🚗 The Power of Data

TOGETHER WITH

It’s nearly party time, Friend!

We’re looking forward to welcoming guests at our SOLD-OUT shindig at the Sazerac House tonight.

Enjoy your NADay. We can’t wait to cheers with you soon! 🥂

Keep Pushing Back,
-The ASOTU Crew

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BUSINESS

📊 J.D. Power Auto Summit 2025

Our team was on-site at the J.D. Power Auto Summit this year where industry leaders shared key takeaways from last years’ stats and top predictions for the one ahead.

• Thomas King outlined a stabilizing market, with total sales projected at 16.3M units, but profitability challenges persist, especially as EV production ramps up slower than expected.

• Jonathan Banks highlighted the tightest late-model used vehicle supply in nearly a decade, urging dealers to adopt aggressive sourcing strategies.

• Elizabeth Krear offered a realistic outlook on EV adoption, emphasizing the need for better infrastructure and consumer education to drive growth.

• The Modernizing Your Dealership Playbook panel stressed the importance of inventory precision, digital retailing, and adapting to affordability pressures.

Read the full write-up here.

TOGETHER WITH RENEW ENERGY

☀️ Light Up Your NADA Experience

Renew Energy is bringing solar solutions front and center at NADA 2025!

As leaders in solar energy consultation, they’re helping residents and businesses maximize the benefits of the net metering program with affordable, transparent, and hassle-free solutions.

Catch Robert and the Renew Energy team on the floor, sharing insights and connecting with attendees. Want the latest updates? Tune into our live streams to see how Renew Energy is transforming clean energy adoption from inspections to installations.

Whether you’re looking to cut costs, embrace sustainability, or simply learn more about the power of solar, Renew Energy is the partner to meet.

Don’t miss the chance to connect with Renew Energy at NADA—contact them today!

DATA & INSIGHT

📈 Earnings Growth on the Rise

Stocks rallied midweek as optimism about artificial intelligence and the new administration’s policies pushed the S&P 500 to an intraday record and lifted investor sentiment. With technology stocks leading the charge, the market demonstrated resilience after a shaky start to the year.

• S&P 500 Hits Record High: The S&P 500 touched 6,100.81 during trading on Wednesday, closing at 6,086.37 and marking a fresh milestone.

• Tech Takes Center Stage: The Nasdaq Composite surged 1.3%, propelled primarily by AI enthusiasm. Nvidia climbed over 4% and Oracle jumped more than 6%, bolstered by the announcement of a $500B joint AI infrastructure project backed by the White House, OpenAI, Oracle, and Softbank.

 
The spotlight is on corporate earnings as the primary driver of the stock market’s continued bullish momentum in 2025.

• Earnings Set the Stage for Growth: Q4 earnings for the S&P 500 are expected to jump 11% YOY, marking the strongest quarterly growth in three years. Analysts anticipate a 10% or more increase in 2025 earnings, which could push stocks higher even if valuations decline modestly.

• Policy-Driven Risks Loom Large: Deep government spending cuts and proposed 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico could create hurdles. However, analysts remain optimistic that tax cuts and deregulation from the Trump administration will offset these risks.

• Historical Context Favors the Bulls: The S&P 500 has only experienced seven year-over-year declines since 1999. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the index has soared by 563.9%, averaging 12.6% annual growth, with six years of gains over 23%.
   

 
Manheim says the sales conversion rate remains the most telling metric for wholesale values, reflecting how eager buyers are to pay sellers’ asking prices. This rate acts as a pulse check for the industry, and right now, it’s beating strong.

• Current Conversion Rates Show Robust Demand: Sales conversion climbed to 60.8%, marking the highest level in over four years.

• Weekly Performance Remains Strong: While conversion ticked down by 0.1% last week, it’s still significantly above historical norms, underscoring continued confidence in the wholesale market.
   

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🎙️ The Dealer Playbook

We’re thrilled to announce that The Dealer Playbook is now part of the ASOTU | More Than Cars Media Network! 😎

Expect the same great content you know and love—plus even more. With regular episodes dropping every Thursday, the revamped podcast will now also include additional content throughout the week.

Check out the most recent episode featuring Elena Ciccotelli and get ready for an exciting new chapter of The Dealer Playbook!

🗓️ Coming Soon

⚜️ THIS WEEK! January 23-26th — NADA Show in New Orleans. Find the all best parties here!

📝 January 30th — Public Policy Day with WANADA and the Washington, D.C. Auto Show.

🦀 May 13-16th — ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland. Get the app!

🥊 Quick Hits

• Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency is coming for the penny. 🪓

• Reebok’s co-founder teams with a young innovator to create the first AI-designed shoe you can actually buy. 👟

• Oscar nominations have been announced for the 2025 Academy Awards. 🏆

🔁 Today in History

• 1935: The first canned beer, Krueger's Cream Ale, is sold by American company Krueger Brewing Co. 🍺

• 1958: After warming to 100,000,000 degrees, two atoms are smashed together to create a heavier atom resulting in the first man-made nuclear fusion. ⚛️

• 1962: Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame. ⚾️