ASOTU | More Than Cars

Investors are taking a serious look at Carvana. 👀 Kyle Mountsier thinks the online-only used car retailer will see growth. Carvana's Current Market Status: 👇 → Trading volume stands at 2,238,104, with CVNA's price down by -0.48%, positioned at $224.46. → RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching oversold. → Earnings announcement expected within the next 60 days. Carvana is paving the way for industry innovation with Carvana financing, online shopping, delivery, or pick-up options. What are your thoughts on 'online-only' as an option to buy cars? 🤔 (Would you do it - or do you still want a test drive?) 🚗

AI may be the future, but Carol Marshall reminds us it’s the human touch that keeps the automotive industry thriving. Carol Marshall, COO of ActivEngage, brings a refreshing blend of wisdom, innovation, and a touch of "grandparent vibes" to this episode of Auto Collabs. As the pioneer of conversational commerce for car dealerships, Carol shares how her team has spent the past 17 years fostering genuine, trust-building interactions between dealers and their customers. From developing AI-powered tools like Theo to enhance—not replace—human interactions, to advocating for a thoughtful integration of technology in customer communication, Carol is on a mission to keep the automotive industry personal, efficient, and data-smart. In this engaging conversation, the crew dives into the nuances of deploying AI in dealership operations, the unique power of a personal touch in service scheduling, and why focusing on relationships—not just leads—drives higher revenue. Carol also explores how ActivEngage’s solutions are evolving to meet the shifting demands of both consumers and dealers, ensuring the human connection stays at the heart of every interaction. Timestamped Takeaways: 0:00 Intro with Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier and Michael Cirillo 3:25 The Grandparents in Automotive Group: Carol’s creative metaphor for industry wisdom and evolving relationships. 6:54 Activating AI: How ActivEngage uses AI as a tool to support—not replace—human agents. 13:55 Centralized Communication: Why integrating multiple touchpoints into a unified experience is crucial for customer satisfaction. 17:58 Personal Service Scheduling Wins: Data shows real conversations increase service show rates and RO revenue. 22:06 Industry Predictions for 2025: Carol’s vision of tighter processes, renewed customer service focus, and balanced AI integration. Carol Marshall is the Chief Operations Officer at ActivEngage https://lnkd.in/eDvxxfQQ https://lnkd.in/gtGTWM8m

Did you know you could call Chat-GPT on the phone? ☎️ Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier asked the most important questions... Of course, (she?!) knew all about ASOTU CON! Do you see ChatGPT having a larger role in customers finding details for vehicles or dealerships? 🤔 Let us know in the comments. P.S. Happy Friday!! 🎉

With just 2 weekends left in the year, we’re excited to share that the automotive industry is set up for an excellent finish to 2024. Meanwhile, Ford is ramping down its F-150 Lightning production until the new year to meet demand, and is AI out of training data? https://lnkd.in/eq76u6MR The automotive industry is gearing up for a solid 2024 finish as inventories stabilize and aggressive year-end deals lure buyers back to showrooms. Analysts remain optimistic about continued momentum into 2025, despite policy uncertainties. -Total 2024 sales are projected at 15.8–15.9 million vehicles, a solid increase from 15.6 million in 2023. December’s seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) is expected to reach 17.2 million, the highest since 2021. -General Motors is likely to hold its position as the top U.S. automaker, with Honda having the most gains, overtaking Stellantis in market share due to Stellantis’ estimated 15% sales drop. -Retail leasing activity is up 19% YoY, fueled by record-high EV incentives averaging $8,202 per transaction. EV sales are forecasted to grow 12% in Q4, contributing to the year’s estimated 8% EV market share. -Despite falling interest rates (below 7% for the first time in a year), high vehicle prices push average monthly payments to $740 https://lnkd.in/gFdQTx5X Ford has announced a temporary production pause for its F-150 Lightning until January 6, 2025. The decision reflects a strategic adjustment to align supply with actual market demand as the EV industry navigates a period of slower-than-expected growth. -Ford sold 22,807 F-150 Lightnings in 2024, marking an 86% increase from last year. This performance places it well ahead of competitors like Chevrolet’s Silverado EV (5,252 units) and Rivian’s R1T (10,387 units). -The pause at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan plant is designed to prevent overproduction and ensure dealerships are not overstocked with unsold inventory. https://lnkd.in/eU6i5Pxc In a talk at the NeurIPS 2024 AI conference, former OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever reflected on the foundational 2014 paper that shaped modern AI—and looked ahead to where AI is going next. The era of pre-training is ending as AI is running out of quality internet data, marking the end of "Peak Data." As Sutskever put it, "Data is the fossil fuel of AI." Sutskever says we should expect smarter AI agents, synthetic training data, and models that think more like humans And that future AIs could have true reasoning, self-awareness, and unpredictable decision-making. Follow the Automotive Troublemaker podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e-DA5fTF Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eTr6WKb7

The year is winding down, so it's time for the ultimate automotive industry send-off. ASOTU's 4th Annual Year-End Extravaganza will be on Thursday, December 19 at 1PM ET! Think of it as the perfect blend of celebration, reflection, and a few surprises you didn’t see coming (we’re looking at you, overly enthusiastic industry predictions). We’ll revisit the biggest moments of 2024, recognize the people and stories that made this year unforgettable, and set the stage for an even brighter 2025. Along the way, you can expect thought-provoking insights, heartfelt recognition, and just the right amount of irreverence to keep things lively. What’s on the agenda? -Insights and lessons from the brightest minds in automotive. -A look at the year’s standout stories and standout people. -A forward-focused celebration of the industry and its incredible resilience. Mark your calendar and join us on Thursday, December 19 at 1PM ET. It’s a celebration of everything that makes automotive more than just cars—it’s about the people and stories that drive us all forward. Because let’s face it: no one throws an end-of-year party like ASOTU. #automotive #automotiveindustry #dealership #yearend

Today's the day! 🎄 🎁 🎅 You're invited to the Year End Extravaganza here on LinkedIn Live. Let's end the year with those we care about from across the industry. 🤝 Join ASOTU | More Than Cars and many friends as we share highlights from the past year & look forward to what's to come. Don't miss it. Today. 1 PM. ⏰ LinkedIn live. (Link in the comments.) Let's party! 🎉

We've got some MAJOR NEWS. 📢 The holidays just got better - Season 1 of More Than Cars is now airing on Prime Video. (Can we get a hell yeah!?) 👇 It's the perfect thing to watch with family and friends. The show is our way of giving back to the industry we love so much. Our mission is to tell the truth about so many of the greatest leaders and car dealers in the country. Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, Michael Cirillo, and everyone on the ASOTU | More Than Cars team share in this responsibility to highlight the good. Press releases went out yesterday, and the news has been picked up by 171 outlets already! We must be doing something right. 🙌 We hope you watch, enjoy, and share with others. Here's to a prosperous retail automotive industry and the start of something amazing. 💚 #ASOTU #MoreThanCars #Automotiveindustry #Automotive #EV #AmazonPrime

Our 4th Annual Year End Extravaganza is at 1PM today! But before we get there, we’ve got to talk about how Foxconn is still trying to buy Nissan, how a new CA law will require way more charging infrastructure and ChatGPT’s phone hotline. https://lnkd.in/d-wNejuK The ante has been upped as a Foxconn exec is currently meeting with Renault officials in France to discuss acquiring a stake in Nissan, intensifying the urgency of Honda and Nissan’s merger talks. Facing fierce competition from Tesla and Chinese automakers, both Japanese giants are exploring deeper collaboration to stay afloat in a rapidly shifting EV market. -Honda and Nissan have been exploring a holding company to deepen collaboration, stay competitive against Tesla and BYD, and address slowing EV demand in Europe and the U.S. -A merger could offer cost savings and shared R&D across 7 million vehicles but risks overlap in markets and products, especially in the U.S. and Japan as Japanese regulators are closely watching the situation due to its potential impact on jobs. https://lnkd.in/gbR47_eV California's new building codes, effective 2026, will require EV chargers in most new overnight parking spaces, providing convenient access to charging, especially for apartment dwellers and urban residents. -Most new apartment and condo projects must ensure that each unit’s parking spot is "EV Ready" with 240V outlets or standardized chargers. Shared spaces can use power-sharing systems to keep costs manageable. -New hotel/motel guidelines will require up to 65% of parking spots to be EV-ready, ensuring travelers have access to overnight charging. -Office, retail, and other non-residential lots must designate at least 20% of their spaces as EV-ready, with incentives for installing DC fast chargers. https://lnkd.in/dMrSH3du OpenAI has launched a phone-based version of ChatGPT, allowing users in the US to call and chat with the AI for up to 15 minutes a month. The feature is part of OpenAI’s push to make AI accessible to new audiences. -How It Works: Call 1-800-CHATGPT to connect with ChatGPT for up to 15 minutes per month per phone number. You can also message ChatGPT via WhatsApp using the same number globally. -The phone system uses OpenAI’s Realtime API, while the WhatsApp integration is powered by GPT-4o mini through the WhatsApp API. Follow the Automotive Troublemaker podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e-DA5fTF Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eTr6WKb7

Why do dealership customers leave bad reviews? Matt Murray of Widewail breaks it down with insights from over 8 million Google reviews—and the answer might surprise you. In this episode, we’re diving into the world of customer feedback. Matt shares how his company transformed millions of unstructured reviews into actionable insights for automotive dealers. The 2024 Voice of The Customer report shows a 20% increase in negative staff-related reviews this year, the conversation centers on why people leave bad reviews and what dealers can do to improve. https://lnkd.in/dpCS-CGN From the rising complexity of EV sales to the long-tail effects of pandemic-era pricing, Matt highlights the importance of well-trained staff and clear communication in building trust. Plus, the crew explores the psychology behind reviews, the value of people in the dealership experience, and how dealers can stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market. Timestamped Takeaways: 0:00 Intro Banter and Teasers 2:17 Meet Matt Murray of Widewail 5:14 Why Do Customers Leave Bad Reviews? 16:13 Rising Negativity in Staff Interactions 21:52 EV Buyers and Knowledge Gaps 24:56 Aging Vehicles = Higher Service Costs 27:22 Back to Basics: The Importance of Training 28:59 Customers Still Want Human Interaction 30:38 Closing Thoughts and Wrap-Up Matt Murray is the CEO at Widewail https://lnkd.in/e_4JHgHa https://www.widewail.com/

Dealerships face an ongoing challenge: how to leverage data to transform service drive opportunities into scalable, consistent sales processes. For many, the path from intention to implementation is unclear—data may be abundant, but without the right strategies, it remains untapped potential. Success requires innovation and collaboration. On Wednesday, December 18 at 2PM EST, we'll hear how Shane O'Hanrahan, GM at Chapman BMW Chandler, transformed his dealership’s service drive into a thriving sales hub. With support of the data solutions of automotiveMastermind Inc. and Regional Group Manager Wendy Engelhardt, Shane built a process that turns service customers into loyal buyers while delivering exceptional ROI. Register here: https://lnkd.in/ePBiKPNJ Join us to hear Shane and Wendy share their journey, including: -The initial challenges Shane faced in creating a service-to-sales department and his vision for an "upgrade center." -How automotiveMastermind’s predictive analytics helped identify untapped opportunities in the service drive. -The role of tailored customer communication in pulling buyers into the market early. -The strategies that turned negative equity customers into success stories. -How their partnership created a scalable process that now generates 35-45 additional sales per month. -How a data driven culture can identify high value opportunities and engage with those customers on a one-to-one basis. #webinar #data #automotiveindustry #dealership #successstories