🚗 Summer Sounds, F&I AI, and Relief

🚙 Stay in Control, Consumer Habits, and Tesla Home Power

August 12, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

August 12th.

August is known for being the last big burst of summer heat before autumn sets in, and in the heat, water is gold!

So, the next time you go to shake hands with a new face in the showroom, bring a bottle along.

It won’t sell a car, but it will serve a person.

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

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SOMETHING FUN

Song Sound of the Summer

Forget one-hit wonders. This summer’s soundtrack lives on TikTok, where a 2024 Jet2 ad jingle from Jess Glynne’s Hold My Hand has scored over 2.2 million video uses. It’s become the go-to sound for everything going hilariously wrong, turning a catchy tune into meme gold.

Marketers take note.

Sometimes it’s not a song, but the right sound that defines the moment.

From the Automotive State of the Union

Paul and Michael talked about loans, Jags, and consumer habits yesterday:

  • Auto loan relief: New York Fed reports Q2 2025 auto loan rejection rates dropped sharply to 6.7% from 19% last year. More middle-income buyers are ready to purchase, with Santander finding that 55% plan to buy a vehicle in the next year.

  • Jaguar’s EV luxury push: Jaguar is gearing up for the electric future, unveiling plans for a bespoke EV platform and three ultra-luxury models by 2030—including a $150K, 600-hp electric sedan launching next year.

  • Consumer spending habits: Despite cautious budgets, 72% of Americans made unplanned in-store discretionary purchases last month, drawn by sales events and appealing displays, according to a new Optimum Retailing survey.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Click to read the full digest.

Steve Greenfield’s trusted intel reveals tariffs have already cost automakers nearly $12 billion and are triggering costly, years-long supply chain shifts. Dealers face tighter margins and changing inventory values. Those embracing transparency and community care will be best positioned to adapt.

Tesla’s New Charge: Powering Homes in the UK

Tesla is pushing beyond EVs, applying to supply electricity to British homes—a bold move blending automotive with energy tech. Dealers should watch how this multi-industry approach could reshape customer expectations.

In Brief:

  • Europe’s strong euro slows earnings growth to 3.1%, impacting export-heavy firms and luxury brands.

  • EV sales surged in July ahead of the September 30 tax credit cutoff, but a sharp Q4 decline is expected.

  • CATL’s temporary shutdown of a major lithium mine in China spikes lithium prices, potentially affecting battery supply and vehicle costs globally.

🥊 Quick Hits

  • A Danish zoo will “dispose” of unwanted pets in their predator cages if you’d like. 🐈️ 

  • Paramount paid almost $8b to broadcast UFC. 🥊 

  • 200 Claude fans gathered to have a funeral for an older model of the AI. What a world. 🪦 

You Can’t Sell What You Can’t Find

Every minute spent tracking down a vehicle is a customer second-guessing your dealership. Whether it’s a porter dropping a car at offsite storage, a sales rep taking it home overnight, or just poor communication — when you lose visibility, you lose momentum.

CarRx gives you real-time location, battery level, and fuel data for every vehicle on your lot — and off it. Set custom geofences, receive instant alerts, and recover stolen vehicles faster with 24/7 support from a US-based recovery team.

SOMETHING ELSE

3 Ways F&I Teams Can Turn AI Into a Real Advantage

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We read a lot. Like, a lot a lot, and we saw this piece in the Harvard Business Review about how financial teams can work with AI. Here is a rundown of what we found in the article. Pass it along to your favorite F&I person, or let us know how you’ve been using these LLMs to make your success more repeatable and reliable.

  1. Pilot Purposefully
    Focus AI experiments on routine tasks, such as credit approvals or deal structuring. This frees up time and improves accuracy without overwhelming the team.

  2. Build Cross-Department Trust
    Collaborate with sales, service, and compliance to align AI tools with real business needs. Strong partnerships help transform data into actionable insights that drive deals and enhance customer satisfaction.

  3. Prioritize People & Flexibility
    Invest in retaining skilled staff and securing flexible budgets. This creates space to innovate safely, allowing teams to learn and adapt AI without risking day-to-day performance.

By grounding AI in practical steps and teamwork, F&I leaders can avoid the hype and make technology a true driver of growth and efficiency.

For more insights into how AI and Auto are working together, check out AutoIndustry.AI, our weekly email on just that.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Your service drive is more than a repair bay, it’s the heartbeat of customer retention.

In our recent ASOUT Edge webinar, Shane Wilson and Levi Baade reveal how real-time vehicle data is helping dealers anticipate needs, personalize service, and boost CSI scores.

See how CarRx is driving loyalty, increasing absorption, and keeping customers connected long after the sale. Watch the full replay here.

🔁 Today in History

  • 1908: The first Ford Model T is assembled. 🥇 

  • 1981: The IBM Personal Computer is released. 💾 

  • 1990: Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found to date, is discovered by Sue Hendrickson in South Dakota. 🦖 

Go have a great day! And don’t forget the water…

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