🚗 Stellantis Drops Nearly 10%

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Monday again, Friend!

You can have the greatest job in the world, and sometimes Monday is still going to feel like a cold splash of water. So enjoy the email, and be kind to yourself. Literally, nobody has ever been you on August 19th. So you are always in uncharted territory.

Today, we looked at Stellantis and its upset stakeholders, Rivian hitting pause on Amazon vans, one driver’s experiences with charging, and a bunch of in-car features covered in a lightning-round fashion.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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BUSINESS

News: Stellantis, Rivian, and “Do We REALLLLY Need It?”

Stellantis Gets Slammed by Shareholders Over Earnings Mess-Up

First up, Stellantis is in hot water with its shareholders. The automaker is getting hit with a lawsuit from its U.S. investors, who claim Stellantis misled them about rising inventories and other issues before dropping some seriously disappointing earnings.

That news sent the stock plummeting nearly 10%. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, argues Stellantis inflated its stock price by giving overly rosy assessments, only for the truth to come out in July when earnings didn’t meet expectations. Stellantis is calling the lawsuit baseless, but it’s not a great look for the company.

Rivian Puts Amazon Van Production on Pause Due to Parts Shortage

Next, Rivian is hitting pause on production of its Amazon delivery vans due to—you guessed it—a parts shortage. The electric vehicle maker hasn’t specified which part is causing the issue, but they’re confident they can make up for the lost production.

This is just the latest in a series of supply chain headaches for Rivian, which has been under pressure as Amazon, one of its biggest investors, has ordered 100,000 vans to be delivered by 2030. Despite this, Rivian assures us that production of their other vehicles remains on track.

Do We Really Need DC Fast Charging? One EV Driver Says No

And finally, do we really need DC fast charging? Kevin Williams doesn’t think so. After putting 1,000 miles on a Hyundai Kona using only Level 1 and Level 2 charging, he’s questioning the obsession with those high-speed chargers that act like gas stations.

Williams argues that for daily driving, most of us don’t need DC fast charging at all. Instead, he’s advocating for more Level 2 infrastructure—slower, but more accessible and better suited to the way most people actually use their EVs.

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BUSINESS CONT’D

Ford, Headrests, Rivian, and Tesla: Add Ons!

Lincoln Navigator: Your New Rolling Spa

Ford’s 2025 Lincoln Navigator isn’t just an SUV—it’s a mobile sanctuary.

• Includes a 48-inch front display for gaming and videos.

• Features “Lincoln Rejuvenate” mode with seat massage, climate control, and calming scents.

• Starts under $100,000 with more pricing details coming in spring 2025.

Headrests: Still a Pain in the Neck

J.D. Power’s latest study shows headrests are still the top complaint in car seats.

• Headrests are the biggest gripe in seat comfort for the fifth year running.

• Issues include poor adjustability and awkward positioning.

• Kia and Subaru seats rank highly in satisfaction, but headrests still need work.

Rivian’s Tailgate Kitchen: Cook Anywhere

Rivian’s new $1,400 Travel Kitchen is the ultimate camping companion.

• Compact design fits on your vehicle’s tailgate with two induction burners.

• Includes a cutting board, utensil drawer, and pop-out towel bar.

• Powered by a 120V outlet, perfect for on-the-go cooking.

Tesla’s $700 Cybertruck Cooler: Cool and Convenient

Tesla adds a $700 cooler to the Cybertruck’s growing list of unique accessories.

• Specifically designed to fit perfectly in the Cybertruck’s front trunk (frunk).

• Made with stainless steel and premium insulation to keep contents cold for days.

• Ideal for tailgating, camping, or any on-the-road adventures. 

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS 

#MobileTruckMonday

Bozard Ford Lincoln’s Mobile Truck Monday is taking service to the streets, thanks to Jeremy Stephens, Remote Operations Director, and Ed Roberts, COO, who are leading the charge.

This innovative initiative, launched during the early stages of COVID, has transformed how they connect with customers, bringing skilled technicians directly to them. What started with seven vans has now grown to 23, showcasing a significant scaling effort.

Jeremy’s advice? “Don’t overthink it. Keep the process simple, prioritize people, and then implement technology.”

Join the movement by tagging #MobileTruckMonday and see how mobile service is revolutionizing the auto industry.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

See You There

👨‍⚖️ TODAY! August 19th — Paul and Kyle are judging the Automotive Amplifiers Contest with Reynolds & Reynolds in Leesburg, VA.

🌴 August 20-24th — NAMAD Conference in Miami, FL.

🍎 September 16th — The Welcome Conference in NYC.

🦀 May 13-16th, 2025 — ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland.

Quick Hits

• Walmart is ending drone delivery in three states to focus on scaling the service in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, aiming to perfect and expand its drone delivery operations. 🤖 

• Age Of Empires is coming back as a mobile game. ⚔️ 

• Google has opened access to Imagen 3, its latest AI image generation model, focusing on high-quality output and minimizing potential harms, now available through ImageFX. 🎨 

History

• 1934: The first All-American Soap Box Derby is held in Dayton, Ohio. 🧼 

• 1958: Production of the luxury Packard automobiles ended shortly after Packard merged with Studebaker. 🔚 

• 2004: Google Inc. has its initial public offering on Nasdaq. 🔍️ 

Thanks for reading, friend! It is Monday, just like last week was and next week will be. But YOU are completely different. You’re wiser, and that can be the whole world of difference.