📈 Ten Up Months

TOGETHER WITH

Every day we cover stories from inside and outside of auto. Yes, the automotive stories are amazing, inspirational, and informative.

However, the context of the stories outside of auto are great. Maybe they are a convo starter with a customer or maybe they give you some insight to the way other verticals are tackling business initiatives.

Either way, we really hope you enjoy today’s stories, all the way to the last one!

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, & Chris

DEALERS

Lincoln’s Volcanic Wish

Bergstrom Automotive partners with Make-A-Wish Wisconsin every year for their #DriveForDreams campaign.

This year they met Lincoln, a Wish Kid living with Cerebellar Ataxia, which causes sudden uncontrollable muscle movements. Lincoln has been in and out of hospitals most of his life.

📸 To honor and serve Lincoln, the Bergstrom team made him their promotional cover model. Throughout June, the resiliently joyful 9-year-old will appear on billboards, websites, and even a full truck wrap which debuted at Lincoln's school on the last day of classes.

Then in July, the rest of Lincoln's wish will come true with a family trip to Hawaii to visit volcanos. 🌋🌋🌋

Telling it like it is – Helping a child ✅ Being creative ✅ Going to see volcanos ✅✅✅. This story really has it all. Great work, Bergstrom!

/Positivity

Do you have a story showing dealerships' positive impact on their community? Let us share it!

AUTOMOTIVE

Ten Consecutive Months of Increases

In May, the automotive industry witnessed its 10th consecutive month of sales increases, fueled by improved inventory and strong demand, particularly from fleet customers.

📈🚔🚕

According to Cox Automotive, large fleet sales surged 37.2% YoY. Furthermore, the rise in fleet sales increased their market share of total sales to 16.8%. This growth was supported by manufacturers, who recorded significant increases in fleet volumes.

🚗🏭👩‍🏭

New vehicle sales grew by 20.4% on the retail side. This rise was influenced by increased vehicle availability and incentives.

🏦🤷💸

Despite this, the Beige Book report indicated that overall economic activity was mainly unchanged. The report also suggested that loan delinquencies increase among low and moderate-income households as vehicle sales improve.

Telling it like it is – Fleet kinda means “more than one,” so it makes sense fleet sales are a little more than retail.

TOGETHER WITH MAKE

Work Faster, Better.

Everything measured gets managed, and if it gets measured with powerful visuals, it’s more fun to manage.

Make provides your team with a time-saving workflow and tracking system that can be customized to automate any project management needs. Their app keeps your people connected and syncs data across your user base. So you can turn that data into action.

Check out Make today and see what their powerful visual platform can do for you.

AUTOMOTIVE

Motor Morsels: Towing, Flint ICE, Maintaining, and Circular Economics

According to AAA's testing, Ford F-150 Lightning's range significantly drops when carrying heavy loads. The electric truck's range was reduced by almost 25% when loaded with 1,400 lbs; close to its maximum capacity. While the test results show a considerable range reduction, the F-150 Lightning's load-to-range loss may be less for most users who will likely operate with lighter loads.

GM is dropping over a billion bucks (not a single doe tho) on two Michigan plants. A recent statement by GM CEO Mary Barra said EVs under $40K are not profitable and will only even out with ICE prices in the 2030s. The hefty investments in Flint will produce heavy-duty ICE trucks to generate cash before the company's all-electric goal in 2035.

EV maintenance is still foggy territory for most Americans. A piece by the EV fans at Electrify aims to clarify details.

• Batteries are getting cheaper with time and typically come with an 8-10 year warranty.

• Since they don't use oil, the suggested routine maintenance for EVs is a biannual parts inspection at a dealership with trained techs.

• Tires, brakes, and other replaceable parts like wiper blades will be the main points of regular maintenance.

Stellantis and Galloo are partnering to create a circular material economy through upgraded recycling processes. Starting with Stellantis branded vehicles in a few European countries, the plan will slowly spread throughout Europe and the rest of the company's market as they move toward their 2038 carbon-neutral goal.

TL: DR – Batteries drain faster when pulling 1,400 lbs, GM is using dinosaur juice to fund its post-dinosaur juice dreams, EV maintenance is different but also the same, and Stellantis is going to make new cars out of old cars.

CULTURE

The Apple Of Our Eye(s)

Apple's new VR headset, the Vision Pro, is officially unveiled and will release in early 2024. The $3,500 price tag and sci-fi ski goggle appearance have the internet talkin’ about Tim Cook's newest pick from the Apple tree.

• "For $3,500, I Expect Tim Cook To Hand Deliver It To My House And Cook Me A 3-Course Dinner."

• "I am sorry, but strapping a $3,500 pair of VR goggles to your face in public is like taping a "Please Rob Me" sign to your chest."

• "For $3,500, I will come to your house and move your couch closer to the TV."

And our personal favorite.

• "For $3,500, the box better have $2,500 in it."

Telling it like it is – What do you think? Are you pumped to live inside a super smart fishbowl?

Quick Hits

• The SEC sues crypto exchange Coinbase for breaking US securities laws. 👨‍⚖️

• The next installment of the Captain America series has a name, “Brave New World,” and some photos from the set are circulating. 🦸

• Studies on mice suggest an ability to harness the depression-treating power of psychedelics while removing the hallucinations.🐁

History

• 1954: Ford Motor Company forms a styling team to take on the project of designing an entirely new car that would later be named the Edsel. 🎨

• 1958: The Artist Formerly (and then again) Known As Prince is born. 💋

• 1975: Sony launches Betamax, the first videocassette recorder format. 📹