All ASOTU Articles

Retailers Don’t Want Your Stuff

Retailers Don’t Want Your Stuff

Auto dealers be like: “yo, and you think you have inventory problems!?”

 Toyota and Suzuki Announce Hybrids

Toyota and Suzuki Announce Hybrids

We would draw a map of all the global OEM/Policymaker/consumer desire energy going on but it would just look like a chaotic game of Risk where nobody knows the rules. (aka, the best kind of Risk)

But Wait, There’s More…

But Wait, There’s More…

TL;DR — Cadillac promises to deliver luxury quality for luxury prices, Polestar comes to the Nasdaq, and Toyota recalls a lot (but not all) of their newly produced EVs.

META Brings Two New Worlds To Cannes

META Brings Two New Worlds To Cannes

Just a thought — “Do you want to play a VR game?” = Boring, yesterday’s news, 🤓 “Do you want to explore the Metaverse as a Metanaut?” = Awesome, very cool 😎

BMW Begins Production At New Plant

BMW Begins Production At New Plant

Fact attack — China accounts for 57.4% of global EV production and 53% of “new energy” passenger vehicles being driven.

Toyota Cuts Uber Stake

Toyota Cuts Uber Stake

Toyota gave Uber the “lets still be friends” treatment while slowly selling 5 million pieces of the friendship bracelet they made together…

Community, Colleagues, and Competition!

Community, Colleagues, and Competition!

There is no shortage of ways to engage with your community, worth together for improvement, or honor the people who make it happen. And ASOTU is here to tell everybody about it every time.

Doctor Strange Sequel Comes To Disney +

Doctor Strange Sequel Comes To Disney +

Consulting the experts — "It was a perfect addition to Doctor Strange's character. I preferred the first one since it was less "out of this world." -Myles@asotu.com “What’s Doctor Strange?” -Danielle@asotu.com "Honestly, I am just proud of myself for defeating the powerful foe of internet spoilers long enough to watch it at home." -Chris@asotu.com

Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake Hits Afghanistan

Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake Hits Afghanistan

The UN still provides aid to the people and will send additional medical aid and supplies. President Biden has called for an assessment of possible US responses.

Milestones, Cuts, and Big Plans

Milestones, Cuts, and Big Plans

TL;DR — XPeng is stacking paper, Toyota remains transparent and classy, GM is coming after XPeng’s forementioned paper.

American-Made Index by Cars.com

American-Made Index by Cars.com

Every ASOTU email, live stream, podcast, and event is made using only the finest locally-sourced American-made V I B E S 😎

Dealerships Changing Hands At Record Rate

Dealerships Changing Hands At Record Rate

If one dealership is profitable a 2nd will automatically double profits. It’s basic math, y’all! (Not investment advice)

 LEGO Con 2022

LEGO Con 2022

LEGO — “We have both kinds of products: nostalgic and new.”

A Digital Place To Rest

A Digital Place To Rest

Clearing your head with a TV strapped to your face sounds like swimming with boots on. Sure, you CAN but why?

European Road Trip

European Road Trip

TL;DR — Renault may be paying a fine, you can buy Polestar stocks later this week, and German OEMs may never stop making ICE vehicles.

GM and Ford's Old Rivalry Goes Electric

GM and Ford's Old Rivalry Goes Electric

From a consumer's point of view, this has to look like a "Who can hug mom best?" contest in their honor.

Online Car Shopping Not Slowing

Online Car Shopping Not Slowing

OEMs like Ford are working on direct-to-consumer digital retail options. Dealers have an opportunity now to get a solid headstart on meeting the customers where they are.

Lightyear Grabs $51M Opening Weekend

Lightyear Grabs $51M Opening Weekend

Fingers Crossed — This time next year we will be talking about “Who Poisioned The Water Hole?” starring Tom Hanks.

Dealer Associations Taking a Stand

Dealer Associations Taking a Stand

Trouble! Trouble! Trouble!! Look around. You aren’t alone. This is an industry full of incredibly like minded people willing to put in the work!

China, Tesla, And Spy Fears

China, Tesla, And Spy Fears

Rules For Doing Business In China — 1. Try not to be a spy! 2. If you could be state-owned that would be great…

Answering The Charging Question

Answering The Charging Question

We see two races, the race to provide equal access to EV charging and the race to be the brand associated with affordable, convenient, accessible EV charging.

How Gen Z Relates To Brands

How Gen Z Relates To Brands

We’ve seen data like this before. Every time a study repeats “Becoming Gen Z’s trusted brand starts yesterday,” the font gets bigger.

Ferrari Comes Out Swinging

Ferrari Comes Out Swinging

Ferrari thinks if you want an EV you should buy a Ferrari, but if you don’t want to drive you should take the bus.

 Inflation: Not Just For Tires Anymore

Inflation: Not Just For Tires Anymore

It’s starting to seem like every time everything gets more expensive, everything gets MORE expensive…

Effective Technology With All Things Used Cars

Effective Technology With All Things Used Cars

TL;DR: Effective Technology is a dealership-by-dealership determination but as long as it is simple, helpful, and producing consistent results we’re heading in the right direction.