🚗 Signals Point to a Big Year for Dealers

It’s tempting to drift into a lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Luckily, we have no shortage of things keeping our hands on the wheel.

The Truth about Car Dealers Season 2 is on the way, and ASOTU CON 2026 will be here before we know it.

We’re staying busy crafting media to serve our community and collaborating on creative that keeps everything in focus.

We don’t want to call it early, but 2026 may be our year. 😆

What are you excited about? Hit reply and let us know.

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

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ICYMI

It’s Giving Thanks

We appreciate you for reading along this week and always.

We know many of you are still on the floor today, and we’re grateful you make space for us in the middle of your grind.

Wishing you a moment of calm and a plate of delicious leftovers later.

ICYMI

• On Monday, Hyundai pushed deeper into off-road concepts while Foxconn planted real roots in the EV battery world. CarNow introduced payment-first shopping to help buyers navigate affordability, Kia recalled 250,000 K5s for fuel-tank defects, and a Palo Alto neighborhood got flooded with Waymo robotaxis after a routing glitch. The throughline: tech momentum is growing, but trust, safety, and real-world impact still matter — especially for the people all this innovation is supposed to serve.

• Tuesday, Ford stayed steady despite a second fire at its key aluminum supplier, though F-150 output remains inconsistent. Robotaxis are gaining traction abroad, hinting at future adoption signals, but U.S. fleets remain limited and highly geofenced. Google’s Gemini AI is now baked into Android Auto, expanding in-car assistance. Mercedes laid out an aggressive U.S. luxury comeback, Hyundai claimed global profit gains, and research highlighted the five reliability sources EV shoppers trust most.

• On Wednesday, Cox Automotive’s latest data surfaced a mixed-bag economy: job growth without stability, spending that wobbles week-to-week, and a housing market thawing but still pricey. Supply-chain transparency is becoming non-negotiable as OEMs and suppliers try to avoid the blind spots that defined the last five years. Overseas, Tesla is losing ground in China while Europe’s EV mix grows. Meanwhile, in-car ads sparked fresh debate about boundaries inside connected vehicles.

• By Thursday, we heard that AI is becoming the first stop for nearly half of car shoppers, with many trusting it enough to shape decisions — and even determine which dealership they visit. That shift puts pressure on dealers to clean up data, strengthen VDPs, and stay visible in AI-filtered search. Ford’s Amazon partnership highlighted the risk of losing dealership identity in third-party funnels, while record holiday travel signaled a wave of service opportunities as millions hit winter roads.

• Then Black Friday kicked off a record-breaking stretch, with 186.9 million shoppers expected through Cyber Monday and holiday spending projected to top $1T for the first time. Consumers remain value-driven, leaning heavily on mobile and AI-assisted buying. Digital agents now influence 22% of global sales. In service, Curbee highlighted the 16 independent shops customers pass before reaching a dealership, underscoring retention challenges in a crowded market.

THE TRUTH ABOUT CAR DEALERS

Blast from the past! Check out the More Than Cars mash-up that we released last Thanksgiving to catch a glimpse into each of the first three inspiring episodes.

Plus, stay tuned…Season 2 is a-cookin’!

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• February 3-6: NADA Show 2026, Las Vegas, NV

• May 12-15: ASOTU CON 2026, Hanover, MD

SOMETHING FUN

The First Motorcycle Helmet With Integrated Augmented Reality Is Here

I was just getting adjusted to this reality… and now Shoei went ahead and updated it. The new GT-Air 3 Smart protects your noggin AND projects speed, navigation, calls, and radar warnings right into your eyeballs like your helmet suddenly unlocked DLC.

Remember when helmets just sat there, minding their business? Now they talk to you, talk to other helmets, and—thanks to the “unlimited range” mesh—might gossip behind your back.

It’s impressive, though. An integrated nano-OLED HUD you can read in direct sunlight? Intercom baked straight into the shell? No dangling modules? We’re officially cyborgs.

And at $1,199, it’s the most expensive reality upgrade you can buy without switching timelines.

Quick Hits

• Coffee Mate announced a new Butterbeer-flavored creamer and cold foam for Harry Potter fans this holiday season. 🍻

• Mexico recently added a smiling axolotl to its 50 peso note, and it’s so beloved that the bills are being hoarded. 🇲🇽

• After being rescued from the streets in 2022, Sgt. Bo has been crowned the 2025 Hero Dog Award by the American Humane Society after his service comforting students and families as a therapy dog. 🐶