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Dodge Decision Time — A. Drive toward greater affordability of electric vehicles. B. Increase collaboration in sourcing, development, and production. C. Add an unnecessary gear shift and electric pipe organ to our next car.
psst. In case you were wondering how hard you should be nodding in silent cowboy-like admiration and approval. Both of those were within the last month. 🤯
TL:DR — A high-ranking S. Korean-based auto park maker is pulling a divide and conquer, while SK Group, the 2nd largest individually controlled S. Korean conglomerate, invests in safe chargers for apartment buildings. Each move feels like an investment in being key players in the global shift toward electrification.
It is difficult to look at this and not imagine what we would do if we lost 90% of our income, but this is profits. The company paid everybody and all its bills and still has almost $200m for growth. It may embarrass Target, but it won’t hurt Target. Mixing the two up leads to bad choices.
Inventory management, exercise, or parenting, almost nothing is better on autopilot. No matter what it is. Ya gotta be in it to win it.
Next to everything this means for US consumers and the climate, does it also feel like a low-key attempt to leave China’s sphere of influence? Or is that just us?
0-62mph in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 155mph… 🤯 More like the Polestar dragster, amirite?
TL:DR — MIT discovered a new material to make semiconductors (please wait 10 years), 15-minute EV charging is here (if you buy a specific battery and charger), and it is too hot to work in China (which is like an essential machine in the middle of an assembly line being down).
Cox Automotive and John Ellis: 1, Doomsayers: 0.
Selling ICE muscle cars to fund a transition to electric feels similar to using the ever-faithful Internet Explorer to download that new-fangled Google Chrome.
Lately, we have written about more supply collaborations than supply shortages. That isn’t us being picky with what we cover, just the results of the slow recovery in the supply chain.
Walmart is also the largest US-based employer at 2.3M globally. So good news on Wall Street will hopefully be good non-layoff news in 2.3M households.
Explain it like I’m 5 Challenge — Write in and let us know how you would explain these regulations to a 5-year-old. Our favorite answers may just become email content down the road!
TL:DR — Tesla production has been increasing rapidly since its factory in China opened. Lockdowns in the country have a direct and severe impact on the company. Musk is still swinging for the fences.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Or, in this case - Don't fill all your baskets with the same kind of eggs…?
If friends with vehicles ever start doing favors for gas money again, a whole sector of the economy will fall into ruin!
A commitment to growth has to be real every day. You should be making an offer to every customer who comes through the door. Like panning for gold, you won't always get something, but when you do, it is worth it.
Nobody said competing against 100 years of automotive history would be easy(or cheap).
Everybody loves a good job quitting story, but a good government job quitting story is better. Ya know, because it’s tax free.
Some of his other inventions are a running robot and a super fast go-kart. With ideas like those, we may skip over EVs and into personal solar jetpacks before you know it.
Why stop at 95%? Let’s design a vehicle that picks up litter and MAKES chips. -10% chips per vehicle by 2030!
TL;DR — Ford’s Michigan operations are going solar; Tesla’s AutoPilot apparently also needs the sun for different reasons; Farley, Musk, and Nader are in talks with the UFC to borrow an octagon.
Them: Let’s fight inflation so people can afford climate-protecting vehicles! People: *Used a loophole to afford climate-protecting vehicles.* Them: No, not like that! People: 🤷🤷🤷🤷🤷
Right after we finished giving away the last of our colossal plastic case VHS tapes, they hit us with this?!
More educated parents = more opportunities for children = a more powerful community today and tomorrow. Subaru made the right call on this award for sure!
What next? Moon robots playing whack-a-mole with SpaceX rockets?
TL:DR — Toyota says production is going to be fine. Honda says profits are going to be a bit better than fine. Hyundai and Kia say your car is going to be fine, just, like, keep a good eye out, huh?
This may seem irrelevant, but imagine if your whole sales team had custom emojis so customers knew who they were looking for when they came in after a text convo? All we have to work with is this: 🤠
We love the creativity and enthusiasm in the dealership community. Valley-Hi Toyota always finds new ways to remind us of both!
Throwback — A few weeks ago, David Long and the All Things Used Cars folks talked about the impact of markups on loyalty. While no specific +/- impact was agreed on, they agreed on the importance of transparency, communication, and staying competitive in the local market.
Are “Other Factors” here “Wow, running two businesses is expensive!” vibes or something else?
TL:DR — China thinks of Taiwan as Chinese territory, not a neighbor. Taiwan has never agreed. The US has historically been on the side of making new allies as opposed to maintaining old rivalries. Also, there are a lot of semiconductor chips on the table.
We can’t think of any wrong ways to go about helping people experiencing food insecurity. Turning it into a contest that invites more people into the giving end of the equation has to be pretty high up on the list of right ways though.
We had to include an Energizer Bunny reference because the batteries “keep going.” We don’t make the rules… our hands are tied here.
TL:DR — The US has big plans for the future of self-driving and chip production, but some OEMs think they forgot the part where they sell the cars they already have.
Asking The Experts — It's a top-shelf TV show according to Nathan’s nephew, Kyle’s kids, and Chris (who is a grown man).
So, in short, the secret sauce for turning insights into actions starts with high-quality insights becoming realistic goals that produce measurable steps with a willingness to fail fast so you can fail forward. With this fresh guidance, ASOTU has work to do, and we know you do too.
In a lot of ways Carvana did everything right: sold more cars, had more revenue, and made good use of their big acquisition. Just shows acquiring used inventory for the right price is as difficult as it is critical.
Yes, franchise protections exist in the US, but bigger things have been changed when you throw enough money at lobbyists. We are not preaching fire and brimstone, but we ARE suggesting you double-check where your brimstone-proof shoes are, just in case.
TL;DR — Hiring is down across many sectors over economic fears. Those stats highlight the fact that the renewable energy sector is kinda booming.
TL:DR — Tesla is getting ready to start selling solar roofs again, may be upgrading the charging experience in unimagined ways, and could be splitting its potentially overvalued stock. What a week!
208 miles seems low compared to some other EVs on the market, but compared to the average person’s daily driving, it seems pretty adequate.
Some people: We aren’t mad, we’re just disappointed. Toyota President: Nope, we’re mad.
Imagine if 10 years ago somebody told you the cure for climate change was a Tesla roof and tie-dye windows. You’d cross the street when you saw them coming, but, apparently, here we are.
TL:DR — Analysts say car demand is dropping as high prices persist. Automakers say enough backlogged demand already exists to withstand a recession, and demand will never get too low. What do you think?
Y’all, GM is fighting to get back on top even if the car that takes them there has to drive itself!
Oh no! All those diehard Batgirl fans, who definitely exist, will have nothing to watch!
We’ve been on TikTok enough times to know nobody expects perfection. Start making stuff. Learn as you go. Somebody is going to love it. What's stopping you?
Local workers mean the paychecks mostly get spent in the community. Local leadership means profits do too.
Don’t sue GM, Don’t sleep on Ford, and don’t forget BMW also sells EVs.
This just feels weird, like if Mary Barra suddenly announced a collab with Chester Cheeto to make cheese-powered SUVs. 🧀🐯
There are as many ways to invest in your people as there are… well… people. We are excited to see the brand success that grows from this investment in associate success!
Honestly, though, the US gov would be more effective if they spent some time doing some bipartisan muddin’. Just sayin’. 🤷
Asian and European expansion does not mean eventual US adoption. EG: Diesel cars. BUT we will still be watching for battery swap tech to hop the pond(s).
Highlights— "Innovation is typically hindsight." "I don't want to be original, I want to be successful." “Every time humanity has advanced forward it is by somebody who was not qualified.” “We can Youtube our way out of problems.” “You don’t get a guarantee if you are doing something new.”
In all the tried and tested ideas shared by the dealers and friends of the All Things Used Cars community, one thing always resonates with us - the compounding value of collaboration.
TL:DR — Stellantis is thrivin’, Nissan is survivin’, and Rivian ain’t hirin’ anytime soon.
Tesla used to be out to disrupt the way things are, but now they are part of the way things are. They grow up so fast…
This is (dissapointing) (disapoinging), (dasippointing), a letdown.
It would seem the narrow path for “early adopters” is closing. Soon it will be the 8-lane highway or folks trying to catch up. How many charging stations you rocking at your dealership?
OEMs have their own corner of the ecosystem, but they are still part of it. While currently in different situations, GM, Ford, Honda, and Toyota, are each finding perspective and stability that will spread up and down the supply chain with time.
Every time data shows the importance of TikTok for connecting with Gen Z, we increase the font. We’re at 19 now (in the email).
Back in 2013, GTA5 did a good job of giving players a tense, dramatic experience that felt like Breaking Bad with punchlines. Now we just watch the evening news for that.
Sure! Every customer is different, but when enough people repeat the same desires, it makes sense to include it in your core practices. Have a good website, find and eliminate time wasters, be a human talking to a human, and invest in a long and happy relationship between customer, car, and dealership.
Hyundai has been making impressive moves in the EV market, just announced they have hired new safety chiefs, and now are learning a lesson about credit reporting the hard way. Two steps forward, one step back.
The immortal quality of art is only overshadowed here by imagining somebody trying to explain an NFT to Biggie back in 95’ when CDs were never going to go out of style.
Introverts everywhere just noted that if you sink a couple boats, the Norwegian government will make people leave you alone.
Is Automotive the only industry where brand success is like a potluck? Everybody brings their personal success to the table, and professional success flourishes.
TL:DR — GM has enough battery metal to make 5 million EVs, missed nearly half their Q2 profit goals, and wants to be sure everybody knows how neat EVs (well, GM EVs) are.
Does Target know “Going to Target” is, like, a hobby for some people? You can’t deliver that!
Minority dealerships took a major hit in the 2007-2008 recession, but accountability, diligence, and hard work are putting them back on track.
TL;DR — VW is changing bosses, but (probably) not directions, GM wants everybody to remember the last 5 years was just practice and NOW they are going to take down Tesla, and Hyundai says avoiding car fires was always part of their plan, but now it is even MORE part of their plan.
The Jenga tower of dealer inventory shortages just lost another block.
Consumers gon' do what consumers gon' do, and right now, some consumers are repeatedly saying "we got food at home" to themselves.
Asking The Experts — Isaac is obsessed with LEGO, Nathan dreams in Star Wars each night, and Chris only uses TV to play video games. Turns out we are all nerds, but not Trekkies.
David Long getting the dealer community together to listen to DJ Smokey Smoke share some data-driven positivity is the kinda thing we mean when we say band together and push back. In case y'all like living examples.
USPS: We will tell you how many years your EV can last if you take it easy. Amazon: We will tell you how many deliveries your EV can last if you go hard all day everyday because next day delivery 👏is 👏not 👏a 👏joke!
Fewer new Hondas to go around. Where are you on your quest to build a shortage-proof used car business?
One small step away from a global food shortage, one medium size leap toward justice and peace.
Are you reading this from the backrooms? We want to help. Please reply with a picture of your current position and we will be on our way to get you ASAP.
Step 1. Split ICE and EV. Step 2. Layoff a bunch of ICE side workers. Step 3. ??? Step 4. Dominate the EV Market
Disclaimer — Hydrogen power is quite safe. We chose the image because we like balloons, science, and controlled explosions. 🔥
Riding down the highway with no steering wheel sounds like a stress dream to us. The NHTSA admin’s last name being “Cliff,” moves the situation more into short story foreshadowing territory than we like to go.
Dealers Take Note - Time to live stream “Need For Speed” games and tell people how to car shop like a pro.
Hats off to the people at Toyota On The Park! Normally we mean a flat bill hat, but for y’all we will make an exception🤠
Already stars, but still rising.
Scott is about to experience that ‘hero to zero’ moment every salesperson and service advisor knows all too well in automotive. Welcome to the club!
The US moves towards chipindepenance; VW too; Volvo used the word “normal'' in a sentence.
Does this mean that they might back off of cracking down on people sharing the same login? Asking for a friend.
The most immediate question isn't if or when EVs will "phase out" ICE but how to provide the best experience for two diverse sets of consumers in whatever ratio that may appear in the next 1, 5, or 10 years.
Hey, it happens to us all. The note taker at the meeting forgot to mention the number 1 thing Carvana does not want to get caught doing right now. It’s really on them…
TL:DR — Chevy’s Blazer is going electric, Hyundai brings the cool, and Toyota makes friends and vans.
Maybe now Youtube videos will load as fast as Youtube ads!
We fear bringing a store back as a “presence” sounds more spooky and interesting than it is. 👻🦒
3D printing parts at the OEM level is already a realized option. Some companies are already using 3D printing but mostly in prototypes and special models. Like every proposed solution for an issue people currently face, it will take time, but that period has started.
Looking at the Aptera makes us wonder if the designers never saw a car before or saw one and hated it so much that they specifically avoided anything familiar.
Talkin’ bout somebody else’s business claims another victim.
If you ever need some perspective on a good or bad event, just add "for now" to the end. Example: Bungie will remain a multiplatform studio… for now.
Steve and David shifted through facets of the opportunity-covered road ahead, once again urging awareness. Staying informed on what is happening, what may happen later, and how plans have changed will equip dealers to find the part of the roof that still needs to be fixed. Caution is an insufficient word in a landscape so rich with opportunities.