The News w/ ASOTU: March 12, 2025

Wholesale Used-Car Prices: No Relief for Dealers

Hope is great! Unless you’re hoping for wild things. Like Wholesale used-car prices to come down. Don’t hope for that. It’ll only make you sad, friend.?

The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index for February remained flat year-over-year, marking the fourth straight month without significant price declines after 26 months of decreases.

Why prices are staying high:

• Used supply is tight, especially for 3-year-old off-lease vehicles.
• The average U.S. vehicle is 14 years old, keeping demand strong.
• Potential protectionist tariffs could push automakers to cut new-car production, making used cars even pricier.
• Lower new-car incentives could further prop up used prices.

?? Manheim Index (Feb 2025):

• 204.1 (up 0.1% YoY, down 0.7% from Jan)
• Demand picked up late in the month, likely driven by tax refunds—the average refund is up 7.5% from last year.

Used inventory is staying pricey, so smart sourcing and strategic pricing are more important than ever.

Porsche’s Exclusive Dealership Expansion

Porsche continues to grow its standalone dealership footprint, adding 16 exclusive stores in 2024 for a total of 153 exclusive locations—76% of its total franchises.

?? Why is Porsche pushing standalone stores?

• Increased sales volume means exclusive facilities are now a requirement for some dealerships.
• Porsche’s Destination Center design creates an immersive brand experience, featuring modular interiors and advanced digital media.
• More incentives for dealers who invest in the newest facility designs.

?? Sales remain strong—Porsche sold a record 76,167 new vehicles in the U.S. last year, up 1% from 2023.

If you’re selling Porsche, be ready to invest. The brand is betting big on high-end facilities and immersive customer experiences.

Your Service Calls Are Costing You—Here’s How to Fix It

?? 81% of service revenue starts with a phone call, yet most dealerships miss huge opportunities. A new study found that:

• Only 43% of advisors ask callers to book an appointment.
• 95% of dealers quote higher than independents—pushing customers away.
• 98% of calls don’t maximize customer engagement.

?? The fix? ? Train advisors to sell service, not just answer calls. ? Proactively book appointments instead of just quoting prices. ? Use CRM tools to track, follow up, and increase retention.

?? We’re excited to talk extensively about fixed ops at ASOTU CON 2025. From Mobile Service to tech, tools, training, and turnarounds. Come meet the dealers and collaborators who are shaping what service departments will look like in 2026.

?? What’s your approach to service call management? Drop a comment!

Nissan CEO Steps Down Amid Turmoil

?? Leadership shake-up at Nissan: CEO Makoto Uchida is stepping down April 1, with Chief Planning Officer Ivan Espinosa taking over. He’ll be Nissan’s fourth CEO in eight years.

?? This comes just weeks after Nissan and Honda abruptly ended merger talks, which would have created the world’s third-largest automaker. The deal collapsed over disagreements on factory closures and staffing cuts.

?? Nissan’s struggles:

• Q3 profit down 78% YoY
• $95.7M net loss
• Full-year forecasts cut, with an expected net loss of $80B yen

Espinosa faces a huge challenge as Nissan tries to revamp EV strategy and restore profitability.

Ford is Now Selling Tesla Supercharger Adapters for $200

Ford has officially shipped all 140,000 free Tesla NACS adapters to customers—now, anyone who needs one will have to pay $200.

?? Ford’s Charging Network is Expanding:

• 20,000+ Tesla Superchargers now accessible to Ford EV owners.
• 180,000+ chargers in the BlueOval network, up 40% YoY.
• Ford EV owners can now see Supercharger locations in Apple Maps via CarPlay.

Freebie’s over—time to start monetizing the switch to Tesla’s charging standard.

Lamborghini’s First EV Will Pack 2,000 HP

Lamborghini is gearing up for its first all-electric model by 2030, and it’s bringing some serious firepower.

?? Projected specs:

• Up to 2,000 HP (yep, two THOUSAND)
• 980-volt platform developed by Porsche
• AWD with dual electric motors
• Based on the Lanzador concept, featuring a raised suspension and two-door layout

?? CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed the EV will at least match the Lanzador concept’s 1,341 HP.

Will hypercar buyers embrace an all-electric Lambo? That’s the billion-dollar question.

Xpeng Betting Big on Humanoid Robots

Chinese EV automaker Xpeng is planning a $13.8 billion investment in humanoid robots over the next 20 years.

?? Why?

• Xpeng wants to compete with Tesla’s humanoid robot project.
• China is prioritizing humanoid robotics as a major tech sector.
• Xpeng has been in the humanoid robot space since 2020 and unveiled its Iron bot last year.

?? Automakers are increasingly exploring robotics, especially in manufacturing and automation. Expect more moves in this space.

Mercedes Taps Chinese Lidar for Global Models

Mercedes-Benz is partnering with China’s Hesai Technologies to integrate Chinese lidar sensors into global vehicles—a first for a non-Chinese automaker.

?? This is a big deal because:

• The U.S. is trying to restrict Chinese components in Western automakers.
• Hesai’s lidar is cheaper and scalable, winning out over U.S. rival Luminar.
• Trade tensions could complicate this decision in the future.

?? Hesai’s stock jumped 36% on the news.

German automakers are choosing cost efficiency over geopolitics. Will it last?