Car Dealership Guy Podcast

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Alan Haig, CEO of Haig Partners, where we discuss: how dealers can navigate the post-election landscape in the automotive business, Fords wild rise in recent months, the imapct on AI on dealership valuations, VW's fatal mistake rolling out the relaunched Scout brand, and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

OPENLANE - The world’s best online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes. Learn more at https://www.openlane.com/

Impel - Impel enables automotive retailers, manufacturers, and online marketplaces to turn shoppers into buyers, and buyers into lifelong customers, with the auto industry's most advanced AI-powered Customer Lifecycle Management platform. Learn more @ https://impel.ai/

Haig Partners - Haig provides expert advice based on extensive retail dealership buy-sell experience to lead a confidential and customized sale process helping dealership owners maximize the value of their life's work. Learn more @ https://haigpartners.com/

Read the latest Haig Report: https://haigpartners.com/haig-report/

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

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Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:00:53) - Catching up with Alan

(00:05:03) - How will the EV trend impact dealership valuations?

(00:10:37) - An overview of the latest Haig report

(00:18:47) - What areas of weakness are you seeing at dealerships?

(00:22:43) - What are you getting calls for from buyers?

(00:35:06) - How does Scout impact the industry?

(00:43:34) - What’s driving deal-making velocity in this current market?

(00:48:07) - Leveraging AI in dealership valuations

(00:53:09) - What’s your outlook for 2025?

(00:57:30) - Closing thoughts

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/

CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/

CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/

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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I’m speaking with Leigh Ann Conver, Senior Director of CDK Data Services. We discuss how AI is quietly integrating into dealership operations, the top AI trends for 2024 and how dealerships of all sizes can leverage AI to boost car sales.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Edmunds - Premier is a solution from Edmunds that connects you with in-market shoppers when, where, and how they want to connect. Learn more at https://edmu.in/4hUjIcv

Dealer Pay – Designed to increase, productivity and customer retention, Dealer Pay is a "dealer-specific' payments acceptance solution with over 25 years of experience as a trusted payments partner for dealerships across the US. Contact Julie today - [email protected] or 636-442-4901.

CDK Global - Empowering dealers with the tools and technology to build deeper customer relationships. Learn more @ https://www.cdkglobal.com/dealership-xperience-platform

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

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Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:22) - Leigh’s career and background

(00:05:10) - What are you seeing in the industry concerning AI?

(00:06:16) - The 2024 AI Survey

(00:14:13) - Where is the positive impact of AI being seen by dealers?

(00:18:27) - What are people missing who aren’t utilizing AI?

(00:24:42) - Does dealership size indicate whether they are adopting AI?

(00:28:15) - Where are you seeing the most effectiveness of AI in dealerships?

(00:30:33) - What’s in your product pipeline?

(00:34:08) - Closing thoughts

Read the 2024 AI in Automotive Insights and Innovations from CDK here: https://cms.cdkglobal.com/2024_CDK_AI

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

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Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy

Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683

Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to Industry Spotlight, a new show on the Car Dealership Guy Podcast hosted by Sam D'Arc. In each episode, Sam highlights the most compelling dealerships and innovative companies in automotive, diving into key trends, best practices, and insights from those shaping the future of automotive retail.

Today, Sam sits down with Royce Neubauer, CEO of Auto Hauler Exchange, and Denton Gupton, Used Car Director at Jim Ellis Volvo Cars Mall of Georgia, to discuss the game-changing solutions redefining vehicle shipping challenges in 2024.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by Auto Hauler Exchange.

Auto Hauler Exchange - The Auto Hauler Exchange has revolutionized the way vehicle haulers and vehicle shippers collaborate. The Exchange is the first digital marketplace of its kind in the vehicle logistics industry. Learn more @ https://hubs.ly/Q02NJdZ80

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

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Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:47) - Denton’s career and background

(00:04:48) - What is your biggest source of used cars?

(00:06:50) - What problem led you to Auto Hauler Exchange?

(00:11:43) - Introducing Royce

(00:16:56) - What does a typical vehicle shipment look like?

(00:24:13) - How do you make a profit?

(00:27:37) - Why hasn’t anyone else done this before?

(00:31:40) - What has been the ROI on using this service?

(00:33:43) - How do you respond to skepticism?

(00:35:59) - What are the strangest things you’ve shipped?

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Peter Duffy Jr., CEO of Dealer Image Pro where we discuss: How a professional photographer cracked dealers' #1 profitability issue, the most impactful dealer website features, the future of content creator dealerships and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

CDK Global - Empowering dealers with the tools and technology to build deeper customer relationships. Learn more @ https://www.cdkglobal.com/dealership-xperience-platform

Car Wars – Car Wars is the trusted partner for discerning dealerships in the Automotive Retail Industry, offering premium call tracking, texting, and phone solutions. Visit https://carguymedia.com/cw to learn more.    

Dealer Image Pro - Picture this: a streamlined merchandising process providing high-quality online content seven days a week. Say goodbye to the days of waiting around and hello to a faster, more efficient way to showcase your inventory. Learn more at https://dealerimagepro.com/

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:34) - Peter’s background and career

(00:08:29) - What is the problem you’re solving for dealers?

(00:12:08) - How are the perfect dealers merchandising dealerships?

(00:13:56) - What does the data show in the various ways cars are merchandised?

(00:18:55) - What’s your biggest challenge with dealers today?

(00:21:02) - Who does the best merchandising in the industry?

(00:23:32) - What’s exciting to you right now?

(00:26:26) - Have consumer expectations or demands changed with regard to online merchandising?

(00:31:16) - What does the future look like for car buyers?

(00:37:36) - Are dealers investing in studios?

(00:40:57) - What’s next for your company?

(00:45:20) - Dealers in Cars Getting Coffee

(00:48:16) - Closing thoughts

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast! In this episode, I sit down with Liza Borches, CEO of Carter Myers Automotive. We dive into the bold risks that have shaped her century-old dealership group, her innovative approach to empowering employees with partial ownership, her biggest wins, regrets, and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Impel - Impel enables automotive retailers, manufacturers, and online marketplaces to turn shoppers into buyers, and buyers into lifelong customers, with the auto industry's most advanced AI-powered Customer Lifecycle Management platform. Learn more @ https://impel.ai/

Car Dealership Guy News - The #1 source for concise and unbiased car industry news. Stay informed with the most relevant and interesting stories by visiting https://news.dealershipguy.com/

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:56) - Liza’s background and career

(00:13:03) - How have you changed operating principles?

(00:16:31) - Offering equity to GMs

(00:21:00) - What is your ESOP comprised of?

(00:22:49) - What has your growth trajectory looked like?

(00:28:22) - What mistakes have you made along the way?

(00:33:20) - What are the core competencies at your stores?

(00:35:32) - centralized vs. decentralized

(00:39:29) - How are you future-proofing your business?

(00:49:24) - Is the OEM the friend of the dealer?

(00:52:53) - What is top of mind for you these days?

(00:59:17) - How do you stay educated in the industry?

(01:06:10) - What’s your outlook for the industry?

(01:12:44) - Closing thoughts

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

I have a big announcement… After you listen, if you love me (or even if you don’t), please send me your feedback at [email protected]

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Jim Roche, Founder & CEO of WarrCloud, where we discuss: How 28 seconds is quietly transforming dealership profits, why EVs are going to transform service centers, exposing $140K of hidden dealership revenue and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Ikon Technologies – Ikon Technologies was founded by dealers, for dealers, to solve the daily challenges your dealership faces. Our no-cost Lot Management Platform, with Find the Car, Find the Keys™ technology, makes finding inventory easy, while our patented Smart Marketing platform and Dealer-branded Connect app drives customer loyalty and drive revenue growth back to your dealership. Schedule a demo today to see how Ikon Technologies can help drive your dealership’s success by visiting https://hubs.la/Q02WVYbV0 

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/

WarrCloud - Make every warranty claim automatic by transforming how claims are processed to make everything easier and get paid faster. Learn more @ https://warrcloud.com/

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:32) - Jim’s background and career

(00:04:46) - The state of the dealership

(00:12:16) - What’s driving the rise in warranty work?

(0:17:38) - Are we moving into a world where the entry-level vehicle disappears?

(00:20:44) - How are dealers generating recall work?

(00:24:07) - Where are opportunities to implement new technologies for dealerships?

(00:26:31) - Warrcloud’s recent capital raise & product roadmap

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Jack Ballinghoff, COO of Ourisman Automotive Group where we discuss: His principles to running 17+ dealerships, the best used car auction in the United States, why he thinks negotiations in car sales need to end and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

CDK Global - Empowering dealers with the tools and technology to build deeper customer relationships. Learn more @ https://www.cdkglobal.com/dealership-xperience-platform

Impel - Impel enables automotive retailers, manufacturers, and online marketplaces to turn shoppers into buyers, and buyers into lifelong customers, with the auto industry's most advanced AI-powered Customer Lifecycle Management platform. Learn more @ https://impel.ai/

Car Dealership Guy News - The #1 source for concise and unbiased car industry news. Stay informed with the most relevant and interesting stories by visiting https://news.dealershipguy.com/

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:48) - Jack’s background and career

(00:14:30) - Where did you find your niche in the business?

(00:17:58) - What do you mean you try to “see around corners?”

(00:22:37) - What do you see for the industry's future?

(00:24:50) - Is transparency the end game?

(00:26:51) - What are some non-conventional opinions you have about dealerships?

(00:34:36) - Implementing efficiency

(00:38:08) - Empowering the individual vs. standardization

(00:39:37) - What strategies do you use to operate your stores?

(00:52:00) - How do you think about bonuses?

(00:56:13) - Onboarding and integration

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Jeff Swickard, Dealer Principal of Swickard Auto Group. We discuss the secret hospitality formula behind scaling to 40 dealerships, Serving 1M unique customers every year, the best customer service car brands, and his biggest challenges in replicating success in other dealerships.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Edmunds - Premier is a solution from Edmunds that connects you with in-market shoppers when, where, and how they want to connect. Learn more at https://edmu.in/3C7x1pR

Draiver - ​​Draiver is your go-to solution for seamless, efficient vehicle transport—moving vehicles up to four times faster than traditional options. From valet services to service pick-up and delivery, Draiver’s 20,000 contract drivers are ready to assist with your dealership’s unique needs. Learn more @ https://bit.ly/Draiver-Solutions

OPENLANE - The world’s best online dealer marketplace for used cars, bringing you exclusive inventory, simple transactions, and better outcomes - all with lower fees. New dealers receive a $350 buy fee credit. Learn more at https://carguymedia.com/3YpkYvz

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:31) - Jeff’s background and career

(00:06:13) - How did you get Open Points in your market?

(00:11:48) - How have your margins trended since implementing a new customer-focused culture?

(00:14:54) - How are you solving for the technician shortage?

(00:19:23) - How do you implement this customer-focused culture with value brands?

(00:22:37) - What’s it like having a dealership in Alaska?

(00:22:52) - What department interests you the most?

(00:29:13) - What brands are you excited about right now?

(00:32:41) - What’s your used car strategy?

(00:41:22) - Pursuing a mindset of continuous learning

(00:44:24) - What advantage do dealers have over Tesla or DTC?

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Sanjiv Yajnik, President of Financial Services at Capital One, and Kris Gaerlan, President of Dallas Lease Returns where we discuss: Why people don't trust car dealers and how to fix it, Creating unique experiences in the car dealership, Why he's calling buyers looking for things to fix after the sale and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

CDK Global - Empowering dealers with the tools and technology to build deeper customer relationships. Learn more @ https://www.cdkglobal.com/dealership-xperience-platform

Upstart - Upstart connects millions of consumers to 100+ banks and credit unions that leverage Upstart’s artificial intelligence models and cloud applications to deliver superior credit products. Learn more @ https://www.upstart.com/

Capital One - Nearly half of car buyers are willing to pay more for a car if they think it is a dealership they could trust. This is just one key takeaway from the 2024 Capital One Car Buying Outlook. Check out the full outlook from Capital One here: https://www.capitalone.com/about/car-buying-outlook/

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:37) - Chris’ background and career

(00:05:22) - Why are you investing so much in enabling the physical experience for automotive?

(00:08:31) - What is your digital strategy at the dealership?

(00:11:21) - Creating in-store experiences

(00:15:32) - Building transparent relationships with customers

(00:17:21) - Chris’ sales process

(00:22:43) - Weaving trust into the digital experience

(00:29:21) - What tools will have the most impact on the car buying experience?

(00:32:53) - Capital One’s various products

(00:40:53) - Future innovations for the industry

(00:44:02) - Closing thoughts

Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:

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

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.