🚗 Service Is Where the Shift Starts

TOGETHER WITH

July 31st

Our service is an indication of our direction.

From the mud pits at Rohrman Toyota to the EV tech stack in your shop, today’s stories remind us: the truly great stores don’t just move metal, they move people.

Whether it’s showing up for the fire department, translating tariffs for customers, or training teams for what’s next, service is the heartbeat. It’s where trust is built. And where the future takes shape.

Serve somebody well today!

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Mud, Teamwork, and Community Firepower

Rohrman Toyota’s annual Mud Run brought teams together for a day of fun, friendly competition, and giving back. CEO Ryan Rohrman shared on LinkedIn that while the event was free to join, all donations collected went directly to the Lafayette Fire Department.

These moments outside the showroom reflect the deeper role dealerships play, bringing people together and supporting those who serve their communities every day.

THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Yesterday, we had a special guest in the studio. Ben Hadley visited to talk AI, dealer tech, and Toyota’s latest flex in the face of tariffs.

Paul and Ben also watched a video by content creator Jaden Williams that hilariously captured how our relationship with AI tools like ChatGPT is changing. What started as a laugh turned into a thoughtful back-and-forth about how AI should challenge us, not just serve us. Catch their reaction here

Here’s what else they covered:

• Toyota’s resilience: Despite tariffs, Toyota’s U.S. exports rose 16% in June, driven by strong hybrid demand and laser-focused supply alignment.

• ChatGPT’s new “Study Mode”: OpenAI’s latest update uses guided questioning to help students learn, not cheat, hinting at how AI could evolve as a coaching tool across industries.

Worth a listen—and a share with your most curious team members.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Retail auto is evolving—from the way we sell, to the way the world builds what we sell. Our friend, Andrew Suntrup, says the “used car guy” stereotype is extinct. Why? Because today’s edge isn’t slickness—it’s clarity. Customers come informed. Our job now is to translate.

That same shift is showing up everywhere:

• Nissan just posted its first operating loss in 4 years, driven by tariffs and shrinking demand. It’s more than a bad quarter—it’s a wake-up call about global fragility and cautious OEM behavior ahead.

• Tesla’s $4.3B battery deal with LG in Michigan signals something bigger than storage: OEMs are pulling critical components stateside. Localization isn’t a trend—it’s a strategy.

Also on our radar:

• European luxury brands lost $889M to tariffs—price hikes likely.

• Manheim adds 6,500 acres with two auction acquisitions.

• EVs get a tech upgrade as NOR Flash memory fuels smarter systems—and smarter service demands.

You’re not just watching the shift—you’re leading through it.

TOGETHER WITH CARS.COM

What Other Leads Aren’t Telling You

Let’s be real — cold calls are awkward. But with detailed shopper insights from Cars.com, they don’t have to be. Before you even contact a lead, you'll know what they’ve been looking at, their budget, and even the inventory they’ve been browsing at other dealerships.

Their leads already close way better than the competition. But now? You're getting insider info on the 89% of Cars.com shoppers who haven't decided where to buy yet. That's the kind of intel that turns leads into deals.

Get Your Advantage with Cars.com

SOMETHING ELSE

Who Wins in the Age of Agentic AI?

In a recent Market Insights post, Bailey Pemberton spotlights a quiet but seismic shift in AI: the rise of agentic systems—AIs that don’t just generate, but decide and act. It’s a step beyond ChatGPT drafting an email. Imagine AI that reads the inbox, decides what matters, and replies on your behalf.

Andrew Ng says the biggest opportunity is in agentic workflows, not just scaling generative tools. That matters for dealers.

Retail auto already runs on workflows—sales, service, recon, and follow-up. The stores that win won’t just automate; they’ll rebuild processes around smart systems that take initiative and adapt.

What now?

Start by mapping repetitive workflows. Then, ask your tech partners: How are you building toward agentic functionality? It’s early, but waiting might cost more than experimenting now.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

YouTube Short: Compliance In Dealerships Matters Now More Than Ever

Check out the short above featuring Troy Duhon of Premiere Automotive Group and Jim Ganther of Mosaic Compliance Services on the critical importance of compliance in the dealership.

…or check out the full conversation here!

🥊 Quick Hits

• A Google Street View car caught images of a man in his birthday suit in his yard. The court awarded the man $12.5k. 🎂 

• The US Economy grew 3% in Q2. More than expected. 🤑 

• A startup is talking about using satellites to aim sunbeams at Earth even when it is night to keep renewable energy pumping. 😎 

🔁 Today in History

• 1971: The first drive on the moon 🌙 

• 1981: The last St. Louis Corvette 🏎️ 

• 2012: Michael Phelps breaks the record set in 1964 by Larisa Latynina for the most medals won at the Olympics. 🥇 

Thursday doesn’t get a lot of praise.