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On this last week of the month, we’re looking at the state of the automotive M&A market and what dealers can expect for the rest of the year. Plus, we cover how Ford is adopting a new media and press strategy, and look at how In-N-Out cracked the top 10 of Best Large Employers.

Show Notes with links:

• The dealership buy-sell market is expected to stay active in 2025. Normalizing store profits could make buyers more cautious in finalizing transactions, but top-performing stores in desirable markets will still fetch high valuations.
  • Political expectations, including Donald Trump’s presidency, along with lower dealership pricing and aging owners looking to sell, are fueling the market.
  • Last week, we reported on Asbury Automotive Group acquiring New England’s Herb Chambers Cos. for $1.34 billion in one of the largest deals in recent history.
  • The 2025 Dealer Outlook Survey found that 56% of respondents are not planning to buy or sell this year, while 19% plan to buy, and 4.4% plan to sell.
  • Automotive News tracked at least 349 buy-sell transactions in 2024, down from 382 transactions in 2021, a peak year.
  • “I’m definitely still getting as many offerings to look at as I’ve gotten the past two years,” said Randy Hoffman, COO of Ed Morse Automotive Group,

• Ford is shaking up its media strategy by replacing its traditional press center with "Ford From the Road", a new platform designed to cater to the growing influence of content creators over mainstream media.
  • The "From the Road" channel prioritizes videos, photos, and articles—some created by Ford, others sourced from digital creators and influencers.
  • Traditional press releases remain available but are now tucked away in a separate tab, signaling a major shift away from legacy media formats.
  • A Pew Research Center study found that 21% of U.S. adults regularly consume news from influencers—jumping to 37% among adults under 30.
  • Ian Cohen, Ford’s head of creative and content, explains: “We’re entering this era of [consumers] building [their] own niche content and channel ecosystems.”
  • This comes as the Trump administration is opening the White House briefing room to influencers and podcasters, with thousands of applicants to the “new media” seats.

• In-N-Out Burger has been named one of America’s Best Large Employers, ranking No. 8 on Forbes’ annual list, ahead of corporate giants like Apple and NASA. The ranking is based on employee surveys evaluating workplace satisfaction, compensation, and company culture.
  • In-N-Out’s strong workplace culture continues to set it apart in the fast-food industry.
  • The company is also making big moves geographically, consolidating its California HQ in Baldwin Park and expanding to Tennessee, where it will open 30+ locations.
  • Top 10 are Notre Dame, Trader Joes, Houston Methodist, NVIDIA, Navy Federal Credit Union, Google, Microsoft, In-N-Out, Del

Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.

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