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AUTOMOTIVE
All Things Used Cars: Are You Ready For EVs?
Last week's All Things Used Cars conversation tackled the topic of dealership EV readiness. Several times the conversation drifted to the importance of staff knowledge. Not only for selling, appraising, and maintaining electric vehicles but in providing the knowledgeable and trustworthy relationships customers want.
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AUTOMOTIVE
Policy, Tech, and Customer Desires
⛽ 🤝Japan released a drafted proposal seeking the removal of "zero-emission" goals from G7 plans moving forward. If adopted, removing the zero-emission language could have a widespread impact on policy and OEM actions moving forward. The political forum represents Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, Canada, France, and the US's combined efforts.
🛻 💰American car shoppers remain undeterred. Gas prices are high, and EV adoption has seen an uptick. However, unlike the previous record high fuel prices in 2008, consumer habits show no sign of SUV and pickup abandonment. Data shows part of the persistence is fuel economy upgrades across brands and models, and some is attributed to consumers taking what they can get in tight supply times.
🚙 🤖Chinese internet giant Tencent has launched an all-in-one cloud product for domestic and overseas automakers in China. The software provides driver access to social media and map apps while collecting data for future autonomous driving systems. According to Liu Shuquan, VP of Tencent Intelligent Mobility, the company is already working with BWM and some US automakers. Liu says 40 brands and 120 vehicle models are already included in the partnership.
Tl;dr — Japan wants to keep making combustion engines for now, Americans are a little bit desensitized to expensive fuel, and a single Chinese tech company MAY monopolize in-car software (at least in China).
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TOGETHER WITH GROUNDTRUTH
Data Is Power
Did you know car buyers make twice as many trips to dealerships before purchasing in 2022 than in 2021?
How about the number of people who prefer in-person car-buying vs. e-commerce options?
You could wait for trial and (mostly) error to teach you all you need to know about your customers, but GroundTruth says skip the headache and start giving your customers a more personalized marketing experience today!
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TROUBLEMAKER TUESDAY
Dale Pollak Inducted To Ring Of Honor
Troublemaker, author, innovator, Cox Automotive EVP, and Founder of vAuto, Dale Pollak, is the 33rd inductee to NIADA's Ring of Honor. The highest award for a non-dealer, the Ring of Honor, recognizes allied industry leaders who have contributed significantly to the auto industry.
Dale's work has improved and expanded the industry's view of inventory. Bringing an investment mindset and developing an extensive philosophy of used car retail, Dale has changed the face of the industry for the better.
The award was not only a sign to those watching but to Dale. He said the award addressed a longstanding insecurity, sharing that he was never a "car guy" like his dad. Now the work he has done from the time he was 16 working in his dad's dealership to now the award signifies to him that the real car guys have accepted him as a "true car guy."
Telling it like it is — We have nothing but respect and appreciation for Dale and his work. A truer Troublemaker would be hard to find.
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WHAT THE KIDS ARE INTO
Fortnite Creative Is Going Beyond
Epic Games, creator of the popular game Fortnite, launched a partnership last year with Balenciaga. The two companies made Balenciaga-themed worlds Fortnite players could visit (sound familiar?). Now a group is expanding the project with whole new worlds and experiences for the game's users.
Beyond Creative is one company helping people bring their ideas to life on the Fortnite Creative platform. Beyond’s list of clients includes Verizon, the NFL, Nvidia, AMD, and Chipotle. Similar groups have created additional games within the game, a Grubhub-themed metaverse-like world, and hosted concerts.
Telling it like it is — It sounds like Fortnight had its own metaverse behind the scenes just waiting for everybody to catch up…
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QUICK HITS
- Ford's 2000 HP EV minivan does 0-60 in 2 seconds. Meet the Supervan.
- AT&T and Verizon hike monthly phone plan prices $6 - $12. T-Mobile calls them "insensitive."
- Growing plants in total darkness? Sure, why not!
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