No matter your role in the automotive industry, ASOTU CON has something for you. The highly anticipated event returns next week, May 13–16, in Baltimore, Maryland. On today’s episode of CBT Now, we’re joined by the visionaries behind it: Paul Daly, Founder and CEO of ASOTU, and Kyle Mountsier, Partner and COO.
In its fourth occurrence, ASOTU CON promises to be bigger, better, and bolder. The theme this year is More of What Matters, which is a reflection of the conference’s commitment to amplifying dealer voices, showcasing innovation, and fostering meaningful connections within retail automotive.
This year’s event expands to four days, but Daly and Mountsier emphasized it’s “not just four days of sessions.” Instead, it’s structured to allow attendees to immerse themselves in one segment of the auto ecosystem each day—from retail operations to fixed ops, marketing, and capital investment.
Kyle Mountsier, the partner and COO of ASOTU, highlighted some of the key themes for this year’s conference. These include:
- The implementation of AI in retail settings, focusing on areas such as SEO, financial decision-making, and its application in the sales process, rather than just being a reactive tool.
- Discussions on how technology can be utilized in fixed operations and parts departments to increase service offerings in the bays and enhance remote services.
- The role of technology within dealerships.
ASOTU CON 2025 will also feature a broad variety of speakers and attendees, from dealer principals and general managers to marketing managers and salespeople. Daly noted, “We have dealer principals, general managers, marketing managers… we also have BDC reps and managers, salespeople, sales managers.” He also encouraged attendees to attend sessions outside their usual area of focus: “We always encourage people to go to one or two sessions that have nothing to do with what you do on a regular basis.”
One unique aspect of ASOTU CON is the focus on empathy and connection among attendees. Daly emphasized that there is no “typical conference body armor” at the event, adding, “When you step into ASOTU CON, people don’t have that typical conference body armor on… it really is more like if you’re there, you understand that you’re there to learn.”
As for the venue, the event will be take place at the same location for the third consecutive year. Mountsier described how the layout is designed to optimize the attendee experience: “We really want to think about the entirety of the production, what it feels like to walk in, what it feels like to sit in a stage.”
In closing, with a strong focus on learning, growth, and community, ASOTU CON is shaping up to be a must-attend event for anyone in the automotive industry.
“We believe that the people who gather at ASOTU CON or gravitate towards us in general, are people that believe that thriving people are the pathway to the thriving dealerships and the thriving profits...” – Paul Daly
“For us, it’s really about activating your senses alongside of activating what your mind is able to consume.” – Kyle Mountsier
