👩‍⚖️ Treasury Issues Guidance

TOGETHER WITH

The top 150 groups in America have been announced by Automotive News. Which means a lot and a little. First, congrats to those on the list. It is a huge accomplishment to those who continue to succeed at such a high level and push our industry!

Also, too all those not on the list, remember how great the opportunity is in automotive! The opportunity to care for employees, serve customers, and be community advocates. Each one of those cars sold and serviced reminds us of that!

So much so that we are wheels up today to begin shooting a show about the industry like you have never seen before. Keep your eyes out for more about that soon!

Keep Pushing Back-Paul, Kyle, & Chris

DEALERS

ATUC Accountability Pt. 2

Friday, David Long and the All Things Used Cars Community doubled down on their discussion surrounding accountability and culture. 

Each contributor brought something unique and empowering, but foundational to each comment was a call to be more humble, self-aware, and dedicated to walking how we talk.

Accepting we will not knock every pitch out of the park and that we still have a lot to learn goes a long way to building the sort of culture were accountability is a given. 

Check out the full replay on Clubhouse and join us next week for the live conversation!

AUTOMOTIVE

GM, Ford, and Virgin Orbit All Say Bye To Something.

GM has big plans! CarPlay and Android Auto tech just isn't a part of them.

The company is phasing out the popular technologies in favor of built-in software they are developing with Google. The GM system will allow the automaker to capture more consumer data than the smartphone apps that make use of the car display screen.

The 2024 Chevy Blazer will be the first model not to offer Apple or Android systems. 

To each their own, but we don't like being told how to use the things we pay for. Who does GM think they are? Apple?

Ford isn't scared of a long road, but they'll take the wheel, Mr. Roboto.

The company dissolved its autonomous driving division, Argo.ai, months ago. While many expected a regrouping of efforts, Ford has surprised them all by pulling out of the robot game entirely.

Of course, the automaker has plenty going on. The push to electrification has been rugged and challenging. The price of the Ford F-150 Lightning, for instance, has increased by $20K since its original price announcement.

Hey, we get it. Why navigate two complex tasks when you can bail on one and fruitlessly thrash against the other? Reminds us of our college days.

One of the private space travel companies is about to turn in its moon rock collection. No, not Elon's, the other one, not Bezos' either... Virgin Orbit.

The company's value dropped from nearly $4B in 2021 to less than $100M today. They currently sit on the brink of bankruptcy.

The billionaire-backed rocket builder developed a flexible approach to launching satellites but failed to reach a profitable rate.

The shortest explanation seems to be that when things started to look rock for the company, its biggest investor Richard Branson, was unwilling to invst further and began hedging against his 75% stake. If the company does go bankrupt, which seems unavoidable, Brandon will have first priority of all its assets.

We can’t tell Mr. Bronson how to spend his money, but with a bunch of rocket assets just lying around, have you considered getting into theme parks? Nerds have way more money than space.

TOGETHER WITH ASOTU X

See You In Arlington!

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ASOTU is coming to your town, and we hope to see you there! Join us live and in person for Automotive's only Tonight Show-style event, with music, laughs, and conversation with some of the industry's great front-line operators!

First up is Arlington, TX! Grab your tickets NOW for the ultimate automotive extravaganza! Don't miss your chance to be part of the action – claim your spot and experience auto's only tonight show!

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Spend Your Morning With ASOTU! 

Join Paul and Kyle every weekday morning for The Automotive Troublemaker. A short-form look at the happenings in and around automotive, retail, technology, and culture. 

If you happen to get a few laughs along the way, it's ok; we won't charge you extra. 😉

AUTOMOTIVE

EV Tax Credit Guidance Issued

👩‍⚖️🗺️⛏️

The US Treasury has, at long last, issued guidance for applying battery component and mineral sourcing requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act.  

💵💸💰

The $7,500 tax credit will be available in two parts. One $3,750 chunk is for vehicles assembled in North America, and the other half is available based on battery component building/sourcing. 

🗓️📈🌎

The battery sourcing requirements will increase yearly, causing automakers to bring more production to North America or US Free Trade Countries as time passes.

🚗🛻🤵‍♂️

Only cars under $50K and SUVs/Trucks under $80K are eligible. Single taxpayers earning more than $150K, heads-of-household earning more than $225K, and jointly filing married people earning more than $300K will not be eligible. 

⏰🔍👍

The changes go into effect on April 17th. Some automakers have provided lists of models still covered by the tax credits once the changes are in place. 

Telling it like it is - Not all News is new…

WHAT THE KIDS ARE INTO

Movies, Music, and Memoirs

After a four-year hiatus, Jon Bernthal will return to the MCU as The Punisher. His pro boxing teacher shared a video showing off some of the actor's practice for the role. 

Along with Charlie Cox's Daredevil and Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin, Bernthal's Punisher will return in Daredevil: Born Again. The show is not a sequel to the Netflix run for the characters but is sure to pack a punch none of us see coming.

Love 'em or hate 'em, nobody can deny the impact The White Stripes had on modern rock music... or sporting events.

Just imagine a hockey game without hearing Seven Nation Army's iconic riff.

The band's 4th and most well-known album, Elephant, is 20 years old now, and artists across genres are sharing their thoughts.

A new Steve Jobs memoir will release April 11th. Yes, the visionary passed away some years ago, but like Tupac, some people's contributions to those around them just keep producing fruit.

The memoir is called "Make Something Wonderful: Steve Jobs in his own words" and features a collection of wisdom he shared with friends, family, and colleagues over his 56 years.

The collection of letters, notes, speeches, interviews, and photos will be digitally available to all, but only select people at Apple and Disney will receive physical copies. 

Telling it like it is - The Punisher is back, The White Stripes are officially Dad-Rockm, and Steve Jobs still has something to tell us. 

Quick Hits

• Inflation increased, but less than forecasted. So that’s kinda like good news.

• Video game showcase, E3, did not gain enough interest and has been canceled for 2023.

• Researchers found a new use for AI, clearing up pictures of the cosmos. 

History

• 1885: The internal combustion engine is patented

• 1968: Martin Luther King Jr. deliverers his "mountaintop" speech

• 2016: The Panama Papers, a leak of legal documents, reveals information on 214,488 offshore companies.