🚗 Vermont Stops

TOGETHER WITH

“Vibe Coding” is a term for explaining what you want to AI so well that it writes the code for you to bring your app to life.

But it could also be a pretty good way to consider branding.

You’re coding vibes into every point of contact with the world around your business.

Why leave any spaces to chance? Go spread some good vibes today.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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THE NEWS

Vermont, April, Polestar, and America

🛑 Vermont Says ‘Not Yet’ to Gas Car Ban

Guess what? Vermont just realized you can’t force EV adoption when people aren’t buying and chargers are MIA. The governor delayed the state’s gas car ban, joining a growing list of states bailing on California’s EV rules.
→ Dealers, enjoy the breathing room—gas rides are still game on.

📉 Used Sales: A Bit Soggy in April

Used sales dipped 3.6% from March but are still up nearly 12% from last year. CPO cooled too, but nothing worth panicking over.
→ Spring fizzled early. Watch your turn rates and don’t chase the wrong cars.

⚡ Polestar’s on a Tear

Polestar flipped from red to black (sort of), posting a positive gross margin and 84% revenue jump. Apparently, people will buy new EVs—if they’re actually good.
→ OEMs, take notes. Dealers, keep tabs. These cars might start showing up on your turf.

🇺🇸 100% American-Made Car?

Turns out “Made in the USA” is way harder—and pricier—than campaign slogans suggest. Even the all-American Ford Expedition is only 58% domestic parts.
→ Tariffs might talk a big game, but don’t expect fully domestic rides anytime soon.

🥊 Quick Hits

• Doctors have rewritten the disordered DNA of an infant for the first time. 🧬 

• OpenAI’s coding agent is grabbing attention. Ready to code with no… well.. coding? 💾 

• Consumer confidence has slipped again. We may need more than coffee and popcorn to get folks feeling right again. 🍿 

TOGETHER WITH COVIDEO

Turn Every Lead Into Gold: Why Video Is the Sales Tool You’re Not Using Enough

Fewer buyers. Higher costs. Bigger headwinds. Welcome to the new normal.

If you’re in retail auto, you’ve already felt the squeeze: less foot traffic, spiking acquisition costs, and a market warped by interest rates and tariff talk. But instead of just tightening the belt, smart dealers are tightening their follow-up—and they’re doing it with video.

In a recent ASOTU Edge webinar, Covideo’s VP of Marketing Margaret Henney and Vorderman Volkswagen’s SVP & GM Daryl Perry sat down with Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier to break down exactly how video is helping dealerships do more with less—and win.

The Stats Speak Louder Than Words

Let’s skip the fluff: Dealers using personalized video are setting 3x the appointments and selling 2.4x more cars than their non-video-using peers. That’s not a nice-to-have. That’s a competitive edge. Whether it’s sending a short walkaround clip, following up after a showroom visit, or delivering appointment reminders, video adds a personal touch that email can’t match.

Video Makes You Human

“People don’t buy from dealerships—they buy from you,” Kyle Mountsier said during the conversation. And that’s the secret sauce. Video bridges the gap between online lead and real-world relationship, putting a face, voice, and tone to the message. It builds trust, shortens sales cycles, and makes it easier for your team to convert leads—especially the ones who are already in your CRM but haven’t heard from you in a while.

Real Tips, Not Just Talk

This wasn’t a fluffy “rah-rah” session. Margaret and Daryl came with receipts. You’ll walk away with:

• Proven script templates that actually work

• Shortcut strategies using canned and personalized videos

• A clear plan to train your team and boost buy-in

Even better? The strategies work across new and used departments, BDCs, and even for long-distance buyers unsure about committing sight-unseen.

Bottom Line: You Already Have the Leads. Now Convert Them.

If your store is feeling the pressure (and whose isn’t?), it’s time to rethink how you show up. Literally. This 29-minute webinar will give you tools you can start using today to boost conversions and cut through the noise.

🔁 Today in History

• 1903 – Buick is Founded 🆕 

• 1962 – A birthday salute to U.S. President John F. Kennedy takes place at Madison Square Garden, New York City. The highlight is Marilyn Monroe's rendition of "Happy Birthday". 🎂 

• 1963 – The New York Post Sunday Magazine publishes Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail. ✉️