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From the outside looking in, auto is a curious industry.

Whether it's the dealership dialect of tech and service or that dealers bring home a variety of makes and models, retail auto is unique. And once you’re in and you’ve caught the bug, it stays with you. That’s the story of Jason Stein. He traces his journey from newspaperman to Automotive New Retail Forum to where he is today at Flat Six Media. And along the way, he shares insights about the reputation of the industry and the speed of change that it’s experiencing.

What we talk about in this episode:
0:00 Intro with Michael Cirillo, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier.

4:17 Jason worked as a sports writer in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He covered the Indianapolis Colts, Notre Dame and Indiana University. Eventually he started a car column because there was nothing about cars in the newspaper he worked for.

11:16 The last 2 years have been more impactful than the previous 20 years, according to Jason, in the way dealers have had to shift and grow.

“The last two years have shown that the changes can be even more remarkable than we imagined, not necessarily in a bad way. And actually, the value of the American car dealer is greater than ever. I would argue against the direct selling method, but they've learned to become just better direct sellers in general. And they've learned to connect with their communities in a better way and a deeper way. They've learned how to provide service in a way that maybe they didn't realize before. And you know, now they're more successful than ever.”

14:38 Car dealers have a similar reputation to dentists, for whatever reason. Jason talks about the strides dealers have made to change that reputation and what more they need to be doing.

20:03 The transition to EV is an opportunity for the car dealers to show their value to the consumer. Jason argues that most local shops will not be equipped to service EVs and it will be up to the dealers to be prepared and ready to service those vehicles.

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⭐️ Love the podcast? Please leave us a review here — even one sentence helps! Consider including your LinkedIn or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally!

We have a daily email!

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