🤠 Texas Has An EV Idea

TOGETHER WITH

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." -Walt Disney

Seems like a great way to start the last day of the month, eh!?

Keep Pushing Back-Paul, Kyle, & Chris

DEALERS

Turning Tragedy Into Triumph at Germain Toyota of Naples

Have you ever had a car become part of your family? Over the miles and missions traveled and completed together, a vehicle takes on its own personality. When people see it, they think of you, and when you consider plans, your trusty steed being there for you is a given.

Well, Mike Miller’s 2006 Toyota Hybrid Highlander was more than just a car. He cared for it for over 1,000,000 miles. And he would have continued to care for it for many more had Hurricane Ian not made other plans.

“That vehicle was so dependable,” Miller said, “I think I took it for granted at times. After 17 years, only a catastrophic flood could kill it.”

When the massive storm took Mike’s faithful Highlander last year, owner Richard Germain of GM Wendell Hardy and the Germain Toyota of Naples stepped in to take care of their loyal customer by gifting him a 2023 Highlander Hybrid Bronze Edition with a classic, giant red bow on top.

“The fact that you rode your Toyota for over 16 years, put over 1 million miles on it, and allowed us to be a part of keeping that vehicle going for you probably makes you the most loyal customer that we’ve ever had,” Germain said to Miller just before presenting him with his new ride.

Oh, and Mike’s advice for getting your car to a million miles? NEVER forget to change your oil.

Telling it like it is - It’s not easy losing something you love, but it’s easier when you have people around you who really care. Mike said of the moment, ”Picking up my 2006 Highlander Hybrid was magic, but this is super magic.” What kind of super magic will you conjure up today?

AUTOMOTIVE

Texas Proposes Extra EV Fees

Texas lawmakers are considering a $200 annual fee for EV owners to help compensate for the lost revenue from the gasoline excise tax, which funds the state's roadways.

According to Texas’ Legislative Budget Board, EV drivers who do not contribute via the gasoline tax have caused a revenue loss of $93.4M for the state. 

Supporters of the fee argue that it would simply replace an existing tax, but critics have raised concerns about the amount and would prefer to consider an annual mileage-based charge instead.

Identical bills are currently being considered in the State’s Senate and House of Representatives.

Telling it like it is - Seems that tying road maintenance to gas sales wasn’t the best idea, but no one asked us.

TOGETHER WITH TRUECAR

Tune In Live!

Live Tonight with ASOTU is coming to Arlington!

Join us and our presenting sponsors at TrueCar for a night of music, industry insights, fun, and conversation with some of the industry’s great front-line operators!

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the automotive's only tonight show – Grab tickets now, or plan to tune in live on April 5th for the ultimate automotive extravaganza! 

AROUD THE ASOTU-VERSE

Join David Long and the All Things Used Car community for round two of taking on accountability and culture. Check out last week's write-up here, and join us live for part two on Clubhouse this morning. 

AUTOMOTIVE

Mercedes, Stellantis, and GM Make Investments

Mercedes-Benz has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Spanish utility Iberdrola for 140 MW of wind energy from the Windanker Baltic Sea project. 

We understand some of those words. But, what does it mean exactly? Basically, the massive investment will provide Mercedes with solar, and onshore/offshore wind energy that intends to meet half of its German electricity demand by 2025. 

PPAs offer producers guaranteed financing for long-term contracts to buy electricity directly from a generator at a pre-negotiated price. This allows carmakers like Mercedes to control production costs in their effort to cut CO2 emissions. 

Finding savings anywhere possible is going to be crucial to the longevity of EV manufacturing according to Stellantis CEO, Carlos Tavares. EVs are 40% more expensive to create than their ICE equivalents, and the affordability of producing them is difficult given that the raw materials needed are scarce and pricey.

The automaker is even currently conducting a manufacturing assessment of its Ram 1500 plant in Sterling Heights to see if and where it can cut costs. A company spokesperson called the evaluation a “normal course of business” but declined to outline any specific impacts it may have, which historically isn’t the most comforting news for workers.

GM is teaming up with EarthCruiser to create a next-generation overland upfit solution for the GMC Hummer EV pickup to be unveiled in late summer 2023. 

EarthCruiser expects to outfit the electric pickup with everything an off-road explorer needs, like solar panels and extra storage, but the collab’s teaser image still leaves much to the imagination. 

So many secrets. The duo also plans to develop together some “top-tier adventure vehicles” down the line, but are taking a page from the Stellantis playbook and remaining tight-lipped with the deets.

Telling it like it is - Mercedes invests in wind energy, Stellantis invests in cost savings, and GM invests in EarthCruiser.

CULTURE/TECHNOLOGY/WHAT THE KIDS ARE INTO

Movies Fun, Medical Science, and Government Mistakes

Who doesn't love a free t-shirt? You could even say the perfect upper body garment is to die for…

Keanu Reeves, in his ongoing campaign to be the most likable person in Hollywood, gifted each member of John Wick 4's stunt crew with a t-shirt listing the number of times they died on screen in the movie.

Since it is normal for stunt workers to play multiple baddies in an action flick, some of the 35-member crew received shirts numbering 20+ on-screen demises. 

Hollywood is a bizarre place. 

Researchers are showing off a different kind of Fuel Cell. The sugar-powered biomedical implant uses a body's supply of glucose to power an insulin pump to manage Type-1 Diabetes.

The tea-bag-like device is coated with an algae-like product that allows body fluid in where a copper nanoparticle anode splits glucose into gluconic acid and proton to generate an electrical current.

Which is a bunch of science jargon to say it creates energy out of carbs. Take that, Mr. Atkins!

Ok, the French people's pastime of taking absolutely no crap from their government is in full effect, but what is going on? Let's look.

Forced through plans to push the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64 led to protests that have soccer hooligans taking notes.

If increased to 64, France's minimum retirement age will still be lower than most European countries. Britain and Germany also work toward increases from 66 to 68 and 65 to 67, respectively.

Opponents of the increase say France's pension system is at the heart of its national identity. Historian Emile Chabal put simply that, since WW2, workers have fought to protect the social contract and are fighting for more than the pension increase, but now the fight includes broader issues the people have with their government. 

TL: DR: John Wick fights t-shirtlessness, Tea-bags fight diabetes, and France fights France.

Quick Hits

• Your browning shrubs may be trying to tell you something. Scientists discovered ultrasonic popping sounds from plants when they are thirsty or injured. 

• Tech leaders push for a pause in the AI race citing “major risks” that we may be ill-prepared for, but we’re not so sure that Pandora’s box can be closed now.

• Free Lolita! Historic deal clears way to move killer whale from Miami tank.

History

• 1889: The Eiffel Tower officially opens in Paris.

• 1918: First daylight savings time in US goes into effect.

• 1932: Ford publicly unveils its V-8 engine.

• 1967: Jimi Hendrix burns his guitar (and fingers) for the first time at the Finsbury Park Astoria theater in London. The guitar later sold at auction for $500K.