🚗 Tiny Cars, Big Questions

TOGETHER WITH

Welcome to Wednesday, Friend!

We’re deep in planning and prepping mode over here, mapping things out for next year. We’re talking fresh ideas, big questions, and shared vision.

Cause we’re ready to make the most of 2026—together.

What are you hoping the new year looks like for your team?

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

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THE UNION

From the Automotive State of the Union

Today the whole crew is in the house, holiday party vibes are in the air, and we’re unpacking boardroom reshuffles, budget EVs, and why kei cars probably aren’t the answer to America’s car problem.

Asbury’s Next Chapter

Asbury is making a leadership handoff without the drama. David Hult moves to Executive Chairman in May. Dan Clara, who started as a BMW client adviser in 2002, takes over as CEO. It’s a rare example of a dealership group planning ahead, building from within, and not making it weird.

Ford and Renault Tag In

Ford is joining forces with Renault to build small EVs for Europe. The goal? Get back in the game without spending billions. Their first model hits in 2028. Meanwhile, Chinese brands keep growing, and Ford’s market share keeps shrinking. So yes, it may be a little late. But better late than never, right?

Kei Cars Are Cute. Americans Likely Won’t Buy Them.

The President wants to bring Japan’s kei cars to U.S. dealerships to help with affordability. It’s a lovely idea, but Americans have historically embraced microcars about as warmly as they embrace spam calls—which is to say, with suspicion followed by swift rejection. Unless the culture shifts hard, don’t expect to be stocking any itty-bitty rides next to your F-150s anytime soon.

TOGETHER WITH UBER FOR BUSINESS

Balancing Costs with Courtesy

Complimentary transportation has always been a service department staple. But, is it still the smartest spend?

In this ASOTU Edge Webinar TODAY at 2:00pm EST, Trevor Stanco from Uber for Business and Lithia’s John Church join us to uncover the real economics behind courtesy transport.

Dealers everywhere are rethinking their spend. Don’t be the last to know.

Save my spot.

From The News w/ ASOTU

Fiat’s Little Mouse Is Coming

Despite America’s long history of shrugging at tiny cars, Stellantis is taking another crack at an ultra-small EV anyway.

The Fiat Topolino (whose name means “little mouse” in Italian) will top out at 28 mph, plug into a household outlet, and is kinda like a golf cart with better styling.

It won’t see full road use, but it could fit nicely in beach towns, campuses, and neighborhoods built around short hops instead of highway miles.

Affordability is pushing innovation. As prices rise, manufacturers are trying creative ways to add lower-cost options to the market, even if they live in a different category than traditional cars.

Speaking of Stellantis…

Canada has officially declared Stellantis in default after the company pulled Jeep Compass production out of Ontario and shifted it to Illinois to stay in step with the President’s tariff demands.

The move halted a major retooling project Canada had already funded, and the government now says Stellantis violated the terms of contracts tied to hundreds of millions in assistance.

More than $150M has already been paid out, and Canada wants its money back unless Stellantis restores the original plan.

Europe Rethinks “Small”

The EU is quietly sketching out a new class of ultra-basic electric cars that could ditch certain safety tech and land in the €15,000 to €20,000 range. Think of it as Europe’s attempt to counter the wave of inexpensive Chinese EVs without asking automakers to reinvent physics or their balance sheets.

Early drafts suggest some mandated systems, like drowsiness detection, could be removed to cut costs. The goal is simple: build smaller, lighter EVs that people can actually afford. Some Japanese kei cars might already meet the requirements with no changes at all.

Nothing is approved yet, and bureaucracy will slow-walk the whole thing for years, but the signal is clear. Europe is willing to redraw the rulebook if that is what it takes to stay competitive in the small-EV market China currently dominates.

EVERYTHING ELSE

Quick Hits

• 🛒 Retail: Target has remodeled its location in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood into a unique concept store.

• 🇺🇸 U.S: The Labor Department reported Tuesday that employers posted 7.67M vacancies in October (close to September’s 7.66M).

• 🤖 Tech: Australia will become the first nation to ban social media for children under 16.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

• February 3-6: NADA Show 2026, Las Vegas, NV

• May 12-15: ASOTU CON 2026, Hanover, MD

Today in History

• 1817: Mississippi admitted as 20th state of the Union. 🇺🇸

• 1898: The U.S. acquires Puerto Rico and Guam after President McKinley sings The Treaty of Paris (thus ending the Spanish–American War). 📜

• 1909: Swedish writer Selma Lagerlöf is the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. 🏆