May 19, 2026

“It'll Eat You Alive!” Turning Tragedy Into a Billion-Dollar Dealership Group (And the Lessons Learned Along the Way) | Corina Straub Diehl, CEO and President at Diehl Automotive Group

“It'll Eat You Alive!” Turning Tragedy Into a Billion-Dollar Dealership Group (And the Lessons Learned Along the Way) | Corina Straub Diehl, CEO and President at Diehl Automotive Group
Car Dealership Guy | Auto Industry Insights | Content & News | Podcast | Live Show
“It'll Eat You Alive!” Turning Tragedy Into a Billion-Dollar Dealership Group (And the Lessons Learned Along the Way) | Corina Straub Diehl, CEO and President at Diehl Automotive Group
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Today I'm joined by Corina Straub Diehl, CEO and President at Diehl Automotive Group.

After the sudden loss of her husband in 2007, Corina ignored advice to sell the business and instead scaled it into a 24-store powerhouse generating over a billion dollars in revenue.

This conversation breaks down her "rebel" leadership style, her aggressive 5-year ROI acquisition strategy, and why she views collision centers as the ultimate customer retention tool.


This episode is brought to you by:


1. Openlane - If you’ve never used OPENLANE before, or it’s been a while since you have, you’re eligible to earn up to $2,500 in buy or sale fee credits. Learn more @ ⁠here⁠.


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3. CDG Circles – A digital peer group for top auto dealers. Private dealer chats. Vendor reviews. Real insights — confidential, compliant, no travel required. Join dealers representing 3,000+ rooftops @ ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.


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Topics:

01:35 The Hermetically Sealed US Auto Market.

02:00 The Franchise Corinna Calls Her Ugly Stepchild.

06:15 The 5-Year ROI Rule That Built An Empire.

13:45 The Husband's Final Warning She Ignored.

21:00 Why She Still Shops At Target.

23:40 The 300-Email Hack Every Executive Needs.

28:30 The Customer Email That Terrifies Her Team.

31:45 The GM Who Stole From A Widow.

39:45 The 20x Multiple She Refuses To Pay.

55:15 The Old-School Fraud She Still Catches.


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