🚗 The Gas-Powered Electric Ram

TOGETHER WITH

Warning Wednesday!

Warning: ASOTU CON 2025 in Baltimore is only 75 days away. Hotel rooms in the same building are going quick. So, skip the Uber and grab your ticket and your room today.

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

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THE NEWS

Ram’s Goldilocks, Cirillo in Canada, and Japan’s Push

🔋 The Ramcharger’s ‘Goldilocks’ Play: Just Right or Just Noise?

Ram’s 2026 Ramcharger ditches traditional plug-in charging for a V6 generator that only charges the battery—never the wheels. With 690 miles of range and 647 hp, Ram CEO Tim Kuniskis says even EV skeptics are paying attention.

Is this an evolution of hybrids or just more noise in the truck market?

• Power: 91.8 kWh battery, 27-gallon gas tank, dual electric motors

• Performance: 647 hp, 610 lb-ft torque, 0-60 in ~4.5 sec

• Towing: Up to 14,000 lbs

• Price: Likely $70K-$80K, competitive with ICE trucks

"When you can get a 'never BEVer' to say 'you got my attention,' you know you're onto something." –Tim Kuniskis

Thoughts from LinkedIn

What do you think? Is Christopher right? Is Paul right? Are we seeing a re-heated, re-hyped concept or a legitimate attempt at connecting consumer desires to evolved tech?

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CIAS 2025: Luxury Brands Return, But Attendance Drops

Winter weather put a damper on the 2025 Canadian International AutoShow (CIAS), but automakers still made their presence known.

Why the drop in foot traffic?
Severe snowstorms led to a 13% decline in attendance, with 323,521 visitors compared to last year’s 371,559.

• German luxury is back. Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz made a full return after years of absence.

• Lucid made its CIAS debut, unveiling the Gravity crossover to Canadian audiences.

• EV test drives surged, with 5,700+ runs despite a slow start.

• Some brands sat out. Honda, Mazda, and VW skipped the show entirely.

Paul and Michael Talk About CIAS on the Automotive Troublemaker. Check it out:

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Japanese Automakers Push Back on Potential U.S. Tariffs

The Japanese auto industry is calling for government intervention as the U.S. considers a 25% tariff on imported cars and parts, set to take effect in April. With major brands like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan relying on North American production, the ripple effects could still hit dealers hard.

What’s at stake?
🔹 A 25% tariff could raise costs for imported vehicles and parts.
🔹 Japanese automakers warn of economic fallout for both countries.
🔹 Higher costs may impact dealer pricing strategies and inventory planning.

"We are deeply concerned about the impact on competitiveness and affordability," said JAMA Chairman Masanori Katayama.

While some models are built in North America, supply chain disruptions and pricing shifts could be unavoidable.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Volkswagen’s ID.4 went from “Who?” to third place in EV sales, “proving” recalls and bad PR are just speed bumps. 🥉 

• Joann’s final craft project? A bankruptcy quilt stitched together with debt, supply chain woes, and a big “Everything Must Go” sale. 🪡 

• Barney’s back, but this time he’s existential, disenchanted, and made for millennials questioning their life choices. 🦖 

TOGETHER WITH TRADEPENDING

Access Denied (For Your Videos)

You did it. You made personalized videos to send to your leads, but they’re not getting the response you expected.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that if your texts and emails look like spam, they won't perform and you’re gonna get blocked.

The preview GIF is your secret weapon.

DATA & INSIGHT

EV Satisfaction Rebounds

Reversing last year's decline, EV ownership satisfaction is trending upward according to J.D. Power's 2025 Electric Vehicle Experience Ownership Study.

• Incentive Dependency Exposed: With the new administration threatening to pull the 30D rug out from under the market, J.D. Power's forecast shows EV share flatlining in 2025—confirming what sales managers already suspected: those tax credits aren't just nice-to-haves, they're moving metal.

• Education Gap Remains Critical: Only 12% of first-time buyers received guidance on total cost of ownership—a startling miss when you consider how crucial TCO conversations are for converting ICE customers who balk at MSRP comparisons.

• PHEV Renaissance: Premium plug-in hybrids scored surprisingly close to their full BEV counterparts (741 vs. 756), offering a promising alternative for F&I-conscious customers not quite ready to go fully electric.

Quality metrics continue to favor mass market EVs over premium counterparts—though the gap has narrowed compared to previous years.

• German Luxury Leads: BMW's iX and i4 claimed top positions in the premium segment, outperforming other luxury competitors.

• Korean Manufacturers Excel: Hyundai's IONIQ 6 and Kia's EV6 dominated the mass market category.

• Consumer Loyalty Remains Decisive: The study found 94% of BEV owners intend to purchase another electric vehicle—with only 12% considering a return to internal combustion engines for their next vehicle purchase.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🗓️ Coming Soon

• 🦀 May 13-16th — ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland. Get the app! (check a few things you can expect below!)

  • May 14: Full Day of Content and Night 1 Happy Hour by Reunion Marketing

  • May 15: Full Day of Content and Night 2 Happy Hour by Foureyes

🔁 Today in History

• 1863: Abraham Lincoln signs National Currency Act establishing a single national U.S. currency. 💵

• 1869: The U.S. 15th Amendment guaranteeing the right to vote is sent to states to ratify. 🗳️

• 1929: U.S. President Calvin Coolidge establishes Grand Teton National Park. 🏞️