Page 38 - On The Move - Volume 17, Issue 4

By J.W. Southwick
Director of Marketing
& Social Media
MAADA

hat happens when a real-estate economist takes a job with an
Wautomotive firm, digesting data day-in and -day-out, in order to

help dealerships across the country formulate their business strategies?
He becomes a car guy, of course! Even the most practical among us

can be bitten by the bug that leads to early weekend mornings spent at
car shows and an occasional track day or two. And that’s exactly what
happened to Cox Automotive’s Jonathan Smoke.

In each issue of On the Move, we feature industry ue-retention, and low cost of ownership were the evident. “It’s a beautiful car. There’s nothing like
analysis from Jonathan. In his role as Chief Econ- features that guided his vehicle purchases. But it on the road. I love the sound of the exhaust,
omist with Cox Automotive, he dives into data the dreams were there, and to indulge in those and I love putting it into sport mode – hearing the
from across the automotive sector, data that is dreams, Jonathan and his family would attend crackles and pops.”
key to understanding industry trends. A mountain auto shows, as well as other events like Caffeine
of information that may otherwise be overwhelm- & Octane in Atlanta. The practical automotive economist now has skin
ing is packaged in a manner that makes it easier in the driving-enthusiast game. “Up until now,
for readers to digest, enabling them to factor it Then, in 2019, the 2020 Toyota GR Supra was I was definitely more of a car show enthusiast.
into their business plans. driven out onto the stage at the North American The Supra has opened up a new world for me.”
International Auto Show, which Jonathan was Eager to exercise the performance chops of the GR
But behind the spreadsheets and bar graphs, an attending. The sports car was slated to be the Supra, Jonathan began taking it up to the twisty
enthusiast was waiting to be unleashed. successor to the Mark IV Supra that had reached roads in the North Georgia mountains, and he’s
legendary status among automotive enthusiasts. also taken it out to Road Atlanta for a track day
Jonathan’s first car was a 1979 Ford Mustang, a Smoke was hooked. “With excitement, I texted event. “I have a new appreciation for racing that I
baby-blue hand-me-down from his sister. During my family that I was buying one, tongue-in- never had before.” He continued, “the experience
high school, his dream car was a Toyota Celica-Su- cheek.” Within moments, his wife replied, “Go of driving it at Road Atlanta and pushing it as far
pra. And although he’s always been into cars, the for it!” The next day, he signed up to get one of as I could was something that I will never forget.”
economist in Jonathan drove him down the path the Launch Edition Supras. Six months later, the
of practicality. “I owned a 2007 Toyota Camry dream became reality. It’s a safe bet that when Jonathan’s taking a
Hybrid for twelve years. That’s what you’d ex- break from “Smoke on Cars,” he just might be out
pect an economist to own.” Dependability, val- When describing his new Supra, the passion is smoking some tires.

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