#686 - 🚗 Welcome To Day Two

TOGETHER WITH

Good Morning and Happy Thursday, Friend!

We’re getting ready for ASOTU CON day two, and we’re still buzzing from the excellent keynote by our friend Brian Benstock.

Check out LinkedIn for some of the good things we have going on!

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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AROUND THE ASOTU-VERSE

Day Two

What a great way to end day one!

Download the app to plan your time in day two.

Let’s get another day in the book of good content, great conversation, and comfortable vibes.

• Grab some free snacks at the Recharge Lounge.

• Record your “More Than Cars Moment” in the activation hall (no appointment or invitation needed; walk over and start talking; the camera pros will handle the rest!)

• Snag that top score in the F1 simulator (Big prizes await the winner.)

• Finally, visit with the folks in the Conversation Hall. ASOTU CON doesn’t have attendees; we invite participants. ASOTU doesn’t have “Vendors”. We have friends who own the top of their fields and are ready to become better friends, partners, and community members to the industry. Shake some hands, learn some names, and hatch some plans for flipping the script on who the world thinks auto dealers are.

TOGETHER WITH DEALERON

Crafting Custom Connections

The digital marketing landscape is shifting with stricter data privacy regulations and the end of third-party cookies. Dealerships are challenged to maintain personalized marketing without extensive data tracking.

DealerOn is here to turn those challenges into clarity.

DealerOn’s innovative tool, DealerOn Signals, helps dealerships harness first-party data to drive personalized marketing. This powerful engine transforms the customer journey, enabling data-driven campaigns with seamless integrations across an open ecosystem.

🔑 Key Advantages:

• Tailor website content to each shopper based on accurate and relevant data.

• Pair with multiple vendors simultaneously (CDP, Email, Data Mining, Site Behaviors).

• Personalize your website without requiring consumer logins.

Meet with DealerOn at ASOTU CON 2024 for insights on navigating data privacy and implementing personalized marketing strategies, and don't miss their sessions on demystifying CDP jargon and safeguarding consumer data while building trust. Connect with them today!

BUSINESS

Let’s Get To Business

It’s really fun sending this email out knowing tomorrow, I’ll see so many of you at ASOTU CON day 2. Makes the risky jokes feel more risky since, you know, one of you could actually come up to me and give me a thumbs down. -chris

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Infotainment: Uber, Rivian, and Angry Birds

Cars these days have more screens than an outdoor wedding in mosquito country. Why plan your wedding there? Is this the setup for a revenge movie? Who knows.

Google is adding more screens, or at least more things to do on the screens for Android native infotainment systems. Including HBO's Max, NBC's Peacock, and the game Angry Birds (You'll never replace Flappy Bird, you furious little fowl). Wrapped up in the plan is a plan for Uber to integrate Android Auto for driver functionality. So, there is a chance your next wordless Uber ride will at least have The Office on tap.

Rivian, on the other hand, is bringing YouTube and Google Cast to their RI line of electric trucks. The announcement specifically mentions these features are available "while parked," which is a nice touch. The update is expected by Over-The-Air download. 

Mercedes Changes Plans

Following poor sales, Mercedes-Benz canceled its next-gen large EV platform and will upgrade its existing one. Fulfilling that age-old word of wisdom, "If it ain't broke, don't replace it; upgrade it until people beg you to replace it." Got ya some details here.  

• The choice will save $4.3 to $6.5 billion in development costs.

• Future EQS and EQE models will use an upgraded EVA2 platform.

• Upgrades include an 800V charging system and more efficient battery cells and motors, which means longer range, faster charging, and more power. 

While researching this piece, we discovered a German shepherd named Mercedes, just took runner-up at the 148th Westminster Dog Show. So that’s interesting, but also just so weird to watch.

China EV Maker Goes Public

News of the White House making moves against Chinese EVs flooding the US has apparently only excited China for a challenge. 

Global Perspective:
Chinese EV maker Aiways will go public in the US via a merger with Hudson Acquisition SPAC, valuing the company at around $400 million. Aiways aims to focus on European EV sales, leveraging its existing models and operations while manufacturing remains in China.

US Market Impact:
The SPAC merger, set to close by year-end, offers a lifeline to Aiways. US auto dealers can anticipate potential market shifts as Aiways strengthens its European presence and possibly considers future expansion into North America.

Robo-Taxi Turning a Profit? 

Baidu's Apollo Go robotaxi unit expects to turn profitable next year. The company, a power player in China's robotaxi market, operated 839,000 rides in Q4 2023 and aims to deploy 1,000 new 6th generation robotaxis in Wuhan this year.

Kia #VanLife

It's been a while since we saw a van that made us think, "Yeah, sure, actually, I could live in a van," but this Kia is close. 

Kia will launch its futuristic PBV (Platform Beyond Vehicle) modular electric vehicles in 2025. These vehicles will feature robotics, AI technology, and smart charging. The PBV lineup includes four versatile models, and the goal is to sell 250,000 units annually by 2030.

• The PV5 model will be launched in 2025, with other models following.

• PBVs offer customizable "life modules" for various uses.

• Fleet management systems will optimize logistics and maintenance.

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Quick Hits

• Again?! A barge slammed into a bridge in Texas on Wednesday causing a partial collapse and a major oil spill. 🙈

• Black & Decker is bringing out a silencer for leaf blowers. 🤫

• Android phones will soon be able to detect their own theft. 🥷

History

• 1817: Mississippi River steamboat service begins. 🚢

• 1860: The Republican convention selects Abraham Lincoln as their Presidential candidate. 🎩

• 1984: "When Doves Cry" is released by Prince (later becoming Billboard’s Song of the Year for 1984). 🕊️

Thanks for reading, friend! You know what we’re up to today, so hit reply and tell us how things are in your world. We want to talk about the store, the team, the town, the yard, or whatever you’re enjoying.