ahead of Tesla in Canada with a 252% EV sales jump all thanks to the Equinox. The Haig Report showed profits are holding strong, but dealership sales remain sluggish. Only 68 rooftops changed hands last quarter, marking the slowest Q1 in a decade. And at ASOTU CON, the talk around innovation got real, with smarter pricing, better data use, and leaders doing less on purpose. 🧠
   

• Then on Tuesday, tariffs took the spotlight as the U.S. slapped a 25% fee on imported auto parts, pressuring OEMs to build stateside. EV battery prices dropped 20% last year, which should mean cheaper EVs—but most of those savings are stuck in China. And VW teased a big U.S. expansion plan that sounds exciting, but so far it's all talk. 🗣️
   

• Wednesday, Ford flexed with a 16% May sales jump as hybrids soared and EVs dipped. Cox expects the pace to cool after the spring tariff rush. Meanwhile, Meta teased AI-generated ads built from a single product photo, aiming for hyperlocal and low-cost marketing. 🤖
   

• By Thursday we learned that earth exports from China are drying up, triggering alarm bells across Europe and raising questions about U.S. supply chain risks. Hyundai rode pre-tariff anxiety to an 8% May sales boost, proving urgency still moves metal. 📈
   

• Be we knew it, it was Friday. Ram backtracked and brought the HEMI V8 roaring back for 2026, complete with a “Symbol of Protest” badge. EV launches are getting delayed while hybrid sales surge, and now rare earth export controls from China are officially gumming up the global supply chain. Also, Paul tried Detroit-style pizza for the first time thanks to our buddy, Steve Greenfield. 🍕

TOGETHER WITH RENEW ENERGY

Solar Made Simple

Renew Energy welcomed an incredible 14 new dealerships this week—and that’s just the beginning.

On average, dealers are seeing a 4:1 ratio of EV charger sales to solar installs. That’s right in line with Department of Energy data and a clear sign that customers want complete, at-home energy solutions. Plus, their referral incentive has been bumped to $500 per EV sold, making it even easier for dealers to turn every EV sale into a bigger opportunity.

Best of all? Customers are loving it. Instead of spending time hunting down public chargers, they’re plugging in at home—and spending more time with their families.

Renew Energy makes it simple, profitable, and hassle-free. Let’s power up your EV sales—partner with Renew Energy today.

PODCASTS

ASOTU CON 2025

This year, Robert Blessing (President of Renew Energy) helped lead the panel: The True Economics of EV Charging—a session that dismantled the “necessary expense” myth. Turns out, dealers are cashing in on chargers, stacking incentives, and turning parking spots into customer magnets.

It’s tactical, eye-opening, and brutally clear: EV infrastructure isn’t just overhead, it’s serious leverage. Tune into the replay to discover how some of the smartest dealers in the country are boosting profits with the power of the sun.

Auto Collabs

Alain Nana-Sinkam went from curating Matchbox car lots as a kid to reimagining how people buy cars today.

In this Auto Collabs episode, he explains why price alone no longer drives the deal. He unpacks how financing, protection products, and total ownership cost are reshaping the buying journey.

Alain offers a sharp take on empowering customers with clarity while keeping dealers central to the process. Catch the episode here.

The Dealer Playbook

In this candid convo with Alan Dickie from the Dealer Playbook, Michael Cirilo unpacks the non-negotiables that separate high-performers from the pack.

From the psychology behind selling to the mindset shifts that move the needle, Dickie breaks down why success is predictable when you understand all the rules.

Watch the replay here.

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Maher Chevrolet Rescues the Rescuers

When Hurricane Milton tore through Florida’s Gulf Coast, South Pasadena’s first responders dove into action, without the tools they truly needed. Their courage wasn’t lacking. Their equipment was.

But Maher Chevrolet of St. Petersburg saw the need.

Seeing their community in need, Maher didn’t just watch. They delivered. This winter, they gifted a fully equipped inflatable rescue boat to the South Pasadena Fire Department—designed for swift water rescues, flood navigation, and saving lives.

But they didn’t stop there.

They also purchased specialized stairs for the department’s new high-water vehicle, making rescues safer and smoother for both victims and first responders.

Executive Manager Greg Soulliere put it simply: “This is our home, too.”

In a world where headlines chase big numbers, this one’s about real people. Real needs. Real impact.

Maher Chevrolet didn’t just sell a car—they helped save lives.

That’s More Than Cars. That’s what dealers do.

More with Paul, Kyle, and Chris

Every Saturday, the ASOTU Crew slows down to celebrate the human stories all around the dealership community! We talked about this story (and a LOT of Little House on the Prairie) on this morning’s podcast.

Check it out on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

🥊 Quick Hits

• OpenAI is keeping all your GPT logs. Forever. For “reasons.” 🤖 

• Payrolls have increased by 139K; unemployment is at 4.2%. 📈 

• Studies show that U.S. tourism could fall by $12.5B this year. 📷️