🚗 The Service Lane Has a Leak

Welcome to Saturday, Friend!

Ya know, we’ve spent the last few years watching this industry change in real time. New tools, new pressure, new expectations, all landing at once.

The only thing that’s held steady through all of it is the people doing the work every day.

That’s who we’ve built ASOTU CON for. You in?

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

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Dealership service transactions dropped 13% while quick-lube chains gained share. Routine maintenance is the entry point for long-term customer relationships. When customers leave for oil changes, the downstream opportunity goes with them. Also: federal law now requires impaired-driving detection systems (cameras + sensors) in new vehicles by 2026–27, adding an estimated $100–$500 per unit.

GM, Ford, and Stellantis all reported against a backdrop of EV losses, softer demand, and rising costs. Cox Automotive data showed new-vehicle affordability improved slightly in March (avg. payment $752, income needed ~35 weeks), but consumer sentiment hit a new low of 49.8. Kia cut EV prices after a 55% sales jump but saw profits fall 23% — a sign that volume growth and margin pressure are moving in opposite directions.

GM posted strong Q1 numbers, partly aided by a $500M tariff-related benefit. Meanwhile, a federal case around deceptive add-on pricing resulted in tens of millions in refunds — and the story is spreading online. Customers are arriving with questions about fees, advertised prices, and what they'll actually pay. The used market stayed stable, with trucks and SUVs still leading and buyers becoming more selective on condition.

Volvo, Porsche, and Mercedes are all absorbing pressure from tariffs, EV transition costs, and Chinese competition — but resisting broad discounting to protect long-term brand value. Mercedes saw a 27% China sales drop. Ford reported earnings with tariffs and supply chain disruption as major headwinds. Vehicle theft dropped 23% YoY, but 660K vehicles were still stolen — high-volume models continue to top the list.

GM led the OEMs at $43.6B revenue. Stellantis returned to profitability. Ford beat expectations but leaned on a one-time tariff benefit. At the dealer level, Lithia hit record revenue of $9.3B, Penske posted record service and parts. Carvana sold a record 187K vehicles (+40% YoY) with $405M profit. CarMax grew retail comps 8%+. The demand is there — it's just increasingly moving toward used. Also: Tesla's robotaxi fleet reached 25 vehicles. Waymo runs 3,000+.

Most dealers think they’re losing on price—but the real reason customers walk away is far more human (and far more fixable).

Tom Kondrat, Advanced Analytics Director at Urban Science, joins Auto Collabs to unpack one of the most misunderstood problems in retail automotive: customer defection. Drawing on real-time sales data and post-purchase surveys, Tom reveals a that the most common breakdown is in communication.

From the power of simply being remembered by name to the overlooked value of following up after a lost sale, this episode makes one thing clear: data doesn’t replace relationships—it sharpens them.

Two ASOTU powerhouses, one conversation.

In this episode, Paul J Daly sits down with Michael Cirillo to dig into what actually separates dealers who get attention from the ones who earn trust, and why building a real brand takes more than just showing up.

It’s a grounded look at the kind of work that compounds over time and quietly builds momentum.

Watch the full interview and see how it all connects.

Brooklyn has a new car showroom, and its real strength comes from how clearly it understands the role of atmosphere in shaping desire.

Car Part Time put collectible cars inside a former garage, then filled the space with vintage lighting, high-end finishes, vinyl records, and a lounge that actually invites people to stay.

The cars are still for sale. The transaction still matters. But the room stops acting like the only goal is to get you in, get you signed, and get you out.

Especially for decisions around rare or collectible cars, taste, memory, identity, and environment all come into play. And Car Part Time leans fully into that reality. The music, furniture, and lighting create a setting where the cars feel woven into a lifestyle rather than separated from it.

Car Part Time feels like a smart read on where retail is headed. People want a place with some personality. They want something they can actually experience. That’s what gives the space its edge. It turns a showroom visit into an destination, and it gives people something the internet can never replicate.