🚗 The Dino Dash?

There’s a difference between change and churn, my Friend.

This week, retail auto confronted both. On the factory floor, in Washington, and across your service lane. What started with chip exits and tariff chatter quickly turned into a conversation about industrial power, consumer trust, and what leadership really looks like when the rules are still being written.

The thread? Dealers are doing more than selling cars. They're stabilizing the story.

Enjoy the weekend, next week we’ll get back to pulling the string to unravel this sweater of a story.

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

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ICYMI

Weekend Recap

The Daily Pushback Email

Monday – Chips, Credits & Combustion
Intel exited the in-car chip race, Tesla's robotaxi stuttered, and dealers rallied to save used EV incentives. Meanwhile, Toyota teased a 600hp four-cylinder, proving ICE still has legs.

Tuesday – Farley Gets Loud, Ram Gets Louder
Ford’s CEO tied windshield wipers to national security, Nissan asked suppliers to wait on payments, and Ram’s unapologetic comeback showed brand voice still sells metal.

Wednesday – EV Credits on the Clock
Congress fast-tracked an EV credit rollback, Q2 sales revealed hybrid strength, and Chinese dealer unrest reminded us: incentives without balance become burdens.

Thursday – Budget Battles & AI at the Top
The Senate passed a budget bill reshaping buyer incentives, Hyundai surged, and dealer leaders got a clear message: your data culture is either a weapon or a weakness.

Friday – Freedom & the F-150
Holiday sales cooled, but Q2 momentum still mattered. Carfax culture made headlines, and a Pennsylvania history teacher got his freedom back—plus a brand-new Ford from a dealer who knew exactly what freedom should feel like.

PODCASTS

Auto Collabs

Jade Terreberry brings her data-driven hustle and people-first mindset to the table.

The Auto Collabs crew sits down with Jade Terreberry—formerly of commercial real estate lending and dealership operations, now leading analytics and insights at Cox Automotive. With her roots planted firmly in the car world (thanks to a dad who spent 40 years winning national Honda sales contests), Jade shares how her love for data and love for people collided to shape her journey back into automotive. She’s a natural mixer of entrepreneurial instinct and analytic rigor.

Check it out on Spotify or Apple.

Unscripted with Erroll Bomar III

In this heartfelt and unscripted episode of ASOTU Unscripted, host Errol Bomar sits down with Lou Cannata, a second-generation dealer principal and founder of Level 5 Leadership Coaching & Consulting. Lou shares the deeply personal and professional journey that shaped his leadership, starting from cleaning bathrooms in his family’s dealership to stepping into ownership in its 49th year. Lou’s passion for people, rooted in a legacy of service from his immigrant parents, radiates throughout the conversation as he reflects on the true meaning of success and the power of purpose-driven leadership.

Check it out the audio podcast on Spotify or Apple.

ASOTU On The Street

The team hits the streets of Buckhead to chat with Jamie about her last car-buying experience. She recounts her 2018 Subaru purchase with refreshing simplicity—yes, she enjoyed the process, especially thanks to a helpful and kind salesperson. Jamie reflects on the emotional tone of the experience, the fun of test drives, and her lighthearted skepticism toward EVs (electric vehicles) for one hilariously candid reason.

SOMETHING FUN

T-Rex Race

More than 300 people in inflatable dinosaur suits sprinted across a racetrack in Washington this week—some even skydiving in first. It’s called the T-Rex World Championship, and while ESPN will air it later this summer, the real headline is this: what started as a pest control company’s team-building stunt in 2017 is now a full-blown cultural event with hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators.

Why? Because it’s ridiculous. And joyful. And totally human.

That’s the lesson. The “serious business” of selling cars doesn’t mean the culture around it needs to be stiff. People remember fun. They remember what made them laugh, who invited them out, and what they did together that felt just a little bit absurd in the best way possible.

Which has us thinking… what’s stopping your dealership from hosting its own Dino Dash? A goofy race in the lot, a test drive with a T-Rex, a kid-friendly costume parade—whatever sparks joy and brings people together. Fun builds trust, and trust builds traffic.

Sometimes, silly is smart.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Scots are being left "scared, attacked and traumatised" by seagulls. They‘re legit planning a big meeting to talk about the situation. (not the seagulls, the people) 🕊️ 

• Humans are innovators. Just check out this ~40,000-year-old mammoth tusk boomerang. 🦣 

• Too many people got Jobs in June, so the Fed will likely not cut rates in July. 🤷 

Thanks for reading, Friend!