CarDealershipGuy — the internet's viral car dealer and market commentator — shares unbiased and transparent insights into the car market. Join 100,000+ weekly listeners who tune in to hear from auto industry leaders, innovators and CarDealershipGuy himself. For more free car market insights, visit dealershipguy.com and follow CarDealershipGuy on X (@GuyDealership) — Or check out cdgpodcast.com to catch every other episode of the CDG Podcast. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here
The CarDealershipGuy Podcast is a must-listen for anyone interested in the car industry. Hosted by an anonymous car dealership professional, this podcast provides unique industry insights and features interviews with top players in the field. The show covers a wide range of relevant topics that you won't find anywhere else, making it a valuable resource for insiders and enthusiasts alike. The anonymity of the host adds an intriguing element to the podcast, leaving listeners curious about his background and expertise.
One of the best aspects of The CarDealershipGuy Podcast is its outstanding discussion and analysis of different aspects of the car business. Each episode shines a light on interesting topics that are rarely covered elsewhere, allowing listeners to gain a deeper understanding of the industry. The host's pedigree of guests is also impressive, bringing in experts who provide valuable insights into specific areas of the car business. Whether it's discussing autonomous vehicles or exploring new market trends, this podcast consistently delivers informative and engaging content.
While there are many positives to this podcast, one potential drawback is its narrow focus on the car industry. If you're not particularly interested in cars or don't work in the automotive sector, some episodes may not resonate as strongly with you. However, even for those who aren't industry insiders, there are still plenty of fascinating insights to be gained from listening.
In conclusion, The CarDealershipGuy Podcast is an excellent source of industry knowledge and entertainment for anyone interested in the car business. With its insider perspective and intriguing anonymity, this podcast offers unique perspectives and expert interviews that are both informative and enjoyable to listen to. Whether you're an industry insider seeking valuable insights or simply curious about how the automotive world operates behind-the-scenes, this podcast is well worth a listen.
Anthony Clavenna used to fly across the country with $30,000 in cash stuffed in a backpack just to buy trucks off strangers, and he says that scrappy, no-safety-net approach is exactly what let him outpace giants like Carvana and CarMax at buying cars off the street. He walks through the moment the business finally graduated from cash runs to wires and a private app, how a single fraud incident gets baked into the process as a new checkpoint instead of a reason to slow down, and argues that speed, not technology or capital, is the real edge in wholesale. Topics: 04:00 iPhone Was Their Fraud Prevention. 09:35 Wiring Strangers Money And Hoping. 13:45 Auctions Suck Because You Bid Against Others. 18:00 Speed Is The Only Edge That Matters. 24:00 Texting Dealers Until The App Scaled. 37:45 Going Hard Leaves No Room For Fear. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Podium - If your AI isn't driving real outcomes, it's time to take a closer look @ here. 2. Digital Dealer - Join expert-led sessions, hands-on Learning Labs, and live demos to discover ideas that can help improve sales, service, and marketing. Register today @ here and use code CDG25OFF at checkout. 3. CDG Circles - Connect with verified dealers all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Jason Hartman, Founder at JXCE - Scott Pharr, CEO at Pharr Motor Group - Charlie Spradlin, General Manager at Art Moehn Auto Group This episode is brought to you by: Carmax – CarMax Auctions Access thousands of cars weekly at 50+ locations nationwide through our 100% online auctions. From high-end to high mileage, CarMax Auctions has the inventory you need to source smarter and accelerate sales. Register now for free at carmaxauctions.com/CDG. First up, Jason Hartman, Founder of JXCE. Jason's built a reputation for turning conventional dealer wisdom on its head — and he's bringing a take today that'll have some of you nodding and others reaching for the mute button. You'll want to hear which side you land on. Then we've got Scott Pharr, Dealer Principal at Pharr Nissan of Chesterton. Here's the kicker — Scott literally just acquired this store days ago. So what's the very first move you make when you walk into a brand-new dealership? Scott's going to tell us what happens in those crucial opening weeks. And finally, Charlie Spradlin, General Manager at Art Moehn Auto Group — Digital Dealer speaker and a member of the 800% club. Yeah, you read that right. Eight hundred percent. Charlie's going to unpack how you get numbers like that, and whether it's something any store can pull off — or lightning in a bottle. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
In this episode of the Industry Spotlight, joining host Sam D'Arc are Travis Siebert, SVP at DealerPay, and Kris Towle, Chief Accounting Officer at Niello Company to discuss why one of the auto industry's oldest processes, collecting cash and checks from parts and service customers, still costs dealerships money, time, and trust. They speak candidly about the safety risk of sending drivers out with cash, why most dealerships never question an outdated process until something goes wrong, and why live phone support, not just software, is what keeps a group this size from ever looking at another vendor. They explain: ◼ Why parts delivery drivers ended up doing accounting work they were never trained for ◼ How a single bounced check could cost a full week of chasing down payment ◼ Why missing cash on a delivery route became an uncomfortable question nobody wanted to ask ◼ Why the switch to mobile payments meant money was in the bank the very next morning ◼ Why Niello Company has never looked at another payments partner since making the switch This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by DealerPay. Topics: 02:50 Fixed Ops Causes More Accounting Headaches. 04:30 Drivers Make Terrible Accountants. 05:50 Cash In Trucks Is A Theft Problem. 06:45 Selling Nationwide Hurts Local Retention. 09:50 Dealerships Are Slow To Adopt Digital Payments. 12:15 Onsite Training Eliminates Employee Pushback. 13:10 One-Person Payment Eliminates Customer Confusion. 14:20 Digital Reporting Shows Exactly Who Took Money. 17:05 Answering The Phone Beats AI Every Time. 18:50 Showing Up Matters More Than Technology. 22:50 Accounting Touches Every Part Of The Business. 23:50 Dennis Pushes Harder Than Tully Does. DealerPay - Dealer Pay is the payment platform built exclusively for car dealerships, connecting fixed ops, variable ops, and back office with sub-10-second, card-present transactions and automated reconciliation, whether it's at the counter, the service drive, or a mobile delivery. Visit @ here to see how it works for your dealership. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Wes Lloyd, Service Director at Stuckey Auto - Spencer Nicholson, Fixed Operations Director at Stuckey Automotive - Ryan Maher, CEO at BizzyCar - Galal Hamdy, Strategic Relationship Leader at Zurich U.S. – Direct Markets This episode is brought to you by: Zurich – Zurich Advisor IQ is Zurich's AI-driven training and coaching platform built to help F&I teams perform more consistently and sell more effectively — using real transaction data, not theory. By analyzing actual F&I transactions, Zurich Advisor IQ helps identify behaviors and trends influencing results, delivers actionable insights and roleplay scenarios, and gives dealership leaders visibility into performance across managers, stores and rooftops. Connect with your Zurich representative to request a demo and see how Zurich Advisor IQ can help turn F&I insight into stronger dealership performance. Check it out at https://carguymedia.com/46ibHtn BizzyCar – BizzyCar uses AI to automate recall outreach for dealerships, transforming missed opportunities into booked appointments, higher revenue, and safer vehicles. Book a demo today at: https://info.bizzycar.com/cdg Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Laddie Stern is the Founder of Stern Auto Group, a 20-store empire he has built over 65 years in the car business. He started as a wholesaler for his uncle before buying and scaling the Skyline and Hatfield auctions into the country's largest privately held auction company, then returned to grow a new car group alongside his son Jonathan. He speaks candidly about the 2008 downturn that changed how he manages cash for good, the mistakes he made prioritizing the business over his family, and what he looks for before letting the next generation, including his own grandchildren, into the business. Topics: 03:50 Odometer Rollback Was Legal. 06:30 Auctions Beat Casinos. 09:10 $7M Property Now $50M. 13:25 Cash Is Always King. 14:35 Undercapitalization Kills Dealers. 18:00 Hand-Sells Wholesale To Prevent Theft. 20:50 Never Burn A Bridge. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Kenect - Kenect helps dealership GMs automate customer outreach by turning days of manual calling into seconds. Go to @ here to see how top rooftops are scaling retention today. 2. CDG Circles - Connect with verified dealers all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Tustin Ulrich, General Manager at Roper Kia - Mike Yates, General Manager at BMW of Bridgewater - Mike McVeigh, Sales Manager at Jeff D'Ambrosio Auto Group This episode is brought to you by: Zurich – Zurich Advisor IQ is Zurich's AI-driven training and coaching platform built to help F&I teams perform more consistently and sell more effectively — using real transaction data, not theory. By analyzing actual F&I transactions, Zurich Advisor IQ helps identify behaviors and trends influencing results, delivers actionable insights and roleplay scenarios, and gives dealership leaders visibility into performance across managers, stores and rooftops. Connect with your Zurich representative to request a demo and see how Zurich Advisor IQ can help turn F&I insight into stronger dealership performance. Check it out at https://carguymedia.com/46ibHtn Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Kielan Whitner made more in his first 90 days selling cars than he made in an entire year working as a certified public accountant at a Big Four firm, and he says that gap is exactly why automotive struggles to attract the talent it needs. A fourth-generation dealer, he built his foundation on the fixed side of the business, service advisor to service manager, before stepping into the general manager role, and now leans on a network of industry mentors and organizations like NAMAD to keep leveling up. Topics: 04:20 90 Days Beat CPA Salary. 16:00 Viral Video Beats Paid Ads. 17:00 Organic Beats Car Pitches. 20:05 Used Car Inventory Is Art. 22:15 Negativity Gets Sent Home. 24:10 Eighth To First In 20 Months. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Experian Automotive - Experian's Fraud Protect solution helps dealers identify potential fraud risks earlier in the sales process by leveraging advanced data, analytics, and identity verification tools. Visit @ here for more info. 2. CarMax - Access thousands of cars weekly at 50+ locations nationwide through our 100% online auctions. Register now for free @ here. 3. CDG Circles - Connect with verified dealers all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Nathan Shaver, Managing Partner at Shaver Auto Group - Christopher Schrementi, Managing Director at Gallagher - Chris Singleton, Managing Partner at Mike Terry Auto Group This episode is brought to you by: Zurich – Zurich Advisor IQ is Zurich's AI-driven training and coaching platform built to help F&I teams perform more consistently and sell more effectively — using real transaction data, not theory. By analyzing actual F&I transactions, Zurich Advisor IQ helps identify behaviors and trends influencing results, delivers actionable insights and roleplay scenarios, and gives dealership leaders visibility into performance across managers, stores and rooftops. Connect with your Zurich representative to request a demo and see how Zurich Advisor IQ can help turn F&I insight into stronger dealership performance. Check it out at https://carguymedia.com/46ibHtn Gallagher – Dealerships face a dynamic risk landscape—rising litigation, weather-related losses, workforce pressures and technology-driven exposures—and Gallagher delivers tailored insurance and risk management solutions built for today's dealership operations. Connect with Chris and the Gallagher team for a one-on-one conversation—visit https://www.ajg.com/industries/dealership-insurance/ and click "Get Started." Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
In this episode of the Industry Spotlight, joining host Sam D'Arc are John Keohane, VP of Operations and Partner at Temecula Valley Buick GMC, and Liam Golightly, SVP of Customer Success at Podium to discuss how AI operator agents are giving dealership leaders a way to run their entire operation without being in every conversation themselves. John built his own AI agent, which he nicknamed Emily, to scrape telematics data, run weekly revival campaigns on stale leads, and even coach his sales team by timing how fast they respond before Emily steps in. The results are hard to ignore: Emily replaced his old bulk texting tool, helped uncover a customer-pay revenue drop in six seconds instead of weeks, and pushed his service department's customer-pay repair orders up 12 to 13 percent this year. For a single-point dealer competing against much larger groups, John says the technology has become a genuine equalizer. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Podium. Topics: 04:15 CPA Brain Overwhelmed By Reports. 06:10 Low-Hanging Tech Is Ripe. 07:25 Telematics Data Was Untouched. 09:25 Cold BDC Texts Feel Impersonal. 10:45 Operator Is AI For GMs. 13:00 Emily Texts Revival Campaigns Daily. 14:25 AI Revives Dead Leads Warmly. 16:15 Emily Surfaces Near-Miss Sales. 18:45 Salespeople Race To Beat Emily. 19:55 Employees Use AI To Beat AI. 23:30 Podium Sieves All Outreach. 33:50 AI Levels The Playing Field. Podium - the AI platform trusted by one in three dealerships. Podium helps dealers consolidate sales, service, messaging, and voice into one connected system that actually runs the work. If your AI isn't driving real outcomes, it's time to take a closer look @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Diana Lee, CEO and Founder at Constellation - Felicia Barr, Service Director at Bertera Auto Group - Bobby Perkins, Fixed Operations Director at Lexus Montgomery & Toyota of Montgomery This episode is brought to you by: Digital Dealer – Lost opportunities and slow processes are quietly draining your dealership's bottom line — Digital Dealer fixes that with real sessions, hands-on labs, and live demos covering sales, service, marketing, and AI, so you walk away with strategies you can use the second you're back on the lot. Join us September 22–23 in Detroit and bring your whole team. Register at digitaldealer.com — use code CDG25OFF for a team discount. Check it out at https://digitaldealer.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Alan Haig is the President and founder of Haig Partners, the leading merger and acquisition advisory firm for auto dealerships, where he has guided some of the industry's largest deals. He tracks buy-sell trends and franchise values across every major brand, and he's watched Infiniti collapse further than any other name in the business while Toyota and Lexus keep climbing. He speaks candidly about which franchises are worth buying today, which ones aren't, and what a wave of new competition from China could do to dealership values. Topics: 03:30 Scarcity Creates A Virtuous Cycle. 09:05 Toyota Store Is A Bond. 11:15 Ford And Chevy Are Half Price. 15:05 Honda Beats Toyota As A Buy. 23:50 Chinese EVs Threaten Values. 42:00 Clean Up Before Exit. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Kenect - Kenect helps dealership GMs automate customer outreach by turning days of manual calling into seconds. Go to @ here today. 2. CDG Circles - Connect with verified dealers all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. 3. Haig Partners - The Haig Report® sets the standard for dealership M&A data and trends in auto retail. Read it @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Glenn Lundy, President at 800% Elite Automotive Club - Jaymie Nielsen, Show Director at Digital Dealer - Al Salas, Founder/Chairman at Eco Auto This episode is brought to you by: Digital Dealer – Lost opportunities and slow processes are quietly draining your dealership's bottom line — Digital Dealer fixes that with real sessions, hands-on labs, and live demos covering sales, service, marketing, and AI, so you walk away with strategies you can use the second you're back on the lot. Join us September 22–23 in Detroit and bring your whole team. Register at digitaldealer.com — use code CDG25OFF for a team discount. Check it out at https://digitaldealer.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Leo Portaluppi says the accountability gap holding back growing dealer groups is one owners create themselves. He argues that titles without real equity produce managers who still think like employees, and that fixing it means giving partners a real path to owning 10, then 20 percent of the store they run. Topics: 02:10 Fixed Needs Variable, Vice Versa. 04:10 "If You Want Reliable, Don't Buy This." 08:25 Oil-Change Dad Built An Empire. 15:00 Don't Hire Bad Habits, Train Them. 17:00 App Steers Customers To Right Store. 21:00 GMs Write Rules, No Complaints. 31:45 Owner Operators Beat Managers. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer - Join us September 22–23 in Detroit and register today at DigitalDealer.com. Use code CDG25OFF at checkout and bring your team for a generous discount. Visit @ here for more info. 2. Widewail - Widewail uses AI to turn raw customer feedback into clear operational insights so you know exactly what to fix and where to focus. Go to @ here to book a demo. 3. CDG Circles - Connect with verified dealers all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Ashley Cavazos, President at WOCAN & Moderator/Trainer at NCM Associates - Steve Gates, President at Gates Auto Family - Cody Lusk, President/CEO at American International Automobile Dealers Association (AIADA) - David Spisak, President/CEO at Disruptive Growth Solutions, LLC This episode is brought to you by: Digital Dealer – Lost opportunities and slow processes are quietly draining your dealership's bottom line — Digital Dealer fixes that with real sessions, hands-on labs, and live demos covering sales, service, marketing, and AI, so you walk away with strategies you can use the second you're back on the lot. Join us September 22–23 in Detroit and bring your whole team. Register at digitaldealer.com — use code CDG25OFF for a team discount. Check it out at https://digitaldealer.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - David Hennessey, VP of Fixed Operations at Harris Auto Group - Tully Williams, Fixed Operations Director at The Niello Company - Owen Montgomery, Service Advisor at Chariot Automotive Group This episode is brought to you by: 800% Elite Automotive Club – 800% Elite Auto is a whole-dealership solution. Live weekly training and 1-on-1 executive coaching align Owners, Sales, F&I, BDC, Marketing, and Culture into one well oiled machine. The result? A guaranteed 25% sales increase in 90 days. Get started today https://www.800percent.life/cdg Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
In this episode of the Industry Spotlight, joining host Sam D'Arc are Eric Cohen, CEO of Merchant Advocate, and Cole Frankman, Owner/Operator of Frankman Motors, to discuss why credit card processing fees keep climbing year after year and how dealers can uncover the hidden increases buried in their merchant statements. Eric reveals that 80 percent of dealerships he reviews are being overcharged by 20 to 25 percent, and explains why the fee never really stops rising: the sales rep who set up the account earns a cut of every transaction for as long as the dealer stays a client. Cole shares how a routine expense review turned into a two-month rabbit hole before an independent audit uncovered over six figures in annual savings, all without switching processors or changing equipment. The conversation exposes why dealers rarely read past page one of their statements, and what that costs them. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Merchant Advocate. Topics: 06:35 Fees Were Never On His Radar. 08:30 He Tried AI To Fix It. 09:15 Audits Aren't Just For Mega Dealers. 11:15 80% Of Dealers Overpay. 12:45 Processors Raise Rates Anytime. 16:35 Hidden Fees Saved Six Figures. 18:45 Dealers Pay High Fees Despite Low Risk. 21:30 Processors Keep Coming Back. 23:40 Visa Doesn't Set Rates. 26:45 Statements Are Deliberately Confusing. 28:40 Non-PCI Fees Cost $500 Monthly. 30:15 Contingency Aligns Incentives. Merchant Advocate - Merchant Advocate helps dealerships uncover and eliminate unnecessary credit card processing costs through independent, contingency-based audits. Our experts identify hidden fees, pricing errors, and optimization opportunities—all without requiring dealers to switch processors, replace equipment, or disrupt operations. Learn more at https://merchantadvocate.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Glenn Lundy, President at 800% Elite Automotive Club - Jay Law, Head of Sales at Car Dealership Guy - Jad Naamani, Director of Marketing at Seez - Chad Cunningham, CEO at DuPONT Registry Exchange and Live This episode is brought to you by: 800% Elite Automotive Club – 800% Elite Auto is a whole-dealership solution. Live weekly training and 1-on-1 executive coaching align Owners, Sales, F&I, BDC, Marketing, and Culture into one well oiled machine. The result? A guaranteed 25% sales increase in 90 days. Get started today https://www.800percent.life/cdg Seez – Seez is a leading automotive technology company redefining the modern dealership through AI, data, and transformative digital tools. Its offerings include AI-powered chat solutions, AI-driven performance marketing, as well as omnichannel retail platforms and predictive pricing models. Visit Seez.co to book a demo. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Matt Haiken is the President of Prestige Auto Group, a second-generation dealer who has run stores under the Lincoln, Volvo, and Polestar brands for more than 20 years. He built LotVision, an AI platform that gives dealers live analytics on competitors' inventory, and he watched Polestar pull its franchise from under him with almost no warning. Topics: 13:40 Carvana Runs Without Sales Managers. 21:00 Tesla's Calculator Is The Gold Standard. 24:10 Brokers Fill Dealer Blind Spots. 27:45 Broker Deals Lost $2,000 Each. 29:55 OEM Awards Are Addictive. 31:50 LotVision Spies On Competitors. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer - Join us September 22–23 in Detroit and register today at DigitalDealer.com. Use code CDG25OFF at checkout and bring your team for a generous discount. Visit @ here for more info. 2. CDK Global - CDK's Built-In Customer Data Platform, CDP, unifies customer data across your dealership and brings AI-driven insights directly into your everyday workflows. Learn more @ here. 3. CDG Circles - Connect with verified dealers all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Phil Pecoraro, Operating Partner at Murdock CDJR - Jason Swiech, Sr. Product Marketer, F&I at CDK Global - Jimmy Anderson, GM at Checkered Flag Porsche This episode is brought to you by: 800% Elite Automotive Club – 800% Elite Auto is a whole-dealership solution. Live weekly training and 1-on-1 executive coaching align Owners, Sales, F&I, BDC, Marketing, and Culture into one well oiled machine. The result? A guaranteed 25% sales increase in 90 days. Get started today https://www.800percent.life/cdg CDK Global – CDK Global empowers dealers with the tools and technology they need to build deeper relationships with customers and sell and service more cars. Visit https://www.cdkglobal.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
In this episode of the Industry Spotlight, joining host Sam D'Arc are Alex Lawrence, CEO and co-founder of EVauto, and Chris Roig, Director of Sales Engineering at Netchex, to discuss how the country's largest EV-only dealer group is scaling into new states without letting payroll and HR become the bottleneck. Alex reveals a payroll tax scare that nearly caught EVauto off guard and how a surprise refund from the IRS became a turning point. Now growing toward 4,000 cars a year across three states, he explains why he trusts AI to approve timecards and overtime, and how automation flags problems like a 40 percent overtime spike before they hit the books. Chris breaks down why switching payroll providers never means touching the dealer management system, and how EVauto is scaling into new markets without stacking headcount in the back office. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Netchex. Topics: 02:50 Painful Tesla Hunt Spawned An Empire. 04:45 Zero Floorplan Debt, Nine-Figure Revenue. 06:50 Cringey TikToks Sold Thousands Of Cars. 09:00 Payroll Tax Blindside Fast-Growing Dealers. 11:20 DMS Integration Separates Real Solutions. 16:40 Paperwork Scales Worse Than Rooftops. 18:00 Employee Experience Starts Before Day One. 20:35 Netchex Assumes IRS Compliance Liability. 24:00 New State Means Instant Payroll Learning Curve. 26:50 AI Agents Automate Routine Approvals. 29:50 AI Handles 80%, Humans Manage Exceptions. 31:30 Every Role Justifies Why AI Can't Do It. Netchex - Drive your dealership forward with Netchex. The only HCM platform built for how dealerships actually operate — deep DMS integrations, technology that understands your business, and a team that understands you. Visit @ here to learn more Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Bob Kuehl, Vice President of Fixed Operations at Zeigler Automotive Group - David Meltzer, Owner at David Meltzer Enterprises This episode is brought to you by: Podium – Most AI is a black box. Podium's is yours to control — and it increases conversion by upwards of 26%. Check it out at podium.com Check it out at https://www.podium.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Matt Muilenburg is the Chief Product Officer at Impel, a company building the AI platform used by thousands of dealerships to run sales, service, and fixed operations. He has spent thirty years working in dealer technology, starting at the Cobalt Group in the early internet era. He has focused on the impact of artificial intelligence on dealership operations over the last several years. Topics: 09:55 The Trade-In Lead Killing Profits. 18:40 Smallest Dealers Face Biggest Existential Risk. 21:40 First $100K Goes To Fixed Ops. 25:00 50% Of Dealers Use AI Unknowingly. 27:00 Employee ChatGPT Use Is A Legal Timebomb. 37:10 BDC Role Obsolete Within 12 Months. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer - Join us September 22–23 in Detroit and register today at DigitalDealer.com. Use code CDG25OFF at checkout and bring your team for a generous discount. Visit @ here for more info. 2. Uber for Business - The true cost of moving your service customers is bigger than it looks. Visit @ here to get started. 3. Impel - Meet the AI Operating System built for a new era of automotive retailing. Visit @ here for more info. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Jeff Laethem, President at Ray Laethem Buick GMC - Malcolm Gage, General Manager at Park Place Motorcars Arlington - Peter McKay, Owner at Car Dealership Kid This episode is brought to you by: Podium – Most AI is a black box. Podium's is yours to control — and it increases conversion by upwards of 26%. Check it out at podium.com Check it out at https://www.podium.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Eddie Stivers, President of Stivers Auto Group. He breaks down why his own cost of people sits at 56% of gross against Carvana's 20%, and the plan to fix it within 36 months. Eddie also unpacks how he is using Claude to catch missed fleet sales and rethink decades of gut-feel vehicle ordering. Topics: 03:30Ford Hit Dead Last In Satisfaction. 08:05Stivers Buys Broken Toys. 10:30Repeatable Turnaround Playbook Works. 14:16Car Business Is Now Tech-Driven. 37:35AI Disrupts Dealerships In 18 Months. 37:55Carvana's Cost Crushes Dealers At 56%. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer - Discover what's working in sales, service, marketing, AI, and operations Join us September 22–23 in Detroit. CDG readers: save 25% — just use code CDG25OFF at checkout. Register today @ here. 2. CDG Circles – Connect with verified dealers, join topic and OEM-specific groups, and get real-world strategies —all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. 3. Plug – If your dealership is taking EV trade-ins or looking for used EV inventory, you need to check out @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Robert O'Koniewski, Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Massachusetts State Automobile Dealers Association (MADA) - Dan Mowid, Senior Division Reinsurance Executive, Direct Markets at Zurich North America - Josh Wear, Vice President of Underwriting, Direct Markets at Zurich North America - Chris Hudson, General Manager at Mark Miller Subaru This episode is brought to you by: Podium – Most AI is a black box. Podium's is yours to control — and it increases conversion by upwards of 26%. Check it out at podium.com Check it out at https://www.podium.com/ Zurich North America – Your loss ratio may be telling you more than you realize. Zurich brings the reinsurance expertise, underwriting insight and dealer-focused guidance to help you better understand what may be driving performance and where action may be needed. Visit www.zurichna.com/checkup to request a no-obligation review. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Jeff Pister, Executive Manager at Honda Marysville - Chris Collins, Owner at Chris Collins Inc - Nicolas Salvo Labelle, Fixed Ops Manager at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Quebec This episode is brought to you by: Zurich – Zurich Advisor IQ is Zurich's AI-driven training and coaching platform built to help F&I teams perform more consistently and sell more effectively — using real transaction data, not theory. By analyzing actual F&I transactions, Zurich Advisor IQ helps identify behaviors and trends influencing results, delivers actionable insights and roleplay scenarios, and gives dealership leaders visibility into performance across managers, stores and rooftops. Connect with your Zurich representative to request a demo and see how Zurich Advisor IQ can help turn F&I insight into stronger dealership performance here: https://carguymedia.com/4pEqEPz Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Jimmy Douglas, Founder & CEO at Plug. He breaks down why the top used EV dealers turn inventory in 30 days instead of 59 while selling for 3% more, and shares the arbitrage move of stocking a competitor's EV so you capture a sale that was happening anyway. Topics: 00:47 Tax Credits Killed EV Residuals. 08:20 Selling A Computer On Wheels. 18:29 Live With An EV For One Month. 21:35 Stack Teslas For Massive Arbitrage. 27:25 Detroit's Global EV Future Is Bleak. 39:52 Build More Bays Than You Need. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer - Discover what's working in sales, service, marketing, AI, and operations Join us September 22–23 in Detroit. CDG readers: save 25% — just use code CDG25OFF at checkout. Register today @ here. 2. CDG Circles – Connect with verified dealers, join topic and OEM-specific groups, and get real-world strategies —all inside the CDG Platform. Learn more @ here. 3. Plug – If your dealership is taking EV trade-ins or looking for used EV inventory, you need to check out @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Rob Dell, Vice President at Bob Ruth Ford - Jeremy Miller, Director of National Partnerships at In the Car - Kelly Midgett, Owner at Kelly's Automotive This episode is brought to you by: Zurich – Zurich Advisor IQ is Zurich's AI-driven training and coaching platform built to help F&I teams perform more consistently and sell more effectively — using real transaction data, not theory. By analyzing actual F&I transactions, Zurich Advisor IQ helps identify behaviors and trends influencing results, delivers actionable insights and roleplay scenarios, and gives dealership leaders visibility into performance across managers, stores and rooftops. Connect with your Zurich representative to request a demo and see how Zurich Advisor IQ can help turn F&I insight into stronger dealership performance here: https://carguymedia.com/4pEqEPz In the Car – In the Car provides bindable quotes in 37 seconds during the car buying journey. Revenue stream for the salespersons and dealers. Seamless DMS integrations. Visit https://www.inthecar.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Frank Esparza, General Manager at Tracy Honda. Frank walks through how his Honda store in Tracy, California, turned a stagnant pay plan into more than a million dollars in net profit growth in twelve months. He breaks down enforcing minimum sales standards, why he moved his advertising budget from broad reach to buyers already in the market, and how a lending partner is approving finance deals that traditional banks reject outright. Topics: 03:00 Raising Standards Drove $1M Growth. 09:20 The Marketing Company That Worked. 13:00 Lower Funnel Marketing Was A Disaster. 28:00 Fix Your Funnel, Fix Your Gross. 32:00 The Passport Home Run. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Podium - If your AI isn't driving real outcomes, it's time to take a closer look @ here. 2. Digital Dealer - Get real strategies to drive sales and tighten operations, September 22–23 in Detroit. CDG readers save 25%. Use code CDG25OFF at checkout. Register today @ here. 3. Upstart - Upstart's connected platform enables consumers to shop from anywhere, which benefits both dealers and buyers. For a brighter car-buying future, visit @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Paul Sansone III, General Manager at Sansone Jr's Keyport Kia - Billy Sherman, Sales Manager at Sansone Jr's Keyport Kia - Travis Baldwin, Vice President at Best Deal Auto Sales This episode is brought to you by: Zurich – Zurich Advisor IQ is Zurich's AI-driven training and coaching platform built to help F&I teams perform more consistently and sell more effectively — using real transaction data, not theory. By analyzing actual F&I transactions, Zurich Advisor IQ helps identify behaviors and trends influencing results, delivers actionable insights and roleplay scenarios, and gives dealership leaders visibility into performance across managers, stores and rooftops. Connect with your Zurich representative to request a demo and see how Zurich Advisor IQ can help turn F&I insight into stronger dealership performance here: https://carguymedia.com/4pEqEPz Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Mike Stanton, President & CEO at National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) - Danny Negalha, Corporate Fixed Ops Director at McGovern Automotive Group - Chris Skinner, Fixed Operations Director at Granbury Nissan This episode is brought to you by: Experian – Experian Automotive helps marketers identify and engage high-value auto shoppers, strengthen customer loyalty, grow service revenue, and activate 1,100+ automotive audiences across 30+ advertising platforms. Learn more here: https://carguymedia.com/3RTNi9H Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by George Karolis, President at The Presidio Group. George breaks down why the average dealer is over 70 years old with no succession plan, why nearly 18% of dealers now say they want to sell in the next year, and why the biggest groups are trading luxury stores rather than walking away from them entirely. He also unpacks why Toyota stores now trade like BMW and Mercedes dealerships, and why Carvana's rapid new-car growth might not be the experiment dealers think it is. Topics: 02:30 Ernie Garcia's Tight-Lipped Strategy. 03:00 Carvana's 998-Unit Month. 09:00 18% Of Dealers Want Out. 13:00 Lexus Stores Trade Like Gold. 19:55 The Two Porsche Stories. 23:25 Toyota Trades Like Luxury. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Plug - If your dealership is taking EV trade-ins or looking for used EV inventory, you need to check out @ here. 2. Podium - the AI platform trusted by one in three dealerships. Take a closer look @ here. 3. The Presidio Group - The Presidio Group is one of the longest-standing investment banks focused exclusively on automotive. Explore these and other industry insights @ here. Presidio reports mentioned in today's episode: Q2 2026 M&A Market Update / Presidio Valuation Index Midyear 2026 Dealer Direction Survey Q2 2026 Presidio-NCM Average Dealership Performance Benchmark Q2 2026 Drive-In LIVE Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Yossi Levi, Founder at Car Dealership Guy - Matt Sokolowski, COO at Willis Automotive - Jaiden Bobo, Sales and Leadership Intern at Willis Automotive - Glen Trafford, General Manager at Salmon Arm Toyota This episode is brought to you by: Experian – Experian Automotive helps marketers identify and engage high-value auto shoppers, strengthen customer loyalty, grow service revenue, and activate 1,100+ automotive audiences across 30+ advertising platforms. Learn more here: https://carguymedia.com/3RTNi9H Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Husband and Wife, Kelly and Rob Ruth of Bob Ruth Ford. Married 24 years, Rob and Kelley built the dealership together while he worked bell-to-bell, 78-hour weeks, and she ran the household solo, raising their kids largely on her own. Kelley reveals the role she played long before it had a title, shaping personnel decisions from behind the scenes and backing Rob's zero-revenue media bet on nothing but belief before any money came in. Topics: 05:45 Why Growth Meant Letting Go. 07:20 The Two-Year Transition. 08:40 The Unseen Spouse Impact. 17:30 The Mortgage Rate That Changed Everything. 19:00 The Dopamine Hit Every GM Chases. 28:50 Giving Without Spoiling. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer - Get real strategies to drive sales and tighten operations, September 22–23 in Detroit. Register today @ here. 2. Experian Automotive - Experian's Fraud Protect solution helps dealers identify potential fraud risks earlier in the sales process by leveraging advanced data, analytics, and identity verification tools. Visit @ here. 3. CDG Platform - Dealer intelligence, all in one place. Give your dealership a competitive edge @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Shane Helms, Founder / CEO at TrueView Media Group - Shelley Pratt, Director, Media, Activations, and Business Intelligence at Nissan USA - Kristin Coleman, Vice President Marketing at AutoNation - Mario Diez, CEO at Peer39 This episode is brought to you by: Experian – Experian Automotive helps marketers identify and engage high-value auto shoppers, strengthen customer loyalty, grow service revenue, and activate 1,100+ automotive audiences across 30+ advertising platforms. Learn more here: https://carguymedia.com/3RTNi9H Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
In this episode of the Industry Spotlight, joining host Sam D'Arc are Bill O'flanagan, Dealer Principal at Reedman Toll Auto Group, and Todd Kaminski, Head of Direct Markets at Zurich North America to discuss the one interview question that predicts almost everything about whether a new hire will thrive or wash out, and why building a culture of transparency and daily accountability is the real fix for automotive's turnover problem. O'Flanagan shares his go-to interview question, "Who was your best boss and why, and who was your worst boss and why," and explains how the answer tells him everything he needs to know about how someone wants to be managed. He also breaks down why he shares full financial statements with every manager, a move his peers once called "insane," and how a daily 10-minute results call with every manager helped seven of his ten service centers set growth records this year. Kaminski adds a rare outside view from three decades working inside dealerships on why transparency, meritocracy, and recognition are what separate cultures that retain talent from those that don't. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Zurich North America. Topics: 00:10 The First Three Hires. 01:20 Why Service Manager Is Toughest. 02:25 The Trial Skill That Wins. 04:20 Why Dealer Is Least Important. 06:30 Why Bill Never Wins Arguments. 08:00 The Finance Director's Warning. 11:30 Dating Vs. Marrying Employees. 13:10 The Risky Financial Move. 16:00 Three Pillars Of Culture. 19:40 The 2008 Pivot. 23:15 The Parent-Employee Link. 28:30 The 10-Minute Daily Call. Zurich - Zurich delivers The Zurich Advantage to dealerships nationwide by combining comprehensive F&I products, consultative training, revenue‑generating programs, and wealth‑building profit participation strategies. Grounded in our mission to provide clarity, confidence, and certainty, we help dealers protect what matters, strengthen performance, and build a legacy for the road ahead. Learn more @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Glenn Lundy, President at 800% Elite Automotive Club - Brian Benstock, Vice President & General Manager at Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura - Kyle Coleman, President & CEO, Coleman Automotive Group This episode is brought to you by: The Presidio Group – Today's episode is brought to you by The Presidio Group, one of the automotive industry's leading buy-sell advisors. Visit Presidio's new Research & Reports portal for M&A insights, blue sky multiples, exclusive benchmark data with NCM Associates, dealer sentiment, and analysis of the trends shaping automotive retail at https://thepresidiogroup.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Matt Leone, CEO at DriveCentric. Matt breaks down why one dealer group ditched a $100,000 Salesforce contract they were barely using, why building your own software rarely pays off the way it promises, and why the next fight in the industry is over who actually owns the customer relationship. Topics: 06:00 The Referee Analogy For Software. 11:50 Consolidation Isn't Happening. 18:30 You're Replacing 7 Vendors. 24:50 Why They Sell You A Car Post-Purchase. 35:10 Auto Is Still A Handshake Industry. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer - At Digital Dealer 2026, every session is built around the problems your dealership is actually facing. No theory, just real strategies that move your numbers. September 22-23 in Detroit. Register @ here. 2. Openlane - During DealerFest 2026, you'll earn points for every vehicle you buy, sell and transport through OPENLANE in July. The more points you earn, the bigger prizes you can win. Learn more @ here. 3. DriveCentric - DriveCentric puts dealerships in the Fast Lane to the Customer with a modern engagement platform built to move faster. Visit @ here for more info. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Jay Law, Head of Partnerships at Car Dealership Guy - JB Burnett, Executive General Manager at Preston Automotive Group - Robert Ebin, Director of Legal Affairs at KPA - Jeff Pister, Executive Manager at Honda Marysville This episode is brought to you by: Presidio – Today's episode is brought to you by The Presidio Group, one of the automotive industry's leading buy-sell advisors. Visit Presidio's new Research & Reports portal for M&A insights, blue sky multiples, exclusive benchmark data with NCM Associates, dealer sentiment, and analysis of the trends shaping automotive retail at thepresidiogroup.com. Check it out at https://thepresidiogroup.com KPA – Escalating fines and enforcement actions are hitting dealers hard on advertising, sales, and F&I compliance. KPA's Advertising, Sales & F&I solution combines integrated software, expert consulting, and award-winning training to help you reduce liability exposure and protect your reputation. Learn more here: https://carguymedia.com/4fASW9X Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Kelley Stumpe, Founder & CEO at The Car Mom. She has built the largest online following of car-buying moms in the country, and she has never taken a dollar from a manufacturer to do it. That refusal has gotten her blacklisted from press events and cut off from loaner cars, but it has also made her the most trusted voice family car shoppers turn to. Topics: 04:00 The Most Car Seat-Friendly SUV. 06:30 Selling To Women Isn't Different. 09:30 The Seven-Door Car Parents Want. 11:30 Salespeople Know Nothing About Cars. 20:30 The Free Event That Drives Business. 27:10 Why Kelley Stays Undisputed. 41:15 The 100,000-Mile Secret. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer – Join dealership leaders from across the country for two days of expert-led education, practical AI strategies, networking with industry peers, and hands-on access to the latest products and solutions. September 22–23 in Detroit. Register today here. 2. Podium - If your AI isn't driving real outcomes, it's time to take a closer look @ here. 3. CDG Marketplace — Get peer-validated reviews and real-world intel on every major dealership technology provider, all from verified dealers inside the CDG Platform. Visit @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Charlie Spradlin, General Manager at Art Moehn Auto Group - John Murphy, Used Vehicle Director at Holler-Classic Automotive This episode is brought to you by: Presidio – Today's episode is brought to you by The Presidio Group, one of the automotive industry's leading buy-sell advisors. Visit Presidio's new Research & Reports portal for M&A insights, blue sky multiples, exclusive benchmark data with NCM Associates, dealer sentiment, and analysis of the trends shaping automotive retail at thepresidiogroup.com. Check it out at https://thepresidiogroup.com Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Ryan Downing, Dealer Principal / Owner at Ross Downing Auto Group - Jay Trivedi, Dealer Principal/Owner at Jay's Chevrolet GMC This episode is brought to you by: Haig – Haig Partners – When it comes to selling your life's work, trust the only advisors who have built a reputation for maximizing value for family-owned dealerships. The team at Haig Partners has achieved record-setting values across multiple franchises and has represented more owners in the sale of their Toyota dealerships than any other firm. If you are considering a sale, divestiture or looking to grow, begin a confidential conversation at http://haigpartners.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Nick LaSorsa, Director at LaSorsa Auto Group. Nick runs two very different stores in the New York metro, and he lays out the exact playbook he uses to keep both profitable heading into 2026. He explains how a single hiring platform audit uncovered more than $15,000 in wasted spend, why he cancels every vendor contract the day he signs it, and how a mobile fleet service built around school bus recalls became one of the highest-margin corners of his business. Topics: 03:00 Two Stores, Two Personalities. 09:00 The Cancellation Trick That Works. 11:40 Nick Interviews Every Single Hire. 16:20 The Fleet Business Most Ignore. 22:00 New York Auto Is Different. 25:20 Nick's Copy-Paste Growth Plan. 31:20 The Pressure Of Being Second-Gen. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Digital Dealer – Join dealership leaders from across the country for two days of expert-led education, practical AI strategies, networking with industry peers, and hands-on access to the latest products and solutions. September 22–23 in Detroit. Register today here. 2. CDG Marketplace — Get peer-validated reviews and real-world intel on every major dealership technology provider, all from verified dealers inside the CDG Platform. Visit @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Dennis Gingrich, Sales & Finance Director at The Niello Company - Dave Thomas, Director, Content Marketing at CDK Global - Pat Malloy, General Manager at Patriot Chevrolet Of Limerick This episode is brought to you by: Haig Partners – When it comes to selling your life's work, trust the only advisors who have built a reputation for maximizing value for family-owned dealerships. The team at Haig Partners has achieved record-setting values across multiple franchises and has represented more owners in the sale of their Toyota dealerships than any other firm. If you are considering a sale, divestiture or looking to grow, begin a confidential conversation at http://haigpartners.com/ CDK Global – CDK Global empowers dealers with the tools and technology they need to build deeper relationships with customers and sell and service more cars. Visit https://www.cdkglobal.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Perry Watson IV, President of NAMAD. Dealership consolidation is accelerating, and the price of entry to ownership has never been higher. Perry breaks down the numbers behind it, including how over 40 percent of new vehicle sales at some brands now come from minority consumers, and why one manufacturer doubled a dealer's sales volume within two years just by getting ownership representation right. Topics: 01:25 Consolidation's Hidden Downside. 02:00 The Academy Training Next-Gen Dealers. 04:10 No Straight Path To Ownership. 04:50 The Business Case For Minority Dealers. 10:00 The Conference Where Deals Get Done. 14:45 The Mentor Who Sold To His Employee. 16:25 How Erica Tiffany Became A Dealer. 25:50 The Secret Fund NAMAD Is Building. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Podium - the AI platform trusted by one in three dealerships. If your AI isn't driving real outcomes, it's time to take a closer look @ here. 2. Openlane - The world's best online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes. Learn more @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Brian Baker, President Automotive at Stream Companies - Zach Slabinski, Director of Retail Ready at Stream Companies - Brian Hoang, CEO & Co-founder at Mia Labs - George Ripley, VP at International Association of Auto Theft Investigators This episode is brought to you by: Haig Partners – When it comes to selling your life's work, trust the only advisors who have built a reputation for maximizing value for family-owned dealerships. The team at Haig Partners has achieved record-setting values across multiple franchises and has represented more owners in the sale of their Toyota dealerships than any other firm. If you are considering a sale, divestiture or looking to grow, begin a confidential conversation at http://haigpartners.com/ Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Don Hall, President and CEO of Virginia Automobile Dealers Association - Alan Haig, President of Haig Partners - Aaron Zeigler, President of Zeigler Auto Group - Grant Cardone, CEO of Cardone Capital This episode is brought to you by: Podium – Most AI is a black box. Podium's is yours to control — and it increases conversion by upwards of 26%. Check it out at http://podium.com Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today I'm joined by Scott Traylor, Vice President at Mia Labs. Scott breaks down how voice AI is pulling $8,000 to $30,000 a month in after-hours revenue at stores where customers used to just hit a voicemail, why service advisors are letting calls go unanswered on purpose, and how Mia became the first voice AI company approved by General Motors for their co-op program. If you think AI is still a future conversation, Scott makes the case that you're already in the same moment as when someone first told you that you needed a website. Topics: 02:30 The No-Saturday-Meeting Rule. 03:50 Why Salespeople Sold 25 Cars. 12:40 AI Is The New Internet. 14:20 The $30K Revenue Stream Ignored. 17:30 The 1.9-Second Secret. 23:50 The OEM Light-Years Ahead. 28:10 Parts Is AI's Next Frontier. 39:55 The Side Mirror Lesson. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Uber for Business - Uber for Business pulls courtesy rides and reporting into one dashboard, so you can see what you're spending and set limits that hold. Visit @ here to get started. 2. CDG Dealer Platform – Dealer intelligence, all in one place. Give your dealership a competitive edge @ here. 3. Mia - Your 24/7 AI receptionist who speaks like a human, not a robot. Never miss another lead. Visit @ here for more info. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
In this episode of the Industry Spotlight, joining host Sam D'Arc are Mike Martucci, General Manager at Jim Ellis Kia, and Kevin Esmezyan, Chief Product Officer at Matador AI to discuss how conversational AI is turning a three-person sales team handling 700 leads a month into a machine that doubles close rates and books service appointments at nearly 90% — while most dealers are still missing after-hours calls and watching customers drive to the competition. Mike walked into a store with a light lead count and a low close rate and used Matador AI to nearly double both. Today, three team members handle 696 leads a month, two-thirds of all appointments are booked by AI, and his service retention rate has climbed from the 30s to 50%. Kevin explains how a crawl-walk-run onboarding process builds an AI that learns a dealer's specific playbook, and why the compounding effect of small adjustments over time is what actually moves the numbers. This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Matador AI. Topics: 05:00 Service Retention From 30% To 50%. 06:20 How One Dealer Doubled Close Rate. 07:50 Auto's 2% Profit Margin Problem. 11:35 Why Mike Trusts AI With Customers. 12:50 The AI That Learns To Think Like Mike. 13:45 The GM's New Job In 2026. 15:50 Why Auto Dealers Hide Pricing. 17:10 AI Books Two-Thirds Of Appointments. 18:20 Three BDC Staff Handle 700 Leads. 19:10 The Phone Book Lesson Every Dealer Needs. 21:20 The AI That Covers Customer Lifecycle. 23:20 Why Most AI Tools Fail Dealers. Matador AI - Most dealerships are losing leads in the follow-up. Matador AI fixes that. It's not generic automation. It's dealership-trained AI, built on millions of real conversations and optimized around what converts. In a thin-margin business, every conversation matters. Book your demo today and get your first month free @ here. Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: For dealers: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership's social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: Yossi Levi, CEO of Car Dealership Guy Alex Lawrence, CEO & Co-Founder of EV Auto Sam Hatch, General Manager at JRR Motor Sales This episode is brought to you by: Podium – Most AI is a black box. Podium's is yours to control — and it increases conversion by upwards of 26%. Check it out at http://podium.com Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
Today's show features: - Matt Haiken, Dealer Principal and President at Prestige Collection Auto Group - Damon Egan, Service Director at Sherwood Ford - Luis Malespin, Parts Director at Premier Hyundai This episode is brought to you by: Zurich – Zurich Advisor IQ is Zurich's AI-driven training and coaching platform built to help F&I teams perform more consistently and sell more effectively — using real transaction data, not theory. By analyzing actual F&I transactions, Zurich Advisor IQ helps identify behaviors and trends influencing results, delivers actionable insights and roleplay scenarios, and gives dealership leaders visibility into performance across managers, stores and rooftops. Connect with your Zurich representative to request a demo and see how Zurich Advisor IQ can help turn F&I insight into stronger dealership performance here: https://carguymedia.com/4xF6DM6 Check out Car Dealership Guy's stuff: CDG Circles ➤ https://cdgcircles.com/ CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/ Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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