🚗 Rise and Shine

TOGETHER WITH

Happy Easter weekend, Friend!

Whether you're planning for an early sunrise service, hunting eggs with the kids, or strategically nibbling chocolate bunnies (we all start with the ears, right??), we hope it's exactly what you need.

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

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ICYMI

The Week’s Email

Monday
Used cars surged, the Cybertruck got less flashy, and EV trade drama made waves from China to your sales desk. Plus, we teased our ASOTU CON Keynote, spotlighted Asbury’s gold-hearted volunteerism, and asked the eternal question: what happens when your shopping app is just...a guy in the Philippines?

Tuesday
Tariffs got real. Like, $6K-more-per-vehicle real. China retaliated, parts got pricier, and Polestar tried to poach Tesla fans with a 20K discount. But we kept it light with a Claude Silver keynote drop and a reminder: your GM dancing on TikTok might be your best marketing move.

Wednesday
EV sales soared globally, but U.S. tariffs could be the wet blanket at the party. Dealers are talking tariffs (like, a lot), and import exposure is sneakier than you think. Oh—and Katy Perry went to space. What a time to be alive, or a Ford buyer.

Thursday
Affordability improved! (Briefly.) Inventory plummeted! (Also briefly.) The hybrid Palisade looks spicy, Harbinger’s working trucks are real, and Bernie Moreno became the first U.S. Senator to say “BDC” on a podcast. The ASOTU CON agenda is live, and so are your fleet sales if you play this right.

Friday
Suppliers said, “Pay the tariffs up front,” and just like that, cost pressure trickled down to your parts desk. Used prices jumped. New car sales projections dipped. But if you’re stocking smart and servicing well, Q2 could still be your playground. Plus, Easterns showed how “More Than Cars” gets real.

➕ More

Check out more from each of these days in our Daily Digest on LinkedIn.

TOGETHER WITH TOMA

Toma Automates More Phone Calls End-to-End—No Humans Needed

From booking service to detecting recalls, quoting trade-in values, and following up on sales leads, Toma automates it all. While other AI solutions rely on scripts and hand-offs, Toma integrates directly with your systems and talks like a real team member. That’s how dealers are saving 40+ hours/week and capturing $25K+ revenue monthly without lifting a finger.

Let your team focus on people, not phones.

👉 Explore use cases + try a live demo

DATA & INSIGHT

Live and In Person

We had some extra special Automotive State of the Union episodes this week—above is Paul and Kyle’s talk with Senator Bernie Moreno!

Check out more:

• Paul and Michael talk Bezo’s secret EV startup.

• Paul and Kyle live from NYC at the JD Power Auto Forum

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

ASOTU CON 2025

Alright, it’s official. The agenda is locked.
And wow… It’s a lot.

We’re not just stacking sessions, we’re creating a moment. ASOTU CON 2025 is where the most forward-thinking dealers and partners gather to press into what’s next. For their stores, their people, and the culture we’re all building.

So if you’re wondering what kind of value you’ll walk away with…here are 5 (more) reasons to pay attention now that the full schedule is live:

1️⃣ Claude. Freaking. Silver.

Chief Heart Officer of VaynerMedia. The real deal when it comes to human-first leadership.

Claude is kicking off Day 1 with The Heart of Convergence, and if there’s one person who can speak to the soul of business while still holding the numbers accountable, it’s her.

This alone is worth the ticket.

2️⃣ Topics That Meet You Where You Actually Work

From Cut Costs, Not Care (health insurance hacks from real-deal operators) to Start Selling the Way Buyers Want to Buy, this is strategy you can take straight back to the store.

No ivory tower vibes. Just honest conversations and practical moves.

3️⃣ Pitch Tank: Triple Threat Edition

We’re bringing Pitch Tank to three studios and the main stage this year. That means more innovation, more dealer-led solutions, and more moments that’ll make you say “Why aren’t we doing that yet?”

4️⃣ AI That Gets Out of the Way

It’s not about hype. It’s about utility.

Sessions like Maximizing Profits with AI, AI Sales Agents: Friend or Foe?, and SEO to GEO are diving straight into what’s working right now, from showroom to search results.

5️⃣ It’s a Party With a Purpose

We don’t do dull. Between the happy hours, hallway hangs, and BBQ Can Change the World (it can and it will), ASOTU CON feels like a reunion of the people who still believe in this business, and each other.

Check out the full agenda and…

🔁 Today in History

• 1951: Mercedes-Benz 300 & 220 debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. 🥳 

• 1987: The Simpsons first appeared as a series of shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show, first starting with "Good Night." 🍩 

• 2005: Bugatti Veyron sets production speed record. ⚡️