🚗 Stellantis Bets Big in America

TOGETHER WITH

If you’ve watched our docu-series, you already know it hits different.

If you haven’t, consider this your formal invitation.

This is what we’re building. This is what’s worth fighting for.

Check out More than Cars: The Truth about Car Dealers on Prime Video, YouTube, or Tubi.

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

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THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Stellantis Brings It Home

Stellantis is putting $13B into American production—the biggest investment in company history. That means five new vehicles, a fresh 4-cylinder engine, and 5,000 new jobs by 2030. Belvidere, IL gets a revival, Jeep gets a second wind, and Stellantis bets that building here makes them stronger everywhere.

NADA’s New Chapter

Sandy Fitzgerald Angello just made history as only the second woman elected NADA vice chair. With 40+ years of dealership experience and a deep connection to the industry, she’ll take the top spot in 2027. Next stop: Dallas, 2026.

Three Guys, Three Nissans, One CVT Redemption Arc

Three Nissan dealers took three 100K-mile CVT beaters and drove 1,500 miles through salt flats and mountain passes. Yes, the cars had names. Yes, the YouTube drop is chaos. And yes, they’re on a mission to change your mind about Nissan’s most-memed transmission.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Amazon Adds Auto Lenders

Amazon Autos now lets shoppers compare financing offers from Chase, Santander, and Wells Fargo side by side. Real-time rates, terms, and monthly payments are just a few clicks away—raising the bar for digital retail expectations.

Waymo Crosses the Pond

The robotaxi leader is heading to London. Testing begins this year, with commercial rides expected in 2026. UK regulators are setting a high bar for safety, but Waymo’s expansion signals that self-driving ambitions aren’t slowing down.

Workers Demand AI Protections

The AFL-CIO launched a new campaign calling for worker-first AI policies, including guardrails on surveillance, layoffs, and transparency. As AI tools reach deeper into dealership workflows, early employee involvement is looking more essential than optional.

TOGETHER WITH VAUTO

Are You Moving Cars the Smart Way or the Hard Way?

Join us on Wednesday, October 22 at 2PM ET for an ASOTU Edge webinar featuring two leaders who’ve mastered the art (and science) of knowing when and why to move vehicles between stores.

You’ll hear from Patrick Janes (AVP, vAuto) and Paul Golias (Corporate Used Vehicle Director, Modern Automotive Network) as they break down how smarter transfers can protect margins, keep managers aligned, and turn aged inventory into opportunity instead of frustration.

We’ll cover the real process, real pitfalls, and real wins your stores can start using right away. Save your seat today!

EVERYTHING ELSE

Quick Hits

• 🥤 Food: Don’t drink that morning shake yet. A new Consumer Reports investigation found high levels of lead in some protein powders. ☠️

• 🛒 Retail: Toyota ranks as the most valuable automaker in the world. 🤑

• 💰 Economy: Americans with underwater car loans owe a record sum of $6,905 on average (up from $4,200 in the same period of 2021). 🤿 

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Get a peek at some killer insights from Patrick Janes ahead of next week’s webinar with this ASOTU CON Session.

Patrick shares how AI-powered insights are transforming inventory management from reactive to proactive, helping dealers eliminate wasted effort, improve turn, and move vehicles with purpose.

Watch the full conversation to see how data-driven decisions create faster turns and stronger margins.

Today in History

• 1829: The Tremont Hotel, considered the first modern U.S. hotel, opens in Boston. 🏨

• 1923: Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio is founded by brothers Walt and Roy Disney in Los Feliz, California, marking the beginning of what would become Walt Disney Company. 🐭

• 1958: Chevrolet releases the El Camino. 🛻

Have a wonderful day, Friend!