đźš— Trillion with a "T"

đźš™ Ditch the Lightning?, Ten-Days Left, and November Giveback

November 10, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Retail auto is an industry worth fighting to get into for many reasons. One of our favorites is how difficult it is to get bored! There is always something to learn, do, celebrate, or talk about. And plenty of people to talk to about it all.

We can’t let a good thing go to waste, so we’re always talking with the folks who make our community what it is.

Check out some of these conversations on the Auto Collabs podcast on Apple or Spotify!

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

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From the Automotive State of the Union

CarMax stock plunged 24% after a grim forecast and CEO Bill Nash’s exit — new interim boss David McCreight inherits falling sales and rising pressure.

Meanwhile, Tesla’s $1T pay plan got the crowd chanting “Elon! Elon!” — 12 milestones stand between Musk and the money.

And Scout says 80% of buyers for its upcoming EVs want a gas generator for range — 150 miles electric, 500 total. CEO Scott Keogh summed it up: “The market has spoken.”

Hear more on these with Paul and Kyle in Friday’s Automotive State of the Union.

The Daily Digest

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Coffee in hand? Good.

Because today’s headlines are doing that thing again where they all feel connected…but aren’t. Or maybe they don’t feel connected…but are?
Time will tell.

A trillion dollars? For real?

Tesla shareholders just approved the biggest pay package in corporate history — $1T for Elon Musk.

Over 75% of investors said yes, even as critics called it a loyalty test, not a strategy. Musk’s payout depends on hitting cosmic goals:

  • 20M vehicles

  • 1M robotaxis

  • 1M humanoid robots

  • And a company valuation near $8.5T

He called it “a whole new book for Tesla.” (Somewhere, an SEC intern sighed deeply.)

“Other shareholder meetings are snoozefests, but ours are bangers,” Musk said.

So the richest person alive now has even more reason to turn Tesla into an AI-and-robotics empire. Cool; seems like one to watch — not just for the stock chart, but for how Tesla decides what kind of company it actually is.

Wait… Ford might ditch the Lightning?

Reports say Ford is considering ending production of its all-electric F-150 Lightning.

Nothing’s final, but sources told The Wall Street Journal and CNBC that the talks are real. The Lightning began as an EV fairy tale — 200,000 reservations, endless hype — but the magic dimmed: supply chain fires, higher costs, and slower-than-hoped sales.

Ford’s official line:

“The F-150 Lightning is the best-selling electric pickup in the U.S.… Right now, we’re focused on producing F-150 ICE and Hybrid.”

Translation: Ford’s following the margin.

Seems like a signal that hybrids might be the new bridge fuel — and that the EV ramp isn’t quite the vertical climb it once looked like.

The used-car market blinked.

Manheim’s October index fell 2%, typical for spooky season but still worth a glance. Luxury vehicles held better value, compacts dipped, and EVs stayed more volatile than their gas cousins.

Seems like the market’s not crashing — just catching its breath. But if you squint, it’s whispering the same old truth: clean recon, faster turn, tighter buying still rule the margin game.

Read more on this and several other stories here.

Ten Days Left–Don’t Miss Out!

Today marks ten days until the advance registration deadline for NADA Show 2026.

That’s $200 in savings, gone after November 20th.

Hotel blocks are moving fast. The agenda is already packed. And if you’re planning to be in Las Vegas February 3 to 6, now is the time to lock it in.

The show is shaping up to be everything dealers are asking for: Hands-on learning, tech that actually works, and the smartest people in the industry sharing what’s moving the needle across every part of the store.

The deadline is coming fast.

Register today to secure your spot and keep more cash in your wallet!

MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

Phil Long Honors Veterans with November Giveback

Phil Long Dealerships is putting purpose in the driver’s seat this month. The Colorado-based group just kicked off its fourth annual giveback campaign in honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month—donating to Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center for every vehicle sold in November, with total contributions reaching up to $100,000.

This isn’t just a one-off. Over the past three years, Phil Long’s campaign has already raised more than $250,000 for Mt. Carmel’s mission to help veterans and their families transition to civilian life with career services, wellness programs, and community connection.

The story runs deep in the dealership’s DNA. Founder Phil Long was a WWII Naval Aviator, and former president Jay Cimino—a U.S. Marine Corps veteran—established Mt. Carmel back in 2016. Today, CEO Kevin Shaughnessy says the goal is simple: keep serving those who’ve served us.

“Less than 1% of Americans currently serve in the military,” Shaughnessy said. “We’re proud to stand with Mt. Carmel in supporting these brave men and women and their families.”

A dealership honoring its history by investing in heroes? That’s the kind of legacy that never goes out of style.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Coming Soon

Today in History

  •  1885: The first motorcycle rider. 🏍️ 

  • 1983: Bill Gates introduces Windows 1.0. đź’ľ 

  • 2020: BMW releases new flying vehicle footage. 🚀 

Repeat after us:

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