🚗 VW's Third Place

🚙 CPR Class is in Session

February 27, 2025

TOGETHER WITH

Almost to the end of the week, Friend.

At ASOTU, we share our weekly high points in our team meetings. What’s been your highlight so far? If you don’t have one yet, there’s still time—go make some good vibes!

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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THE NEWS

VW’s Comeback, GM’s Buybacks, and Stellantis Drops Down

🥉 VW’s ID.4 Stages a Comeback—But Can It Last?

After a rough 2024, Volkswagen’s ID.4 just pulled off a massive comeback, ranking as the third best-selling EV in the U.S. last month. With sales up 653% from last January, the ID.4 is now trailing only Tesla’s Model Y and Model 3.

What’s driving the surge?
A mix of incentives, pent-up demand, and fresh 2025 models hitting the lot.

4,979 ID.4s sold in January—a massive leap from just 646 in Q4 2024.
Projected 60,000+ sales in 2025, putting it back in the EV big leagues.
Price cuts & lease deals could be fueling demand alongside Tesla’s price war.

"We aim to reinstate the ID.4 as a top EV in the U.S.," said VW.

💰 GM’s Big Buyback: What It Means for Dealers

GM is making moves to keep shareholders happy, announcing a 25% dividend increase and a fresh $6B stock buyback after completing a $10B buyback last year. But what does this mean for the retail auto world?

Is this just Wall Street business, or does it impact the showroom floor?
It’s a signal that GM is confident in its financial position, but it also means more cash is going to investors rather than major operational shifts.

🔹 Dividends up: GM’s quarterly payout jumps from 12 to 15 cents per share starting in April.
🔹 Buyback boost: Another $6B in stock repurchases is now in play.
🔹 Stock reaction: Shares climbed 6% on the news.

"Moving forward, we expect to continue returning excess capital to our shareholders," said CFO Paul Jacobson.

📉 Stellantis Faces Tough Road Ahead After 70% Profit Drop

After a 70% decline in profit, Stellantis is bracing for another tough year. Margins are down, cash flow is negative, and UAW profit-sharing checks are taking a 73% hit.

🔹 North American operating margin fell from 15.4% to 4.2%.
🔹 Inventory reductions are ahead of schedule, with U.S. dealer stock down 20% YoY.
🔹 New models, including a midsize pickup, are part of Stellantis' recovery plan.

"We are firmly focused on gaining market share and improving financial performance," said Chairman John Elkann.

🥊 Quick Hits

Amazon has launched Alexa+, an enhanced version of its voice assistant that uses generative AI for smarter responses. 🦾
The USDA predicts that egg prices will increase more than 40% this year on top of the already sky-high prices. 🍳
From duct-taped bananas to a stolen golden toilet, artist Maurizio Cattelan has a knack for turning ordinary objects into extraordinary headlines. 🍌

TOGETHER WITH ACTIVATOR

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MORE THAN CARS MOMENTS

💗 Heart Month with Rick Case Automotive

Rick Case Automotive isn’t just in the car business—they’re in the people business. And this Heart Month, they proved it in a way that actually saves lives, with the kind of style only Rita Case could pull off.

Teaming up with the American Heart Association, the Florida-based dealer group donated 250 CPR Anytime training kits to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Broward Health. The goal? Make sure families walk out the door with more than just a hospital discharge—they leave with the confidence and tools to step in when seconds matter.

“If CPR is administered in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates jump from 10% to 80%,” said Rita Case. “That’s a number worth investing in.”

No fluff, no fanfare—just a dealership making sure families have what they need to protect the people they love. And in an industry built on relationships, that’s the kind of impact that lasts.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🗓️ Coming Soon

🦀 May 13-16th — ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland. Get the app! (check a few things you can expect below!)
- May 13: Welcome Reception

🔁 Today in History

1782: During the American Revolutionary War, the House of Commons of Great Britain votes against further war in America. 🇺🇸
1870: The current flag of Japan is first adopted as the national flag for Japanese merchant ships. 🇯🇵
2019: Polestar 2 debuts. 🆕

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