🚗 Shoppers Sticking with Dealerships

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Welcome to Tuesday, Friend!

We are officially one week away from the 2024 general election. Thankfully, tensions are low and spirits are high, so we imagine the whole thing will go off without a hitch!

Hey…we can dream.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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BUSINESS

Disruption, Regulation, and Exploration

🌱 VW, GM, & Ford: Major Disruptions Ahead

Volkswagen is cutting jobs and closing factories, GM’s Fort Wayne plant may face a UAW strike, and Ford is shifting Mustang Mach-E battery production to Michigan. Big moves, bigger implications for your inventory. Stay ahead of the shake-up.

🕵️ CFPB's New Rules: Dealerships in the Spotlight

The CFPB just dropped new regulations on employee surveillance and background checks. Are your dealership’s hiring and tracking practices compliant? Get the details to keep in the clear.

🔍 EV Shopping Trends: Mustang Mach-E Surpasses the F-150

Carvana’s latest electric vehicle shopping report shows a 226% jump in EV searches, with Ford’s Mustang Mach-E overtaking the F-150 Lightning in popularity. With luxury features and newer models driving demand, now may be the time to stock up.

➡️ Keep reading here for all the deets. ⬅️

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DATA & INSIGHT

Dealerships Still the Preferred Way to Car Shop

Despite the rise of digital car-buying tools, most buyers still value the in-person dealership experience. According to the 2024 Capital One Car Buying Outlook, 88% of buyers complete at least half of the buying process in person. Younger buyers, like Gen Z, increasingly appreciate face-to-face interactions, contradicting expectations that online-only car shopping would dominate.

Building trust isn’t just the responsibility of salespeople. 60% of buyers say sales reps are key to creating confidence, but other dealership staff, including finance and service teams, also play a role. Ensuring transparency at every touchpoint can encourage repeat business and foster loyalty.

The road to purchasing a car is anything but quick. The study found that nearly 45% of buyers spend more than three months actively shopping before finalizing their purchase. This long journey underscores the importance of clear communication and trust-building throughout the process, as buyers take their time to make informed decisions.

AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

🗓️ Coming Soon

🤠 November 5-8th — Opening presenters at the 2024 ATAE PR & Communications Focus Group Meeting in Austin, Texas.

⚜️ January 23-26th, 2025 — NADA Show in New Orleans.

🦀 May 13-16th, 2025 — ASOTU CON in Baltimore, Maryland.

🎬 Episode 4 of More Than Cars at Mohawk Chevrolet

🥊 Quick Hits

• Move over, Fat Bear Week! There’s a batty new beauty contest in town. 🦇

• For a limited time, the living can visit a replica of the Beetlejuice house. Just be care what you say in triplet, and don’t trust anyone in stripes. 🪲

• Rolls-Royce spent three years crafting this one-of-a-kind Phantom, complete with a gold bar in the center console. 👻

🔁 Today in History

• 1390: The first trial for witchcraft is held in Paris. 🧙‍♀️

• 1929: Known as “Black Tuesday,” the New York Stock Exchange crashes, ushering in The Great Depression. 🏴

• 2018: Nigel Richards won the World Scrabble Championships for the 4th time in a row with the word “groutier” (meaning sulky, surly, or bad-tempered). 😠

Thanks for reading, friend! We know you’ve got candy bowls sitting around every corner this week in honor of Halloween. What we don’t know is…