🚗 Simple Systems, Smart Outcomes

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to Saturday, Friend!

We added a few more rocket boosters to our crew the last few weeks, and the pace is already picking up around here.

Fresh energy, fresh perspectives, full steam ahead!

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

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ICYMI

Recapping the Week

The Daily Pushback Email

• On Monday, CDK’s 2025 Workplace Study showed improved satisfaction but lingering retention concerns. Meanwhile, Gen Z shoppers expect showroom tech to match hospitality standards, and a U.S.–China trade truce failed to prevent more chip-related slowdowns. 🍪
   

• Then on Tuesday, mobile service took center stage as dealers like Apple Tree Honda expanded on-the-go repairs and Toyota teased a new hybrid V-8. Nissan faced backlash over its stair-step-style bonus plan, and shoppers returned to physical stores for the holidays, favoring tradition over convenience. 🛍️
   

• On Wednesday we saw Toyota’s profits slip 25% as tariffs offset hybrid growth, and Kia delayed its EV4 launch due to shifting import costs. GM cut 1,750 jobs and reshuffled tech leadership, while Walmart brought back print catalogs. 📖
   

• By Thursday, Honda announced plans for a lighter, more efficient hybrid platform, aiming for 2.3M sales by 2030. BMW maintained strong margins despite tariff headwinds, and Rivian posted a rare profit. Meanwhile, Waymo expanded AV services, and the used car market stayed weird—tight inventory, long loans, high prices. 💰
   

• Finally, on Friday, Holman launched a robotics division, Walmart kicked off three Black Friday events, and automakers urged USMCA renewal as Japan’s Big Three shifted toward India. Transparency proved key to customer satisfaction, while wholesale prices continued to dip. 📉 

TOGETHER WITH DAVE CANTIN GROUP

Nelly Headlines All-Star Lineup at Dave Cantin Group's NADA Celebration

Get ready for the ultimate industry celebration at NADA 2026!

Join Dave Cantin Group to celebrate the who's who of the automotive world for a night to remember at LIV Las Vegas Nightclub inside the Fontainebleau Thursday, Feb. 5 2026.

Headlined by hip-hop icons Nelly, Fat Joe and Rev Run, this exclusive invite-only experience is one for the books.

Request your table or VIP pass at [email protected] and be part of what we know is THE most legendary celebration at NADA.

PODCASTS

ASOTU Edge Webinars

AI won’t save you from messy data. In fact, it’ll just make the mess faster.

Dave Steinberg of Foureyes and Daniel Kim of Barnes Crossing share how to connect your CRM, DMS, and vendor data into one clean pipeline so automation actually works.

Catch the full breakdown here.

Auto Collabs

What if “guest experience” wasn’t a slogan, but a system?

In this episode of Auto Collabs, former teacher turned automotive leader Adam Gaedke shares how he helped scale a dealership group from one store to eighteen by making hospitality repeatable, not aspirational.

Listen in for a masterclass on operationalizing hospitality that actually works.

The Dealer Playbook

If your customers are asking ChatGPT instead of Google, who’s answering for your store?

Marcus Sheridan joins The Dealer Playbook to reveal how search is shifting, why “faster and more human” wins online, and what dealers can do now to stay in the conversation.

Catch the replay here.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• November 10–11: Vincue Unleashed — Kansas City, MO

• November 15: Giving Hope Gala — New Orleans, LA

• November 16–18: Modern Retailing Conference — Palm Beach, FL

• November 20: Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show — Los Angeles, CA

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

SOMETHING FUN

Ford’s Dealerships Get a Makeover

Ford’s new Signature 2.0 experience is redesigning dealerships to feel less like a stressful sales floor and more like a cozy coffee shop.

Instead of pushy pitches, shoppers will find brand ambassadors, cozy hospitality spaces, and yes, plenty of snacks. No cubicles. No pressure. Just relaxed, choose-your-own-adventure energy.

The refresh will hit 20 showrooms across 10 countries this year, with 110 more stores rolling out by the end of 2026.

More than a remodel, it’s a sign of the times. People want comfort, control, and connection, and Ford’s betting big on all three.

Get Paul and Kyle’s take on the upgrades here.

Quick Hits

• Ontario passed a bill banning speed cameras beginning November 14th. 📸

• EV drivers in Britain may soon face a pay-per-mile fee to offset the loss of petrol tax revenue. 💸

• The Farmers' Almanac—which has released an annual magazine every year since 1818—will issue it’s final publication next year. 🌾

• Chick-fil-a is testing a new vending machine (but it’s still unavailable on Sunday). 🍗

Thanks for reading along, Friend!