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- 🚗 U.S-China Trade Truce
🚗 U.S-China Trade Truce
🚙 Headline News, NADA 2026, and A Legacy of Opportunity
TOGETHER WITH
Welcome to the first Monday of November, Friend!
Fun fact: November comes from the Latin word for nine, novem, which is ironic, since it’s the 11th month. Names change, but as some guy once said, would a rose by any other name smell less sweet?
Beats us. But while we’re on the topic of names and changes… did you know we’re changing the name of retail auto’s only docu-series?
Check it out today while it’s still called More than Cars, and keep an eye out for its new name soon: The Truth About Car Dealers.
Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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Reading time: 4 min and 33 sec
From the Automotive State of the Union
Toyota says its chip supply is stable for now as the Nexperia saga unfolds, but rivals warn inventories could tighten within weeks. We unpack why this is a policy story first, production story second—and what that means for dealers watching allocation and supply. Listen at 3:20.
Then we dive into CDK’s 2025 Dealership Workplace Study. Satisfaction is up (82%), intent to leave is down (22%), but long-term retention and advocacy still lag. We talk about what dealerships can actually control: pay plans, time management, and tech that works for the whole store, not just the marketing team. Listen at 5:44.
Finally, a new Gen Z mystery-shopping study from hospitality shows that digital check-ins, intuitive tech, and reliable Wi-Fi aren’t perks—they’re expectations. We connect the dots to how auto retail can meet that same bar inside the showroom and service lane. Listen at 9:20.
The Daily Digest
Click to read Friday’s full digest.
Automakers are reshuffling their bets.
Stellantis is investing $13B in U.S. manufacturing, adding new Ram models and performance trims in its biggest American push yet.
Across the Pacific, Hyundai is exploring Indonesia’s plan for a homegrown car, while Nissan is cutting costs and headcount to steady its balance sheet.
Meanwhile, a temporary U.S.–China trade truce hasn’t stopped a fresh chip shortage from squeezing production. Honda’s already dialing back output.
And Lucid is evolving from an EV startup into a full-fledged tech brand with plans for home-power integration and Level 4 autonomy.
For dealers, it’s a reminder that every global move lands somewhere on a local lot.
Your Playbook for 2026 Starts Here
NADA Show returns to Las Vegas, Feb. 3-6, 2026, offering four days of learning, connection and clarity for every corner of your dealership.
From the latest in AI and digital retail to hiring, inventory and Fixed Ops performance, the Expo floor is where strategy meets execution. You’ll see what’s new, talk with the teams building it and leave with a plan for what to do next.
Workshops and Super Sessions supply practical tools you can put to use immediately. The Dealer Learning Lab offers real-world examples of success in easily digestible 20-minute modules. And with MyPlanner, you can map out every conversation you want to have before you land at LAS.
This is where the industry shows up to get better—together. Register today—hotels are going fast!
EVERYTHING ELSE
Quick Hits
MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS
A Legacy of Opportunity
Drake State
Drake State Community and Technical College has created the Ellenae Fairhurst Endowed Scholarship to honor one of automotive retail’s true trailblazers.
Fairhurst made history as the first African American woman in North America to own both an Infiniti and a Lexus dealership, leading Huntsville Autoplex with excellence and vision. Her career reflected a lifelong belief in education, perseverance, and service.
The new endowment—funded with a $500,000 principal gift—will provide permanent financial support for Drake State students, especially mothers pursuing degrees part- or full-time. It’s a fitting tribute to a leader who spent her career opening doors for others.
As Stuart McCallum of Fairhurst Automotive put it: “Our goal is to build community wealth by investing in automotive retail—but the broader mission is to invest in people.”
A lasting investment in education, empowerment, and the future of automotive leadership.
Today in History
1800: John Adams becomes the first President of the United States to live in the Executive Mansion (later renamed the White House). 🇺🇸
1927: Ford Model A production begins. 🧑🏭
1982: Honda becomes the first Asian automobile company to produce cars in the U.S. with the opening of its factory in Marysville, Ohio; a Honda Accord is the first car produced there. 🥇
Welcome to a new week! Repeat after us:
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