The goal is frictionless customer access — tech that talks and data that actually works.

Rohrman Auto Group discovered 40% of their data was “dirty” just six months post-cleanup — now they scrub it monthly.

Dirty data = wasted spend. Even a 30% error rate means 30% of your marketing dollars miss the mark.

Ryan’s team built a single “source of truth” (Snowflake) to unify CDP, DMS, and CRM data.

Exploring tech outside automotive has proven faster, cheaper, and more adaptable than legacy systems.

“It’s not about spending less — it’s about spending smarter. Efficiency is king.” — Ryan Rohrman

Plan for dual PTO: your team and your customers. College-town stores see sharp holiday rushes from parents and students—staff and stock accordingly.

Stick with what works: sub-hour cycle times, ~30-minute LOFs, and rigorous FRFT targets keep lanes moving when volume spikes.

Streamline write-up: mobile/electronic check-in, photos/video, and voice-to-text (or customer noise recordings!) reduce ambiguity and speed technician diagnosis.

See the bottlenecks: SkaiVision plate recognition flags unattended vehicles, long waits, and even surface sales opportunities from the lane.

“Q4 tends to be a little more strategic—we hunker down and execute what we’ve practiced all year.” — Joe Castelino

Post-credit reality check: EVs must stand on their own. Falling MSRPs (hello, $29K Bolt) + better charging infrastructure are easing range anxiety and widening the addressable market.

Get ready: a flood of off-lease EVs in 18–24 months could reset used-car affordability and pull younger, tech-open buyers into payments that actually pencil.

New profit centers: vehicle-to-home and vehicle-to-grid will let customers power homes and sell back to the utility—turning EVs into assets that can offset car payments.

Commercial play: New York’s BrightDrop program (big per-vehicle incentives; 3-year EIN, 5-year use/5K mi/yr, 80% in-state) makes fleet vans “nearly free” for qualified businesses—move fast.

“We’re making our team the energy experts—training with GM Energy—so we can explain the whole ecosystem, not just the car.” — Andy Guelcher

Q4 is the best time to make an ask — if you’ve spent the year giving value through social media, now’s when it pays off.

One trained team created 4M+ impressions and over 60 car sales with one incentive-based video campaign.

Empowering every team member to post multiplies reach faster than paid ads ever could.

“Older” sales pros are thriving on TikTok — customers connect with people who look and sound like them.

If you’re just starting: post one video per workday on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. Consistency beats perfection.

Even if it doesn’t generate leads, it builds communication skills and confidence on the floor.

Concerned about brand control? Russ says it best: “Why wouldn’t you think of all the things that could go right?”

The holiday season brings both family time and the busiest sales stretch of the year — and great leaders have to balance both.

Involve your people in event planning (like Black Friday or end-of-year sales) so they feel ownership, not obligation.

Find the influencers in each department — not necessarily the managers — and include them in decision-making.

When you go for a holiday event or promotion, go all-in. Half-efforts kill momentum and trust.

Give your team breathing room earlier in the month so they can give their all when it counts.

“You can’t ask your people to give everything at the end of the year if you haven’t given them anything along the way.” — Patrick Abad

The proposed bill would’ve raised the $85 doc fee cap to 1% of the sale price, up to $260.

Newsom said “no,” citing affordability for consumers in an already pricey state.

Dealers argue new transparency rules in the CARS Act will increase their workload — not lighten it.

The CNCDA’s Brian Maas called out the contradiction, saying the new law “imposes substantial advertising and disclosure burdens on dealers.”

Newsom fired back that dealers shouldn’t charge “hundreds more for only minutes of data entry.”

The FSD v14.1.2 update lets cars drive faster and change lanes more aggressively than the previous “Hurry” mode.

The feature revives Tesla’s 2018 “Mad Max” driving style, which Elon Musk once described as ideal for navigating Los Angeles traffic.

Early users have already reported cars rolling stop signs and speeding up to 15 mph over posted limits.

This comes as NHTSA runs four separate probes into Tesla’s FSD and the California DMV sues over its name.

PathToPro.com lays out career paths and resources for anyone interested in the skilled trades.

The free, on-demand Skills Program offers virtual training in English and Spanish — no cap on enrollment.

The Path to Pro Network connects jobseekers with hiring Home Depot Pros, who can post and review candidates for free.

It’s designed for anyone 18+ who wants to learn, upskill, or transition into construction.

“We aim to help build the next generation of trades professionals,” said Jenna Arca, Home Depot’s Director of Workforce Development.

Painter’s syndicate, Fair Holdings Inc., includes investors from dealer, data, fintech, and mobility sectors.

He’ll return as CEO once the all-cash transaction closes in late 2025, pending shareholder and regulatory approval.

The deal follows a year-long strategic review by TrueCar’s board, seeking a sustainable path forward after layoffs and leadership turnover.

TrueCar’s stock surged 62% on the announcement, closing at $2.40.

Painter emphasized collaboration: “Partnerships and brand alignment are central to creating value for both dealers and customers.”

Used vehicles under $30K drove 72% of used retail growth over the past year. Nearly half of listings in that range were 7+ years old, averaging $13,600.

Director Kevin Roberts says shoppers are split between value-seekers buying older cars and wealthier consumers driving luxury growth.

Dealers may need to lean on older inventory and fixed ops to meet demand and keep aging cars running.

California, Florida, Texas, and Virginia lead the nation in used cars under $20K, each with 30% or more of listings.

“Buyers are increasingly accepting six-figure-mile cars to keep payments within reach,” Roberts noted.

Freelancers say AI boosts efficiency but drives down earnings—writing jobs fell 2%, and income dropped 5% on Upwork after ChatGPT’s release.

AI lowers the barrier to entry, flooding the market with cheaper “good enough” work that makes it harder for top-tier talent to stand out.

Clients increasingly expect AI-level output for less, with some even replacing human contractors with automation tools.

“High quality doesn’t really protect freelancers,” said Washington University professor Xiang Hui, noting that AI hits experienced workers hardest.

The plan adds 5,000 U.S. jobs and launches five new vehicles and a new four-cylinder engine by 2030.

CEO Antonio Filosa says the goal is simple: grow in the U.S. after Jeep’s recent sales slump.

$600 million will reopen the Belvidere, Illinois, plant to build the Jeep Cherokee and Compass—moving both out of Mexico.

A new range-extended EV and gas model are coming to Metro Detroit, adding another 900 jobs.

“Success in America is not just good for Stellantis in the U.S.—it makes us stronger everywhere,” Filosa said.

Angello brings 40+ years of experience and currently represents Maryland dealers on the NADA Board.

She follows in the trailblazing footsteps of Annette Sykora, who broke the barrier back in 2007.

“This position allows me to amplify the voice of dealers,” said Angello. “I look forward to supporting franchised dealers and the customers we serve.”

Rob Cochran of #1 Cochran moves up to chair in 2026, continuing NADA’s long tradition of planned succession.

Both Cochran and Angello start their new roles at the 2026 NADA Show

Tim Pohanka, Chris Lenckosz, and Jason Cole bought three used Nissans for under $10K—each rocking a 100K-plus CVT—and drove 1,500 miles across salt flats, dunes, and mountain passes.

The cars have names (because of course they do): The Duke, Luciano, and Emma.

The goal? Show that Nissan’s CVT can take more punishment than its memes would suggest.

Joining us today is Tim Pohanka, VP and Executive Manager of Pohanka Nissan Hyundai

Novelis’ upstate New York facility is responsible for 40% of U.S. aluminum sheet supply, and the fire will keep it offline until early 2026.

Ford will halt output at five plants, including the Kentucky Truck Plant, where the Expedition and Navigator are built.

Ford pulled forward downtime originally scheduled for late 2025 to manage the shortage.

F-150 and Super Duty production continue, but analysts say Ford could lose up to $1 billion in profits if supply tightens.

“They’re focusing all their energy on making sure all their F-150s get built,” said Sam Fiorani of AutoForecast Solutions.

CEO RJ Scaringe says the goal is to “hold the glue” between apps like Spotify, Google Maps, and Apple Music as AI becomes central to the in-car experience.

Automakers fear platforms like Apple’s CarPlay could harvest vehicle data and weaken brand identity.

Rivian’s approach mirrors moves by other automakers who want to control software updates and user interfaces directly.

“Customers will appreciate a seamless digital experience... not needing to jump between CarPlay and what we create as a Rivian environment,” said Scaringe.

Tiffany Ng, a NYC writer, chained her iPhone using a belt for a week, describing it as “reentering real life.”

Others, like Catherine Goetze, are modernizing the landline — selling Bluetooth-connected rotary phones under her brand Physical Phones, generating $118K in pre-sales.

“It’s not realistic to throw your smartphone into a river,” Goetze said. “But you can regain some level of balance and intentionality.”

The California CARS Act closely mirrors roughly 70% of the FTC’s now-vacated federal CARS Rule and prohibits dealers from misrepresenting key facts about vehicle sales, leases, or financing.

The law requires clear and conspicuous disclosure of total vehicle price and the voluntary nature of add-ons.

The CARS Act bans “valueless” add-ons, such as unnecessary service contracts or redundant protection products.

Buyers of used vehicles under $50,000 now have a three-day right to cancel with mileage and condition limits.

The study analyzed 100,000 sessions across 2,400 chargers, finding only a 71% first-time charge success rate (FTCSR).

ChargerHelp! CEO Kameale Terry argues FTCSR is the true measure of reliability—not uptime—because “it captures the real driver experience.”

The biggest culprit is software fragmentation, with EVs, chargers, and payment systems often failing to communicate properly.

Reliability declines with aging infrastructure, as older stations drop from 85% to 70% success after three years due to outdated protocols.

Terry remains hopeful: “It’s a solvable problem... even gas cars had their growing pains before becoming mainstream.”

The proposed structure reportedly combines equity and debt within a special-purpose vehicle that would buy Nvidia chips and lease them back to xAI.

Nvidia could contribute up to $2 billion in equity while also profiting from the chip sales.

Analysts note the “circular” nature of these AI financing deals, where investors also serve as vendors.

Nvidia has made similar moves recently, including a $100 billion commitment to OpenAI and a $5 billion stake in Intel.