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š Toyota And Lexus Win
š Rohrman Battles Wildfires!
TOGETHER WITH
Somebodyās gonna buy their first new car today.
Maybe from you, but almost certainly from a dealer. What a cool world we get to live in where so many folks start their next adventure in our showrooms?
Itās a humble sorta pride.
Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE
š¦ May 13-16th ā ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland. Get the app!
Toyota and Lexus Top KBB Resale Awards and We Look at Tariff Talk.
š Toyota & Lexus Reign Supreme in Resale Value
When it comes to holding value, Toyota and Lexus continue to set the gold standard. KBBās 2025 Best Resale Value Awards just dropped, and the numbers speak for themselves.
Why does this matter?
Strong resale value isnāt just good for customersāitās a powerful closing tool and a long-term equity play for dealers.
š¹ Toyota wins Best Brand for the 8th time in 9 years.
š¹ Lexus takes Best Luxury Brand for the second year running.
š¹ Tacoma leads all vehicles with a 64.1% resale value after 5 years (compared to the industry average of 44.6%).
š¹ Toyota & Lexus dominate with 13 total category wins, while Honda, Rivian, and a few others trail behind.
"Toyota continues to ride the tide of its winning streak." ā Rheia Szymczyk, KBB
--
šØ Tariffs Took Over the HeadlinesāThen Came the Exemptions
Yesterday morning, Trumpās 25% auto tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China dominated the conversation, with automakers scrambling to adjust. The industry braced for plant shutdowns, price spikes, and supply chain chaos. But by lunchtime, a new twist emergedāa one-month exemption for USMCA-compliant vehicles.
š¹ Hereās What Went Down:
Morning Panic: Automakers and suppliers warned of 20,000 fewer vehicles produced per day, $3,000-$10,000 price hikes, and even a $20,000 jump on some trucks.
OEMs Revive COVID Playbooks: Stockpiling, supplier negotiations, and production shifts were in motion.
Midday Relief: Trump announced a temporary tariff exemption for vehicles meeting USMCAās 75% North American content rulesāgiving Ford, GM, and Stellantis a lifeline (for now).
š¹ But the Pressureās Still On:
The exemption lasts only one monthāthen what?
Suppliers are still pushing back, citing skyrocketing costs.
Tariffs on Chinese goods, steel, and aluminum remain in play.
Read More:
Tariff Impact Could Cut North American Auto Production by a Third ā S&P Global Mobility warns that Trumpās 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada could reduce vehicle output by 20,000 units per day, potentially forcing plant slowdowns or shutdowns. - CNBC
Automakers Warn of 25% Price Hikes Due to Tariffs ā The Alliance for Automotive Innovation cautions that new tariffs on Canada and Mexico could increase vehicle prices by up to 25%, disrupt supply chains, and impact availability almost immediately. -Reuters
New Tariffs Drive Fears of Rising Car Prices ā Analysts warn that Trumpās 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico could add $3,000 or more to vehicle costs due to supply chain disruptions and rising component prices. -NPR
Dealer Warns Tariffs Could Add $20K to Truck Prices ā A Stellantis dealer told Fox Business that Trumpās tariffs have already caused one customer to cancel a Ram truck order after its price jumped from $80,000 to $100,000. -Motor1
š„ Quick Hits
The US gained 77K jobs in Feb, good, but short of the 140K expected. š¼
Mcdonald's is using AI to support workers, order accuracy, and detect equipment issues before they become a problem. Does this mean we can count on the ice cream machine? š¦
JAWS is coming back to theaters this summer for a 50th anniversary celebration. š¦
Meet the Reynolds Dream Team at ASOTU CON
For Reynolds and Reynolds, ASOTU CON isnāt just about lead generationāitās about investing in what retail auto is today and will be tomorrow.
As a driving force behind the Retail Revolution, Reynolds is equipping dealers with a seamlessly connected system that unifies workflows, minimizes errors, and maximizes profitabilityāall while empowering teams to deliver a better customer experience.
Their commitment to innovation and dealership success is what makes events like ASOTU CON possible, and weāre beyond grateful for their partnership.
See Reynolds and Reynolds in action at ASOTU CON 2025, May 13-16th in Baltimore!
Rohrman Battles Wildfires!
WFFT
Rohrman Automotive Group is proving that community support knows no borders. Over the past two months, the Midwest-based dealer group pledged $25 from every new car sold across its 22 dealerships, raising $64,675 for Samaritanās Purse to aid California wildfire relief efforts.
āOur dealerships have always been committed to supporting our local communities,ā said CEO Ryan Rohrman. āBut we saw an opportunity to extend that support beyond our backyard and help those in California who need it most.ā
The donation will provide clean water to Los Angeles firefighters and distribute protective equipment in the Palisades fire zone, offering direct aid to those battling the devastation.
This isnāt Rohrmanās first effort to help disaster-impacted communities. Just last November, the dealer group donated $141,200 to Samaritanās Purse for hurricane relief in Florida and North Carolina.
Rohrmanās generosity continues to prove that dealerships can drive real changeāone car at a time.
š Today in History
1831: Edgar Allan Poe court-martialed and dismissed from West Point military academy for gross neglect of duty and disobedience of orders. š¦āā¬
1869: Dmitri Mendeleev presents the first periodic table of the elements to the Russian Chemical Society. šØāš¬
1965: The first nonstop helicopter crossing of North America is achieved by JR Willford. š
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