TOGETHER WITH
Howdy Fam!
Did you see our friends at Auto News gave The Truth About Car Dealers some love? What pals!
I hope you joined us for Episode 2 at Carter Myers Automotive yesterday, but in case you didn’t, check out the replay here.
The world is kinda loud, and content gets faster every day. It’s nice to slow down and enjoy something a group of people made with the hands… and feet. Also Cameras and computers. And there is a game show.
Enjoy.
Keep Pushing Back,
-Chris with Paul, Kyle & Kristi
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Reading time: 4 min and 11 sec
THE NEWS
Used is firm, EV owners are sticking, and charging is becoming the expectation
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If you’re trying to explain “where the market is” to your team (or a customer) right now, here’s the clean version:
Used is firm, EV owners are sticking, and charging is moving from perk to expectation.
Used values: spring came early
Cox Automotive’s mid-February 2026 Manheim checkpoint shows wholesale demand stayed hot even as the seasonally adjusted index dipped a hair.
Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index: 210.0 (down 0.2% vs. January, up 2.9% YoY)
Non-adjusted wholesale prices: up 1.9% in the first half of February; up 3.1% YoY
Sales conversion: 62.5% (up 2.4 points vs. January; up 2.7 points YoY)
MMR retention: 100.3%
Wholesale supply: 28 days as of Feb. 15
Translation: dealers are stocking for spring, and the lanes are absorbing it. Cox also flagged EV values firming up after earlier softness, which is worth noting if you’ve been bracing for more EV depreciation headlines.
EV demand: incentives ended, satisfaction didn’t
JD Power dropped a stat that should change how we talk about EVs on the showroom floor:
In the 2026 U.S. EVX Ownership Study, 96% of current BEV owners say they’d consider another EV next, even with the federal tax credit program discontinued in September 2025.
Public charging satisfaction jumped hard year over year (biggest improvement factor).
BEVs continue to beat PHEVs on overall satisfaction, especially on cost of ownership.
Electrek basically translated that into plain English: “Once you go EV, you don’t go back.” That’s not just fan talk, it’s what the survey data is pointing at.
Dealer takeaway: the next EV buyer may not be “the curious first-timer.” It may be the friend, spouse, or neighbor of a satisfied owner who already has the pitch ready.
Hot Leads Delivered Daily
Every morning, your inbox could be serving up more than headlines.
The Hot Leads List from TradePending highlights the shoppers who are already deep in your inventory, checking VDPs, comparing options, and raising their hands.
These are the buyers most likely to close, delivered to you daily so your team knows exactly where to focus. If you’re serious about selling more cars without chasing cold leads, it’s time to see what’s heating up in your market.
THE AUTOMOTIVE STATE OF THE UNION PODCAST
Charging is now a competitive weapon
Axios reported Uber is putting $100M into charging to support robotaxis, with fast-charging hubs at AV depots in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Dallas, plus “pit stops” around major cities. They’re also cutting deals with networks like EVgo that guarantee charger usage in exchange for better pricing for drivers.
Here’s the part worth stealing for your next store meeting.
As Kyle put it on the morning show:
“This is all about being the marketplace…and the fact that they’re thinking about charger deployment as the strategy…genius.”
Uber’s buying availability and trying to own the default decision of where EV miles get fueled.
That’s the dealer takeaway: even if your store never touches a robotaxi, this kind of investment speeds up customer expectations. More EV drivers will assume charging is easy, close, and dependable. The rooftops that can explain the local charging reality clearly, and help customers plan around it, will feel like the calm, competent option.
Quick Hits
🤖 AI: Fortune says AI is getting hyped in earnings calls, but most execs barely use it (about 1.5 hours/week) and ~90% report zero productivity or jobs impact so far.
🛒 Retail: Retail Dive says 2026 retail is still a debt-and-tariff stress test, and the bankruptcy watchlist includes J. Crew, Torrid, Guitar Center, QVC Group, Rugs USA, and Gabe’s (with Saks Global already filing).
💰 Economy: U.S. durable goods orders fell 1.4% in December (better than the -2.0% forecast), but the real story is underneath. Core business demand stayed positive (non-defense cap goods ex-air +0.6%) and shipments jumped +1.0%, which nudges GDP expectations up a bit.
👽 Weird: Variety says the “Scrubs” revival plays it too safe, leaning on nostalgia instead of evolution, and feels dated next to sharper, modern medical shows.
AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE
Dealer Conferences and Industry Events
Wed, Feb 25, 12:00 PM CST: The Truth About Car Dealers: Rohrman Automotive Group | S2:E3. RSVP for the livestream here!
May 12-15: ASOTU CON 2026, Hanover, MD
Get ready for the Year of the Human
Today in History: February 19
1878: Thomas Edison patents the phonograph. 🎼
1954: The Ford Thunderbird concept is completed. 🦅
1985: William J. Schroeder becomes the first recipient of an artificial heart to leave the hospital. 💘
Thanks for reading, Friend.
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