Nov. 4, 2025

13 Years at Ford — Why He Now Owns a Dealership (and How He Drove a 7% Profit Turnaround) | Doug Gilmour, Dealer Principal of Malone Ford

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13 Years at Ford — Why He Now Owns a Dealership (and How He Drove a 7% Profit Turnaround) | Doug Gilmour, Dealer Principal of Malone Ford

Today I’m joined by Doug Gilmour, Dealer Principal of Malone Ford.

We get into Doug’s 13-year run at Ford, the 7% profit swing that put him on the map, and the all-in gamble that made his dream a reality.


This episode is brought to you by:

1. OPENLANE - The world’s best online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes. Learn more @ http://www.openlane.com/cdg


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3. CDG Circles – A modern peer group for auto dealers. Private dealer chats. Real insights — confidential, compliant, no travel required. Visit https://cdgcircles.com/ to learn more.


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Topics:

00:34 Why leave Ford for dealership ownership?

05:12 How to pursue a dealership dream?

07:23 Biggest complexity in dealership ownership?

11:06 Key insights from the field?

14:54 Future of the auto industry?

32:51 Tesla vs. traditional automaker approach?

35:53 Solving vehicle affordability challenges?

43:09 Best team building and training strategies?

56:14 Future plans for the business?


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