Inside ASOTU CON 2025 and the Future of Dealership AI
Takeaways from ASOTU CON 2025, Toma's Pitch Tank win, and where dealership AI is heading.
By Chris · May 2025
Turning AI ambition into action at ASOTU CON
ASOTU CON, hosted by The Automotive State of the Union crew, has become a must-attend event for dealers, OEMs, and innovators shaping automotive retail's future. The Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel conference explored how technologies, particularly dealership AI, are reshaping customer engagement and operational efficiency. For Toma, the gathering offered insight into how the industry evaluates AI agents and validated our vision for deploying them to create measurable value.
Toma's Pitch Tank win shows strong demand for dealership AI
Toma won the Pitch Tank competition by outperforming competing automotive AI solutions. Our approach emphasized conversational AI agents that autonomously resolve inquiries (booking appointments, providing vehicle information, answering questions) without human intervention. The messaging centered on AI as "assistant, not replacement," resonating with judges and audiences.
How to build an AI-positive culture
Fostering an AI-positive dealership culture requires positioning automation as a supplementary tool freeing staff for higher-value work. Panelists advocated empowering internal AI champions to demonstrate benefits across departments. An overlooked opportunity: coaching customers on AI interaction to gradually acclimate them to this engagement method.
AI agents driving measurable ROI
Dealers prioritize measurable ROI over AI adoption for its own sake. Hyundai of St. Augustine achieved 130 additional monthly service appointments, saved staff 30+ hours weekly, and generated $30,000 in additional revenue through Toma. Resolution rate, or how frequently AI fully resolves customer needs without escalation, emerged as an underexamined but critical metric.
After turning Toma on and listening to the first few recordings, it felt like we have another member of the team on the phone.
What's next for Toma
Toma's vision emphasizes freeing dealership teams from repetitive work, enabling focus on the high-touch interactions that differentiate a brand experience. Our award-winning AI agents integrate with existing systems within one week, with AI not just communicating but executing: booking appointments, following up, and driving results.