🚗 Saturday At Last

TOGETHER WITH

“When dealers band together, no crisis can win.”

It’s part observation and part decleration, my Friend.

Look at the history of the retail auto community and let yourself believe in its future. Not as some sort of default destination, but as a better culture, situation, and environment we can band together and work toward.

In case you missed it, ASOTU CON 2025 is a few days in May dedicated to this reality.

It’s where we put it all on the table, and we hope you will too.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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ICYMI

This Week’s News Review

Monday, April 7: The Inventory Level Shuffle
A tariff-fueled week kicked off with expert insights from Matthews Auto COO Vincent Salvagni on inventory strategy, a Carvana play for used car dominance, and Stellantis’ and Nissan’s shifting production. Plus, Steele Auto Group showed how "More Than Cars" looks in action, and we spotlighted MIA’s AI tool helping dealerships stay connected 24/7.

Tuesday, April 8: A Word From Liza
Carter Myers CEO Liza Borches cut through the tariff noise with clear messaging that built trust, while Rep. Mike Kelly braced the industry for a shock. FM Capital’s $240M fund, backed by 56 dealer groups, confirmed: dealers aren’t just adapting, they’re investing in the future. Also, AI image gen updates and why Foureyes is your follow-up MVP.

Wednesday, April 9: Inventory, Communication, and Service
With tariff pressure mounting, we laid out how to manage inventory, talk to customers, and maximize aftersales service. Audi paused U.S. shipments, Stellantis offered supplier support, and Ford got scrappy with Maverick marketing. Dealers were reminded: in this chaos, strategic service and stock planning might be your most stable path to profit.

Thursday, April 10: Fixed Ops Heroes
A 90-day tariff pause gave markets a jolt, but imported parts are still on the hot seat. That makes Fixed Ops your profit MVP. Ford’s bold employee pricing proved irresistible, while Canada and South Korea responded to tariffs with their own moves. Plus, Subaru of Jax set a giving record and showed what “Love” really looks like.

Friday, April 11: Inventory is Moving
March saw sales spike as buyers raced ahead of tariff increases. But while most tariffs paused, the auto import tax stayed, tightening margins and timelines. Buying smart (not just selling hard) was the theme, with tactics for grossing higher. Mia Labs prepped for ASOTU CON, and Recurrent brought clarity to EV selling without the crutch of incentives.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Researchers have caught AI “misrepresenting” their reasoning process. Which we call “lying” when humans do it. 🤖 

• Go get your favorite internet-enabled screen, Black Mirror is back to tell you internet-enabled screens are low-key ruining everything. 📱 

• All this talk of tariffs made us forget to check on egg prices. Checks Egg Prices Oof. Nevermind. 🥚 

TOGETHER WITH RENEW ENERGY

Renew Energy + Plug In America = EV Education Done Right

Renew Energy is now the exclusive Plug In America partner in California, helping lead the charge as more dealers plug into the EV evolution.

Their support of PlugStar, the national leader in EV dealer training and certification, means your team can sell with more confidence and clarity, no matter where you're located. Dealers trained with PlugStar sell 4x more EVs and consistently deliver a better customer experience.

Curious? Learn more or sign up here.

Because EVs aren’t the future anymore. They’re the now. And PlugStar helps you meet the moment.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🚙 5 Things Not to Miss at ASOTU CON 2025

We’re preparing this agenda with the most forward-thinking dealers in mind. Every topic is selected to tackle the big questions you’re already asking... or the ones you’ll need to ask next.

From insights that challenge the status quo to tactics you can apply as soon as you’re back at the store, ASOTU CON 2025 is designed to sharpen your edge and recharge your mindset while never losing sight of the bottom line.

(There’s gold in them hills)

Here are 5 things you won’t want to miss:

1. AI That Actually Helps You Sell Cars

Forget the buzzwords. This is about real tools already transforming the sales floor.
From conversational sales agents that actually close deals to unified customer stories that break down walls between marketing and sales, ASOTU CON will deliver practical ways to boost profits, improve customer experience, and save valuable time.

✅ Bonus: Learn how generative AI is changing the rules of SEO and putting dealers back on top.

2. EVs Without the Hand-Wringing

No drama. Just the facts and strategies that actually work.
Whether it’s making EVs profitable without rebates or understanding the economics of charging infrastructure, we’re bringing the clearest, most up-to-date take on how EVs fit into your store’s future.

⚡ Reality check: You may rethink your Q3 strategy once you see the latest data.

3. Fixed Ops Goes Mobile (Literally)

The driveway is the new service lane.
As mobile service gains momentum, the best dealers are using it to win customer loyalty, increase efficiency, and add serious convenience. We’ll show you how to bring the service experience to your customers before someone else does.

🛠️ Hint: If your service can move, your customer base just grew.

4. Compliance That Doesn’t Kill Momentum

Yes, it’s serious. Yes, it’s fixable.
Dealers are already getting hit with costly enforcement actions. But with better deal flow strategies and sharper processes, you can eliminate inefficiencies, avoid legal risks, and keep your operation moving at full speed.

⚖️ Simple win: Protect your business while improving performance.

5. BBQ, Culture, and the Unexpected

We’re not kidding. BBQ really can change the world.
This session blends savory bites with meaningful insight on team building, leadership, and the deep connection between culture and business success. Great food and fresh perspective included.

🔥 Come for the brisket. Leave with a renewed sense of purpose.

There’s more to come, but these are just a few reasons why ASOTU CON 2025 is shaping up to be our most powerful event yet.

We’re preparing it for you. So you can return to your business sharper, stronger, and more connected than ever.

See you there?

🔁 Today in History

• 1928 – The Bremen, a German Junkers W 33 type aircraft, takes off for the first successful transatlantic aeroplane flight from east to west. 🌊 

• 1955 – The polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, is declared safe and effective. 💉 

• 1961 – Space Race: The Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to travel into outer space and perform the first crewed orbital flight, Vostok 1. 🚀