🚗 When It Rains It Pours

🚙 Sluggish Sales, Major Hurricane Damage, and Three Firsts

TOGETHER WITH

Halfway through the week, Friend!

Today, we’ve got some news from around the industry and a deeper dive into Hurricane Helene’s impact on the U.S. Have a look and say a prayer for the folks directly affected by the hurricane. It’s going to be a long road to recovery for the region and her people.

Keep Pushing Back
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

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Today's Email

📚 Q3 Auto Sales, Volvo's EV Push, Ford's BlueCruise Deal, and Rising Chinese Competition!

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🐌 In Q3, U.S. auto sales saw a sluggish 0.2% year-over-year growth, prompting consumers to opt for budget-friendly vehicles amid high inflation and interest rates. General Motors anticipates a 3% dip in sales, reflecting a cautious market.

🙅 Meanwhile, Volvo advocates for banning gasoline car sales in the EU by 2035, emphasizing a commitment to sustainability—an initiative that could influence global market strategies.

🤺 Ford, facing scrutiny over its BlueCruise feature, has slashed subscription prices to entice drivers to try its hands-free technology.

📈 Finally, Chinese EV brands like Li Auto and Zeekr report record deliveries, posing a growing threat to U.S. dealers.

As these trends unfold, staying informed is crucial for navigating the evolving automotive market. Check out the full digest for all the details! (Read Time: 4 mins 35 secs)

 🧭 Keep The Ship on Course

In partnership with Wikimotive, ASOTU invites our auto dealer community to a vital 30-minute session designed to elevate your dealership’s success. Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier, along with industry leaders Zach Billings and Billy Goulette, as they explore the critical connection between effective marketing and streamlined store processes.

Learn:

  • Synchronize Success: Discover why aligning your marketing efforts with store operations is key to sustained growth.

  • Leverage SEO: Understand how SEO can become the cornerstone of your marketing strategy.

  • Strategic Partnerships: See how the right marketing collaborations can drive real results.

Don’t miss this opportunity to position your dealership among the top 20% capturing 40% of projected market growth by 2025!

🌀 Hurricane Helene’s Disastrous Deluge

Just In Weather

Hurricane Helene’s devastation is becoming more painfully clear this week as the death toll and missing persons reports continue to climb, and the full extent of the damage is now being evaluated.

  • Trillions with a T — More than 40T gallons of rain dumped on the Southeast last week from Hurricane Helene and a run-of-the-mill rainstorm that preceded it. That’s roughly the same amount of water in all of Lake Tahoe.

  • Rising Death Toll — At least 130 deaths have been confirmed across six Southeastern states, and thousands of people remain unaccounted for, particularly in isolated regions cut off by collapsed roads and infrastructure.

  • Economic Impact — An updated report from AccuWeather estimates the total damage and economic loss from Helene could be as much as $160B.

  • Dealership Damage — Between power outages and flooding, dealerships across the affected regions have been forced to close their doors while they recover. In just one instance, Ken Ganley Automotive Group is estimating a loss of 672 vehicles at their New Port Richey dealership in Florida.

 

Advance Local

👉 Find out more about how dealerships are jumping in to help their communities during this difficult time, and how you can join in — keep reading here! 👀

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.

🥊 Quick Hits: Nuclear, Mandates, and Costco

  • The U.S. nuclear power sector is experiencing renewed interest, driven by AI's energy demands, major investments, and bipartisan support, signaling potential growth and revival of existing plants. ⚡️ 

  • Over 5,000 car dealers express concerns about electric vehicle mandates, arguing they lack demand and could raise gasoline car prices while highlighting customer knowledge gaps about EVs. 👎️ 

  • As 45,000 port workers strike, companies like Costco pre-ship products and explore alternative ports. Maersk warns of cargo surcharges, while prolonged disruptions may raise prices and delay goods. 🚢 

🔁 Today in History: Chevy, Carson, and Court

  • 1959: Chevrolet launched the Corvair, America's first mass-produced, rear-engine, air-cooled car, targeting small car buyers. Despite initial acclaim, it faced safety controversies later. 🦺 

  • 1962: Johnny Carson premiered as the new host of The Tonight Show. 📺️ 

  • 1967: Thurgood Marshall is sworn in as the first African-American justice of the United States Supreme Court. 🇺🇸 

Thanks for reading, friend! Enjoy the day, and help somebody else do the same!

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