🚗 Tariffs, Tesla, and Toyota

🚙 What's Really Driving July's Auto Surge?

August 04, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

August 4th!

Last week, we listened to Joni Mitchell’s “Blue,” and most folks (71%) seemed to enjoy her blend of folk, rock, and… jazzy-opera. (🤷)

And honestly, this one won me over. I like being able to hum songs almost immediately, but it took three listens before this one hooked me in.

So now we will move on to The Rolling Stone top 500 Albums #4 entry: Stevie Wonder’s genre-bending “Songs in the Key of Life.”

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Give it a listen and let me know…

Songs in the Key of Life

Is it a wonder?

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

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Eccles Auto Smashes for a Cause

What’s better than fixing cars? Smashing one for charity!

Eccles Auto in Dundas, Ontario, turned wrenches into weapons of goodwill at their third Charity Car Smash, raising nearly $1,100 for Margaret’s Place Hospice. The unfortunate target? A Mercedes-Benz E550. With over $4,000 raised across all smash events—and $10,000 donated during the hospice’s founding campaign—Eccles is in it for more than the dents. They back hikes, golf tournaments, and even Catch the Ace, with donations reaching local legions, too.

Seems like a fun way to raise some money with the community. If only we knew somebody with too many used cars lying around…

From the Automotive State of the Union

On Friday’s episode, Paul and Kyle tackled three major disruptors shaping the future of retail auto: tariffs, Tesla, and tech.

The White House’s country-by-country tariff rules officially kicked in, prompting major recalibrations. Japan’s move to accept U.S. vehicle standards could quietly make it easier to export straight from Detroit, no reengineering required.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s “Robotaxi” reveal in the Bay Area looks more like a dressed-up Uber. Despite the name, every ride still has a human behind the wheel. The move raised eyebrows with regulators and signaled Tesla’s true goal: owning the full rider-data pipeline.

Also in the episode:

  • Agentic Checkout is here: How AI might schedule your next service before you do.

  • Tesla’s app-as-platform vision could redefine margins (if it works).

Pro tip: Start asking your partners if their systems can talk to agents. It’s coming.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Click to read the full digest.

July's Standouts and Strategic Shifts

Ford and Hyundai-Kia delivered eye-popping July sales numbers, with Genesis not far behind. But don’t let the gains fool you. Analysts warn 2024’s CDK cyberattack inflates the numbers and this year’s tariff-driven sales pull ahead. The real signal? Ford’s hybrid growth outpacing EVs, and average prices hovering above $45,000. Under the surface, the pressure is building.

Meanwhile, BMW proved the power of building locally. Despite a steep Q2 profit drop, it held guidance steady, thanks to its massive U.S. plant in Spartanburg. While Mercedes and VW lowered expectations, BMW leaned into its American footprint to offset Trump-era tariffs.

More headlines we’re watching:

  • Tesla faces a $345M verdict in its first federal Autopilot safety trial.

  • Ford teases an August 11 “Model T moment” with a new low-cost EV strategy.

  • Subaru drops the base Impreza trim, raising entry pricing over $2,200.

🥊 Quick Hits

  • U.S. hiring is slow right now. LinkedIn can tell you just how slow, but we’d say between a turtle drinking coffee and a sleepy fox. 🧑‍🏭 

  • Apple is “open to” acquiring AI companies. 🤖 

  • There is another Spider-Man movie coming. 🕷️ 

Your Guide to Long-Term Retention

The service lane is one of your best chances to build loyalty.

Join Shane Wilson and Levi Baade from Connected Dealer Services this Wednesday, August 6th at 2PM ET for a 30-minute webinar on how real-time vehicle data is helping dealers reach customers at the right time with the right message.

Learn how CarRx by Elo GPS makes retention easier, smarter, and more consistent.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

What Are Investors Looking For?

Bill Cariss of Holman Growth Ventures, Chase Fraser of FM Capital, and Brian Donnelly of Autotech Ventures, sat down with Steve Greenfield of Automotive Ventures.

Check out the short above or jump straight into the full panel here.

🔁 Today in History

  • 1693: Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Pérignon's invention of champagne; it is not clear whether he actually invented champagne. However, he has been credited as an innovator who developed the techniques used to perfect sparkling wine. 🍾 

  • 1854: The Hinomaru is established as the official flag to be flown from Japanese ships. 🇯🇵 

  • 1928: DeSoto is founded. 🚗 

We hope the sun is shining wherever you are this Monday!

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