Vendor Insights Podcasts

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Paul LeBlanc, Service Director at Longo Toyota, and Derek Simonds, Executive VP Automotive at Numa. This episode is brought to you by: Numa - In the world of dealerships, service is everything — but it’s also where everything breaks down. Missed calls, unreturned voicemail...

Today I’m joined by Royce Neubauer, CEO of Auto Hauler Exchange. We dive into how dealers are footing the bill for shipping delays in unexpected ways, how smart operators are turning logistics into a profit center, why fraud is on the rise in the vehicle transport game and much more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. DLRdmv – Dealers, are you still stuck using outdated interstate titling methods? DLR50 from DLRdmv modernizes out‑of‑state titling by providing 24/7 sales tax, title, and regi...

Today I’m joined by Jessica Stafford, SVP Consumer Solutions at Cox Automotive. We dive into the how car buying behavior is evolving, why consumers are embracing AI faster than dealers and much more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Numa - Numa is the first AI agent platform for auto dealerships. Address communication breakdowns with customers and get full visibility into all service interactions. Numa answers every call, rescues and books service appointments and lets service teams see a...

Today I’m joined by Eric Rea, CEO of Podium. We dive into the state of Dealership AI in 2025, the questions dealers should be asking to stay ahead, why 10% of US dealers are using Podium's AI and much more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Qmerit - Selling EVs can have a lot of friction points. But home charging installation shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why dealers and automakers trust Qmerit—the go-to expert for home charging installations. Join Qmerit’s dealership partner program an...

Today I’m joined by David Thomas, Director of Content Marketing at CDK Global. We dive into why dealership's ease of purchase is crashing right now, why credit denials are racking up, the fate of the EV market post tax-credits and much more. CDK Global’s Q2 Ease of Purchase Study – https://carguymedia.com/cdkglobal

 CDK Global’s most recent EV study – https://www.cdkglobal.com/insights/most-ev-owners-stand-technology-new-study This episode is brought to you by: 1. CDK Global - the go-to tec...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Scott Traylor, Vice President of Sales at Mia, and Tom Eggers, CMO of Covert Auto Group. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Mia: Mia - Your 24/7 AI receptionist who speaks like a human, not a robot. No more "press 1" - just natural conversa...

Today I’m joined by Ted Rubin, President of ActivEngage. We dive into why dealers don’t need more leads — they need better ones, the danger from AI that dealers don’t see coming, why a human touch is still the missing peice and much more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Auto Hauler Exchange - Ship Smarter. Pay Less. No Middlemen. Tired of brokers driving up costs and slowing you down? Auto Hauler Exchange puts YOU in control. Ship cars faster and cheaper with 5,500+ vetted carriers. Get ...

Today I’m joined by Monik Pamecha, CEO and founder of Toma. We unpack why they embedded in Oklahoma dealerships for months, how that groundwork attracted top VCs, and why Toma refuses to build one-size-fits-all AI. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Toma - If your BDC or Service Advisors are buried in calls, it’s time for a smarter solution. Toma builds custom AI agents that answer 100% of your dealership’s inbound calls and handle tasks like booking service, checking recalls, and schedulin...

Today I’m joined by Graham Anderson, CCO & Co-Founder of KENECT. We get into how dealers are solving the #1 bottleneck in fixed ops, the best times to text customers, how Gen Z is flipping the script on dealer communications, and more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Qmerit - Selling EVs can have a lot of friction points. But home charging installation shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why dealers and automakers trust Qmerit—the go-to expert for home charging installations. Join Qmerit’s ...

Today I’m joined by Barb Edson, CMO of CDK Global. We dive into why post-sale support is becoming the new battleground for dealerships, what tech top dealers are asking for and leaning into, and why a wave of imitators still can’t dethrone the king. This episode is brought to you by: 1 . Copart - Are you looking to expand your dealership’s wholesale inventory? Finding front-line ready vehicles from finance, fleet, and rental consignors is now easier than ever. Copart Select gives you transpare...

Today I’m joined by Derek Hansen, VP of Operations at Cox Automotive. We get into how AI is reshaping inventory pricing, pro tips for navigating vehicle tariffs, where vAuto is innovating next—and more. If your dealership is interested in learning more, reach out to Derek by email: derek.hansen@coxautoinc.com This episode is brought to you by: 1, Toma – If your BDC or Service Advisors are buried in calls, it’s time for a smarter solution. Toma builds custom AI agents that answer 100% of your ...

Today I’m joined by Jimmy Douglas, CEO of Plug. We dive into why over half of dealers are missing an entire used segment, how two months on the lot is the tipping point for EV valuations, why dealers are shipping EVs an average of 800 miles — and much more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Copart – Are you looking to expand your dealership’s wholesale inventory? Finding front-line ready vehicles from finance, fleet, and rental consignors is now easier than ever. Copart Select gives you transparency that drives profitability and the assurance you need. Register as a Member to Get Started @ www.copart.com/doRegistration 2. Podium - With Podium’s AI BDC, dealerships are seeing an 80% increase in after-hours appointments by handling leads 24/7. Instantly respond to inquiries, book test drives, and let your team focus on what matters: closing deals. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars @ http://www.podium.com/car-dealership-guy 3. Plug – The only wholesale auction built for EV…

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Kimberly Scogin, Controller at Hudson Management Group, and Shane Bigelow, CEO of CHAMP Titles. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by CHAMP Titles: CHAMP Titles - In automotive retail, everything moves fast — except vehicle titling. Consumers ...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Yuriy Demidko, Chief Information Officer at DPFox; and Matthew Muilenburg, Chief Product Officer at Impel. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Impel. Impel AI - Impel AI helps you drive loyalty with proactive, personalized se...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Doug Obenhaus, President Texas Auto Sales, and David Kang, Chief Marketing & Analytics Officer, Copart. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Copart: Copart – Are you looking to expand your dealership’s wholesale inventory? Finding front-line...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Cody Hansen, Fixed Operations Director Ferman Automotive, and Matt Gonzalez, Sr. Account Executive, Automotive at Uber. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Uber For Business: Uber For Business - With Uber for Business, dealerships create a ...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Tom Bear, Platform Used Car Director at Cable Dahmer Automotive Group, Stephan Morris, Used Vehicle Acquisition Manager at Cable Dahmer Automotive Group, and Frank Zombo, Vice President of Sales at Auto Hauler Exchange. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podc...

Today I’m joined by Oliver Phillips, COO of Qmerit. We break down the #1 EV problem dealers aren’t talking about—and how to solve it, why Florida is quietly becoming an EV powerhouse, how EVs are cutting through the political noise, and a whole lot more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. OPENLANE - ‪The world’s leading online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes. Learn more @ https://www.openlane.com/ 2. E...

Today I’m joined by Chad Rycenga, Chief Product Officer at Authenticom. We’re breaking down the data battle playing out on dealership lots — how dealers are protecting customer info, where the threats are coming from, and how smart businesses are using data to unlock serious profits. This episode is brought to you by: 1. CRC Transport LLC - If you’re tired of unreliable vehicle transport services or frustrated with delayed deliveries, you need to hear this. CRC Transport LLC operates as a prem...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Bob Tasca III, VP of Tasca Automotive Group, and Ryan Maher, CEO of BizzyCar. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by BizzyCar. 1. BizzyCar — built by dealers, is an AI-powered Recall Management and Mobile Service Platform that increases ...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Jennica Krebsbach, Controller at Van Horn Auto Group, and Julie Douglas, CEO of Dealer Pay. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Dealer Pay: 1. Dealer Pay – Designed to increase productivity and customer retention, Dealer Pay is a dealer-spec...

Welcome to Industry Spotlight—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc, highlighting standout dealerships and innovative companies, and exploring the trends driving success in today’s automotive market. Today, Sam sits down with Jeff Dyke, President of Sonic Automotive, and Matt Nuffort. Director at Amazon Autos. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Amazon Autos. 1. Amazon Autos - Learn more about the Amazon Autos Beta here 🚨 Don’t forget to subscribe to Ca...

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I’m joined by Brian MacDonald, CEO of CDK Global. We explore why he’s betting $250M on a major shift in automotive retail, the winners and losers as service department trends evolve, and his prediction for a wave of dealership acquisitions this year—and much more. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by: 1. Richtech Robotics - Titan is the autonomous parts delivery system that keeps techs in bays, helping y...

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Sam Mahrouq, CEO of Ikon Technologies where we discuss: Scaling his auto group to 11 dealerships and millions in sales, How an "ah ha" moment at the dealership led him to found a $55M revenue tech company and much more. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by: 1. Uber for Business - With Central, you can request a ride on behalf of your customers even if they don’t have the Uber app. If yo...