🚗 Tesla, Taxes, and Toyota

TOGETHER WITH

Thursday is here, and so are we. Let's read some news!

• We avoid contributing to Elon Musk feeling like somebody's watching him, but we've got a little Tesla update for you.

• Of course, we collected some more news, speculation, and content about the looming changes for EV Tax Credits.

• Also, GM is talking about drone-assisted towing, and honestly, in a world full of smart computers writing poetry, we could go for a little flying-robot long-haul truckin'.

Check it all out below, and then visit us at ASOTU.be for the Automotive State of the Union podcast five mornings a week.

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

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THE NEWS

Tesla, Taxes, and Tariffs Hit Toyota

Tesla: Pause, Protest, and the Path to Autonomy

Tesla’s pausing Cybertruck and Model Y production for maintenance the week of July 4th—its third such stop this year.

Former manager Matthew LaBrot, fired after criticizing Elon Musk, says customer trust is fading fast under current leadership. Meanwhile, a small robotaxi launch in Austin could change the story—if it delivers.

EV Tax Credit Shake-Up, but Domestic EVs Shine

The leasing boom that brought us $129 EV deals? Could be over soon. A Senate proposal aims to shut down the commercial EV credit that powered much of the affordability wave.

But here’s the twist: EVs now dominate the American-Made Index, with Tesla, Hyundai, and VW leading the way. Scout Motors’ CEO puts it plainly—build great cars, not policies. For dealers, the pivot is real: focus on value, not volatility.

Toyota and the Tariff Tension

U.S. tariffs have already carved $1.2B out of Toyota’s profits in just two months. Japan’s leaders are still trying to negotiate exemptions, but no deal yet. Right now, OEMs are eating the cost, but if pressure mounts price shifts might not be far behind.

➕ More

We’ve got more on these and several other stories in our Daily Digest.

🥊 Quick Hits

• The world’s largest sand battery just went online in Finland, and it could change this whole renewable energy situation. Not to mention make your shoes into mini gold mines when you come home from the beach. ⌛️ 

• The Fed leaves interest rates unchanged. ⚖️ 

• Meta is poaching AI pros with $100M contracts (somebody tell Zuckerberg the ASOTU Team is getting preeeeety good at crafting prompts for our AutoIndustry.AI weekly email if he wants to become a sponsor 😆).

TOGETHER WITH TRADEPENDING

You’ve Got a Friend In Leads

Let TradePending carry the customer retention workload with Value Watch.

Value Watch sends automated monthly emails and texts updating customers on their vehicle’s current market value. These gentle, data-driven touchpoints re-engage shoppers and build trust with no pressure, just value.

It’s a hands-off way to keep your dealership top-of-mind for when customers are ready to sell their car and also promoting your service offers all along the way. 

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Empowered to Serve

Great dealerships don’t just serve their customers—they empower their people to serve their communities. At Herrin-Gear Automotive Group, that belief is built into the culture.

Through their HG Cares initiative, the team has turned compassion into action, supporting food banks, children’s hospitals, veterans, and more. But the real story isn’t just about the events. It’s about what happens when a dealership gives its people the freedom, trust, and resources to make a difference.

As one team member put it: “Herrin-Gear has empowered me to make a difference, and together, we strive to shift gears and drive change in our community. I’m so thankful to be on this ride.”

When you trust your people to lead with heart, they’ll take the wheel and steer your organization toward something greater. That’s not just good culture. That’s good business, too.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

At this year’s ASOTU CON, Ryan Rohrman of Rohrman Automotive Group distilled a decade of transformation down into one powerhouse 25-minute talk.

From evolving a founder-led culture to scalable corporate leadership, to building a data-driven, CDP-fueled tech stack, Ryan shares how “cleaner is better” became more than a mantra—it became a growth strategy.

Learn how aligning culture, KPIs, and clean data boosted close rates and reduced waste. If you’re serious about making your tech work harder and your people smarter, this is the session to watch.

🔁 Today in History

• 325: The original Nicene Creed is adopted at the First Council of Nicaea. 📜

• 1865: Over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in Galveston, Texas, United States, are officially informed of their freedom. The anniversary was officially celebrated in Texas and other states as Juneteenth. On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth officially becomes a federal holiday in the U.S. 🦅

• 1910: The first Father's Day is celebrated in Spokane, Washington. 🥳

In case nobody told you already…