All ASOTU Articles

California Bans New ICE Cars

California Bans New ICE Cars

Based on all the 2030 EV prophecies floating around at the OEM level, we aren’t sure California has any say in what will be sold by 2035…

3D Printed Houses and Less Plastic In The Ocean?

3D Printed Houses and Less Plastic In The Ocean?

Ask the Experts — I tried to ask the crew what they thought about this, and they got distracted trying to buy one, so I didn’t get any quotes. -Chris@asotu.com

VW Gigafactory Coming To Canada?

VW Gigafactory Coming To Canada?

Hey, offering companies a competitive edge for local manufacturing is working. If your definition of “local” has room for interpretation.

Ford, France, and Factories

Ford, France, and Factories

TL;DR - 3,000 well-trained, motivated automotive-minded folks enter the job market. French automakers come back from summer break. Hyundai is about getting that tax credit. Just watch em.

Apple’s Trade Secrets Stolen

Apple’s Trade Secrets Stolen

A person has to be pretty smart to become an engineer and land a job at Apple, but so very short-sighted to get caught stealing from them. 🤦‍♂️

 China Makin' It Rain

China Makin' It Rain

Oh, look, another intervention in the natural cycle of things that will definitely not have any repercussions down the road. ⛈

Another Day, Another Strike

Another Day, Another Strike

This port’s main imports are toys, electronics, and furniture. Its main exports are scrap metal and medications. None of that directly impacts the automotive supply chain, but with these ships scrambling to find other ports, everybody will feel some of the disruption.

A First, A Concept, and A Power House

A First, A Concept, and A Power House

TL;DR: Acura drops its first EV, Ford ponders the future of luxury, and Lucid leaves other EVs in the dust.

Gates Toyota Meet & Greet Surprise

Gates Toyota Meet & Greet Surprise

Thanks for trusting us with your story, Jordan, and everyone at Gates Toyota!

Everybody’s Coming After TikTok

Everybody’s Coming After TikTok

It doesn’t take a Jim McKelvey to know if Amazon is coming after you, but the real miracle here is something that makes Google do something about clickbait.

Regulations, Growth, and Tax Credits (No, Not Those)

Regulations, Growth, and Tax Credits (No, Not Those)

TL:DR — Australia cut emissions, China cut taxes, and the US cut the illusion that electrification isn't a snowball picking up momentum.

 GM To Reinstate Shareholder Dividends Sept. 15

GM To Reinstate Shareholder Dividends Sept. 15

You can’t put a price on investor confidence! Er well, $0.09 per share per quarter, but who’s counting?

Clash Of The Titans With All Things Used Cars

Clash Of The Titans With All Things Used Cars

Tell us what you think, and listen to the full conversation on Clubhouse.

Dodge’s New Electric Muscle

Dodge’s New Electric Muscle

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.

Target’s Humbling Q2

Target’s Humbling Q2

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.

We Didn’t Forget You, South Korea!

We Didn’t Forget You, South Korea!

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.

Ricart Automotive’s Students and Steers

Ricart Automotive’s Students and Steers

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. 🤯

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

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).

Polestar's New Roadster

Polestar's New Roadster

0-62mph in 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 155mph… 🤯 More like the Polestar dragster, amirite?

Inflation Reduction Act Signed Into Law

Inflation Reduction Act Signed Into Law

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?

Rethinking How You Manage Inventory Age With Dale Pollak

Rethinking How You Manage Inventory Age With Dale Pollak

Inventory management, exercise, or parenting, almost nothing is better on autopilot. No matter what it is. Ya gotta be in it to win it.

Walmart Bests Wall Street Prediction

Walmart Bests Wall Street Prediction

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.

VW To Supply Mahindra For Indian EVs

VW To Supply Mahindra For Indian EVs

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.

Dodge Discontinues Gas-Powered Muscle With A Roar

Dodge Discontinues Gas-Powered Muscle With A Roar

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.

Auto Loan Defaults Up, Repossessions to Follow?

Auto Loan Defaults Up, Repossessions to Follow?

Cox Automotive and John Ellis: 1, Doomsayers: 0.