🚗 Texas on Tubi

🚙 Looking Back, Being Green, and No More Trouble?

March 29, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Have you claimed your spot in Pitch Tank yet?

It’s back. Bigger, bolder, and still fluff-free.

ASOTU CON 2025 is once again hosting the auto industry’s most entertaining, no-frills platform for pitches—Pitch Tank. It’s your shot to show dealers how you help them win, with a mic, a stage, and just a few minutes to make your case.

No long demos. No sales-y sidesteps. Just straight-up value. And yep, there’s a little friendly competition. Retail auto pros will judge the pitches, and one winner will take home the Pitch Tank crown live at ASOTU CON. Bragging rights included.

Ready to step up?

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

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Looking Back

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The Daily Pushback

  • On Monday, Tesla trade-ins hit record highs as owners bailed due to Elon’s antics, dropping stock, and an overall vibe shift. Lucid swooped in with a conquest offer that doesn’t even require a trade. Meanwhile, GM shut down the only known dealership workaround for adding CarPlay to its EVs, and Chevy flexed with the 615-hp Blazer EV SS, its fastest SS ever. 🏁
     

  • On Tuesday, Ford got smacked with an $18M verdict over misusing its Right of First Refusal in a dealer buy-sell. Meanwhile, nearly 1,000 rooftops dodged a cyber bullet when malware disguised as a CAPTCHA snuck into video plugins—but Proton caught it just in time. And Rohrman Auto Group reminded us what More Than Cars means, earning a Top Workplace Award and donating nearly $65K to wildfire relief. 🔥
     

  • On Wednesday, signs pointed to an early spring slowdown as the Manheim Index slipped. Plus, new U.S. auto tariffs are set to hit April 2nd, prompting dealers to prep for cost increases. GM, Pilot, and EVgo expanded their charging network with 130 new fast-charging sites, offering some relief for EV range anxiety. And just when we thought the HEMI was history, rumors swirled of its V8 comeback this summer. ⏮️
     

  • On Thursday, Cox reported Q1 sales are up—barely—with affordability pressures and tariffs dimming the outlook. Nissan laid down a bold comeback plan with 10+ new models, a rugged EV nod to the Xterra, and a crossover reboot of the Leaf. An iSeeCars report showed EVs hemorrhaging value while sports cars held strong. And in Missouri, Elking Auto Group gifted a car to a mother and daughter living in their broken-down Hyundai. 🧡
     

  • On Friday, GM stock tumbled, Ferrari raised prices by six figures, and global leaders started drafting retaliations. Meanwhile, BYD set its sights on Toyota’s throne, GMC dropped new Sierra EV trims, and Ford patented a fake manual shifter for EVs. Despite policy chaos, March retail spending hit $54B, the used market stayed hot, and jobless claims remained low. 📉 

It’s Not Easy Being Green (Alone)

Our friends at Renew Energy are partnering with dealers to future-proof their stores by tackling one of the industry’s fastest-growing challenges: sustainability.

And they’re not just talking the talk: they were just awarded the exclusive EV charging and solar sponsorship by the California New Car Dealers Association. 🥳 

Here’s what Renew brings to the table:

  • Lower energy costs through efficiency upgrades

  • Support navigating evolving ESG and MEES standards

  • Tools to reduce environmental impact and stand out to consumers

And there’s more…

We’re also teaming up with Plugin America, a nonprofit helping:

  • Train dealership staff to confidently sell EVs

  • Educate and support EV-curious customers

Renew Energy is working to show that dealers are leading the charge in stateability and innovation!

MORE THAN CARS

Episode 1: Texas

Experience the unseen side of car dealerships with "More Than Cars," a raw and powerful series that delves into the real-world, human experiences that unfold every day in car dealerships.

Join our hosts Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier as they journey across the country, visiting dealerships, talking to everyday customers, and shining a light on the inspiring stories of the people behind the scenes of the largest retail industry in the country.

This eye-opening series breaks stereotypes and reveals the truth that for many car dealerships, it's about so much More Than Cars.

Check out the rest of Season 1 on Tubi for Free or Amazon Prime

🥊 Quick Hits

  • Hyundai has updated their infotainment, and it looks…familiar. If you’ve ever seen inside a Tesla that is. 📺️ 

  • Multiple Honda/Acura stores have received Energy Star Ratings from the EPA, essentially recognizing them as among the most energy-efficient stores in the country. 🌳 

  • The Yangwang U7 is being hailed as the most advanced car ever, boasting 1,306 horsepower, four-motor control for sideways driving, LIDAR-guided suspension, and unmatched luxury tech—all for under $90K. 🤖 

PODCASTS

The Automotive Troublemaker State of the Union

On Tuesday, September 28, 2021, Paul and Kyle pressed record for the very first time.

1,274 days later, they recorded the 1000th episode of the Automotive Troublemaker.

This week they invited special guests, had a look back, and took a look forward.

Don’t miss the HUGE announcement at the end. 😉 

🔁 Today in History

  • 1927: Henry Segrave becomes the first person to go 200 MPH on land. 🚦 

  • 1974: NASA's Mariner 10 becomes the first space probe to fly by Mercury. 🛰️ 

  • 1999: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above the 10,000 mark (10,006.78) for the first time, during the height of the dot-com bubble. 🌐 

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