AI is shaking up CRMs and web chat at car dealerships... But many dealers still have doubts. Real-time inventory data could be the next big step, helping systems track deposits and in-transit vehicles instantly. Tina Tasche of @vanhornautomotivegroup5193 credits it with bringing 80% of scheduled prospects through their doors—and shares…
AI is changing the way dealerships handle leads— But for now, it may not be the whole solution. Van Horn Auto Group is blending AI with human expertise, freeing employees to focus on higher-level tasks and go deeper with prospects. Tina Tasche, Head of Innovation & Technology at @vanhornautomotivegroup5193, explains…
Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast! In this episode, I’m joined by Tina Tasche, Head of Innovation & Tech at @vanhornautomotivegroup5193. We dive into how to build the next-generation dealership BDC, her AI features wishlist for the call center of the future, and why the traditional lead form is…
A generational gap is reshaping dealership leadership. Steven Adragna, Operating Partner at CDG Recruiting, sees the talent pool shifting–– New GSMs on one side... Seasoned GMs on the other. Here’s how dealers can bridge the gap and build future leaders. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy…
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff: CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs…
Hiring for dealership growth takes more than a title on paper. Get it right, and you’re set to grow. Get it wrong, and you stall out. Steven Adragna, Operating Partner at CDG Recruiting, explains how to spot the *right* person. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy…
Carvana’s margins aren’t magic... Ernie Garcia, Founder and CEO of @GoCarvana explains it's the result of stacking strategic advantages. In-house financing, wholesale sales, and a vast logistics network all feed into $7,427 gross profit per unit. Here's the breakdown of how they keep pushing margins higher. ➤ Stream the latest…
About 80% of the used cars franchised dealers sold last year came directly from consumers (trade-ins + buy from public). But keeping that pipeline flowing isn’t guaranteed. One edge dealers have? Service retention. Brice Englert, Founder & CEO at @tradepending, explains why investing in it is critical to staying ahead…
It takes more than a buy button to stand out in auto retail. Carvana’s edge? A relentless string of hard-to-do things that customers actually care about. Ernie Garcia, Founder and CEO of @GoCarvana, explains how this strategy keeps them ahead. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy…
Welcome to The Weekly—your go-to roundup of the top five auto industry headlines. This week's top stories: 1. New vehicle sales forecasted to surge in 2025 after successful Q4 2. Used car price drops slowing down, hovering around $30K 3. Wholesale used car prices hold steady so far this month…
Carvana’s value tracker is evolving how customers connect with their cars. Brice Englert, CEO at @tradepending, believes giving dealerships similar tools is the key to staying competitive. Here’s how he says dealers can keep customers coming back. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast now on…
Welcome to The Breakdown—your go-to source for deep dives into the trends, strategies and shifts shaping automotive retail. Today’s Big Story: How Dealers Quietly Outsmart Their Competition This episode is brought to you by: Dealer Pay – A dealer-specific payment acceptance solution designed to boost productivity and enhance customer retention.…
AI has taken automotive by storm, but... How well is it *actually* working? Efficiency still lags. Dealers are left wondering: When will tech deliver on its promises? Brice Englert, CEO of @tradepending shares how he sees it playing out. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast…
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff: CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs…
Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I’m speaking with Brice Englert, CEO of TradePending. We discuss how car dealers are cracking the customer retention code, insights from competing with car-buying giants like Carvana, and how consumer loyalty is shifting in the age of hybrids. This episode…
Online auto retailers like Carvana have strengths...and gaps. Founder & CEO Ernie Garcia how post-sale vehicle service is an opportunity for them. Their edge? Vertical integration in finance, logistics, and auctions. Here’s how inventory scale keeps @GoCarvana competitive. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast now…
In a market where small shocks can erase profits… Unit economics become a car dealer's shield. The better the margins, the more pain they can absorb when the market shifts. Ernie Garcia, Co-Founder and CEO of @GoCarvana, shares how dealerships can stay resilient in a volatile industry. ➤ Stream the…
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff: CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs…
Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with Ernie Garcia Jr., Co-founder and CEO of Carvana. We dive into topics like the greatest comeback story of any public company ever, lessons from selling millions of cars, the future of the automotive wholesale business and…
"Live shopping" might be a goldmine for dealers. With some already selling cars on TikTok Live, Nathanael Greklek, Corporate Brand Director at @MohawkAutoGroup, is eyeing live streams to move cars and accessories. Here’s how dealerships could ride this wave. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast…
Welcome to The Weekly, your go-to roundup of the top five auto industry headlines of the week. This week's top stories: 1. Amazon officially starts selling new Hyundai vehicles online 2. Prime auto loan borrowers lean toward the used car market 3. Wholesale used car prices up year-over-year in November…
Some car dealerships have a secret weapon: Montana license plates. Senior Vice President of DLR50 at DLRdmv, David Donaldson, breaks down the loophole saving buyers tens of thousands in sales tax—and what it means for dealers. Here’s why this “legal loophole” keeps rolling. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the…
Welcome to the audio edition of the Car Dealership Guy Market Pulse! Today’s big story: 3 hard-hitting auto market realities from the dealership floor—and what it could mean for 2025. This episode is brought to you by: OPENLANE - The leading online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive…
A constant tug-of-war between dealerships and the DMV: Titling and registration. Dealers want speed, but DMVs can't keep up. David Donaldson, Senior Vice President of DLR50 at DLRdmv, breaks down what's driving this clash. ➤ Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast now on your favorite platform—brought…