🚗 Recaps and Solar Power

TOGETHER WITH

Well, well, well. Look who made it to Saturday.

Today’s email is the usual Saturday recap, but we’ve got a write-up of a great webinar from earlier this week, too. Check it out.

Then, if you were planning on coming to ASOTU CON, today is the day. Buy your ticket and meet us in Hanover!

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

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THE NEWS

Reflecting on the Week

Monday: Stack Em Up, Trucks Soar, and CA Dealers Vs Sony Honda
Stellantis stacked incentives for major savings—$20K off Rams in some cases—while VW’s EV sales couldn’t outpace their profit drop. Ford’s hybrids surged while EVs lagged, and Chinese automakers kept the pressure on. Meanwhile, California dealers began investigating Sony Honda’s DTC tactics, possibly poking at state franchise law. And ASOTU CON’s almost here—get those fingerprints ready.

Tuesday: Slate Shakes the Industry?, Lifesaving Training, and Gas Backups
Slate’s $20K EV pickup stirred buzz, but we’re still waiting for proof. Tesla discounts say demand’s soft, while Hyundai’s tax-credit-eligible Ioniq 5 is a short-term win. Scout’s adding gas generators to its EVs, and tariffs have Audi and Volvo sweating. Meanwhile, Rick Case dealers in Florida showed what community means with CPR kits saving lives across counties.

Wednesday: Ford’s Forecast Flops, Hyundai Charges Ahead, and Culture Wins in the Shop
Ford pulled its 2025 forecast after a $1.5B tariff hit, while Hyundai synced up with Tesla’s charging ecosystem. Rivian’s building literal tunnels for better logistics, and J.D. Power said trust still lives at the dealership. Ferrari raised prices by $50K thanks to tariffs, and Leadcar Honda won hearts with personalized banners for its tech team. Culture, meet strategy.

Thursday: Headline Mayhem, Rivian’s Cash Boost, and Used Car Chaos
Used car prices spiked 2.7% as tariffs stirred buyer panic. Rivian secured $1B from VW to power its next-gen crossovers. Nissan and Mitsubishi swapped nameplates like trading cards, and Lucid’s riding hype while BMW bets on tariff relief. Plus: the ASOTU CON app is live, Mother’s Day is coming, and GTA 6 is blowing up Gen Z group chats.

Friday: Carvana Climbs, Fed Pauses, and Toyota Feels the Tariff Burn
Carvana posted record profits, surprising nearly everyone. Used car prices kept climbing, the Fed held rates steady (again), and Tesla ditched its Cybertruck range extender. Toyota forecasted a $6.7B hit, and shoppers are starting to freeze. Meanwhile, dealerships like Byers Subaru served breakfast to teachers and reminded us why the heart of retail auto is still people.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Spotify MAY sell audiobooks on Apple phones soon. 📕 

• OpenAI hires Instacart chief. 🧑‍🍳 

• “Doom: The Dark Ages” is getting some pretty cool reviews. 🎮️ 

TOGETHER WITH RENEW ENERGY

Turn EV Sales Into a Solar-Powered Win

As early EV adopters cycle out, the future of EV sales hinges on affordability, especially charging. If your buyers are paying $45 at public stations, that’s a problem.

With Renew Energy, your store can offer home charging and solar solutions that cut costs to just 7.5–15 bucks per charge. It’s turnkey, fast-install, and dealership-friendly.

You’ll earn referral revenue while helping your customers charge at home, save big, and say yes to their next EV.

Future-proof your store and close more EV deals.

DATA & INSIGHT

Turn Every Lead Into Gold: Why Video Is the Sales Tool You’re Not Using Enough

Fewer buyers. Higher costs. Bigger headwinds. Welcome to the new normal.

If you’re in retail auto, you’ve already felt the squeeze: less foot traffic, spiking acquisition costs, and a market warped by interest rates and tariff talk. But instead of just tightening the belt, smart dealers are tightening their follow-up—and they’re doing it with video.

In a recent ASOTU Edge webinar, Covideo’s VP of Marketing Margaret Henney and Vorderman Volkswagen’s SVP & GM Daryl Perry sat down with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier to break down exactly how video is helping dealerships do more with less—and win.

The Stats Speak Louder Than Words

Let’s skip the fluff: Dealers using personalized video are setting 3x the appointments and selling 2.4x more cars than their non-video-using peers. That’s not a nice-to-have. That’s a competitive edge. Whether it’s sending a short walkaround clip, following up after a showroom visit, or delivering appointment reminders, video adds a personal touch that email can’t match.

Video Makes You Human

“People don’t buy from dealerships—they buy from you,” Kyle Mountsier said during the conversation. And that’s the secret sauce. Video bridges the gap between online lead and real-world relationship, putting a face, voice, and tone to the message. It builds trust, shortens sales cycles, and makes it easier for your team to convert leads—especially the ones who are already in your CRM but haven’t heard from you in a while.

Real Tips, Not Just Talk

This wasn’t a fluffy “rah-rah” session. Margaret and Daryl came with receipts. You’ll walk away with:

• Proven script templates that actually work

• Shortcut strategies using canned and personalized videos

• A clear plan to train your team and boost buy-in

Even better? The strategies work across new and used departments, BDCs, and even for long-distance buyers unsure about committing sight-unseen.

Bottom Line: You Already Have the Leads. Now Convert Them.

If your store is feeling the pressure (and whose isn’t?), it’s time to rethink how you show up. Literally. This 29-minute webinar will give you tools you can start using today to boost conversions and cut through the noise.

🔁 Today in History

• 1869: The first transcontinental railroad, linking the eastern and western United States, is completed at Promontory Summit, Utah. 🚂 

• 1904: Audi is founded (sort of). 🥳 

• 1908: Mother's Day is observed for the first time in the United States. 💗