{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Cars Dealers Can't Sell So They Are REVOLTING | Episode 1050","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/cars-dealers-can-t-sell-so-they-are-revolting-episode-1050","audioUrl":"https://pdrl.fm/3359a6/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/1385/injector.simplecastaudio.com/14b42e71-1f9c-41b2-944f-bc8f2b3a3cb9/episodes/f734e824-1e48-4f75-8ac1-f25a31e4d885/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=14b42e71-1f9c-41b2-944f-bc8f2b3a3cb9&awEpisodeId=f734e824-1e48-4f75-8ac1-f25a31e4d885&feed=gkrQ6WSC","description":"Today on CarEdge Live, Ray and Zach discuss the latest news from Volvo and Stellantis. Tune in to learn more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com\nfor information about our collection and use of personal data for\nadvertising.\n"},"annotations":[{"startTime":2.5,"endTime":26.6,"type":"brand","title":"Progressive","url":"/glossary/progressive","quote":"That's why drivers have enjoyed Progressive's Name Your Price tool for years now. With the Name Your Price tool, you tell them what you want to pay, and they'll show you options that fit your budget.","canonicalId":"brand:progressive","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Progressive is an auto insurance company that offers tools to help you shop for coverage. In this segment, it’s specifically tied to their “Name Your Price” approach, where you state a target payment and they show options that can fit it.","simplifiedExplanation":"Progressive is an insurance company. They have a tool that helps you choose an insurance plan based on what you want to pay each month."}},{"startTime":31.9,"endTime":60.5,"type":"brand","title":"Toyota","url":"/glossary/toyota","quote":"Dear crew, it's Toyota. With an adult-sized third row, everyone's welcome in the Grand Highlander... Toyota, find yours at Toyota.com.","canonicalId":"brand:toyota","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Toyota is the automaker behind the vehicles mentioned in this segment. The ad uses multiple Toyota models to target different buyer needs—family seating, minivan entertainment, and SUV traction.","simplifiedExplanation":"Toyota is the car brand being advertised here. They’re showing different models depending on what kind of family or driving needs you have."}},{"startTime":43.9,"endTime":48.4,"type":"car","title":"Sienna","url":"/cars/toyota/sienna","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/TOYOTA_SIENNA_%28XL40%29_China.jpg","quote":"Sync back in the Sienna with an available rear seat entertainment system. Slip into the RAV4 with available all-wheel drive.","canonicalId":"car:toyota:sienna","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The Toyota Sienna is a minivan known for family-focused features and available technology. Here, the segment mentions an available rear seat entertainment system, which is a common minivan selling point for road trips.","simplifiedExplanation":"The Toyota Sienna is a minivan. This part is talking about an option that can entertain passengers in the back seats during trips.","imageAttribution":"Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":160.9,"endTime":181.2,"type":"company","title":"CarEdge.com","url":"/glossary/caredge-com","quote":"Today's show is brought to you by CarEdge.com. For those of you that are unfamiliar, we are on year six here, folks, of me, my dad, and our incredible team offering car buying services back at CarEdge.com.","canonicalId":"company:caredge-com","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"CarEdge.com is presented as a car-buying service that helps consumers with research, dealer outreach, and negotiations. The key value proposition is getting “real offers” and reducing the stress of shopping.","simplifiedExplanation":"CarEdge.com is a service that helps you buy a car without doing all the work yourself. They help you research, contact dealers, and negotiate so you can get a better deal."}},{"startTime":173.5,"endTime":176.4,"type":"concept","title":"dealer outreach","url":"/glossary/dealer-outreach","quote":"We take care of research, dealer outreach, and even negotiations. We learn what matters to you.","canonicalId":"concept:dealer-outreach","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Dealer outreach” is the process of contacting multiple dealerships to request pricing, availability, and trade/financing details. In a negotiation-focused buying strategy, outreach helps you compare offers rather than relying on one dealer’s number."}},{"startTime":291.9,"endTime":307.3,"type":"brand","title":"Volvo","url":"/glossary/volvo","quote":"And let's face it, most Volvos are not cheap. So it means they're more expensive to floor plan because dealers pay interest to carry their inventory.","canonicalId":"brand:volvo","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Volvo is the manufacturer being discussed as the example of a brand whose dealers are facing inventory and sales pressure. The key point is that higher-priced vehicles can make inventory holding costs more painful for dealers.","simplifiedExplanation":"Volvo is the car brand in this story. The speaker is saying Volvo’s dealers are feeling the squeeze because the cars cost more to keep sitting on the lot."}},{"startTime":297.0,"endTime":304.3,"type":"concept","title":"dealers pay interest to carry their inventory","url":"/glossary/dealers-pay-interest-to-carry-their-inventory","quote":"So it means they're more expensive to floor plan because dealers pay interest to carry their inventory. The dealers tend to not want to take more of them.","canonicalId":"concept:dealers-pay-interest-to-carry-their-inventory","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"This highlights the “cost of capital” problem: interest accrues while vehicles remain unsold. As inventory grows and sales slow, those interest charges can become a major financial burden for dealers.","simplifiedExplanation":"Dealers don’t just pay for the cars—they also pay interest while the cars are waiting to be sold. If sales slow down, that interest cost adds up."}},{"startTime":365.7,"endTime":370.3,"type":"concept","title":"invoice price","url":"/glossary/invoice-price","quote":"The manufacturer invoices that to the dealership, sells it to them at invoice price. [370.3s] But then the dealership pays for that with typically financing.","canonicalId":"concept:invoice-price","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.82,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Invoice price is the wholesale price the manufacturer charges the dealer (before the dealer’s own operating costs and financing). The segment contrasts invoice pricing with the dealer’s need to finance and carry the car, which can still make inventory unappealing even at invoice.","simplifiedExplanation":"Invoice price is what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car (roughly the wholesale cost). Even if a dealer sells near that price, they may still lose money if financing and lot-holding costs are high."}},{"startTime":438.2,"endTime":453.3,"type":"concept","title":"floor plan assistance","url":"/glossary/floor-plan-assistance","quote":"Now, manufacturers will cover what they call floor plan assistance, where they will pay the dealer X amount of dollars to help them defray the cost of carrying that inventory.","canonicalId":"concept:floor-plan-assistance","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Floor plan assistance is money manufacturers provide to dealers to help offset the cost of financing unsold inventory. It’s typically tied to how long vehicles sit and can materially change whether inventory is profitable or a loss.","simplifiedExplanation":"Floor plan assistance is help from the car maker to reduce the dealer’s cost of holding cars on the lot. If the cars sell fast, it can even turn into extra profit; if they sit, it can run out and hurt the dealer."}},{"startTime":453.3,"endTime":464.1,"type":"term","title":"profit center","url":"/glossary/profit-center","quote":"When inventory sells quickly, for instance, at a Toyota dealership, floor plan assistance can actually become a profit center. Because you're selling the cars quicker than the interest is building up.","canonicalId":"term:profit-center","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A profit center is an activity that generates net profit rather than just covering costs. In this context, fast-selling inventory can make floor plan assistance exceed the dealer’s financing expense.","simplifiedExplanation":"A profit center is something that makes money for the business. Here, if cars sell quickly, the dealer can earn more from incentives than it spends on financing."}},{"startTime":547.7,"endTime":551.8,"type":"company","title":"CarEdge dealer ratings website","url":"/glossary/caredge-dealer-ratings-website","quote":"I'm over on the CarEdge dealer ratings website, and I've searched for Volvo dealers. And I'm very interested here, Dad.","canonicalId":"company:caredge-dealer-ratings-website","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The “CarEdge dealer ratings website” is presented as a tool for checking how dealerships are rated. In this context, it’s used to compare and evaluate Volvo dealers by looking up specific locations. That supports the segment’s argument by grounding it in dealer-level data.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re using a website that shows ratings for car dealerships. In this segment, it’s used to look up Volvo dealers and see how they’re doing. It’s basically their way of checking what’s happening at the dealership level."}},{"startTime":574.8,"endTime":577.7,"type":"concept","title":"days on market","url":"/glossary/days-on-market","quote":"Wow, the days on market for their inventory. This is fascinating. I was expecting to see more and more of their inventory be aged 180 days or 90 days.","canonicalId":"concept:days-on-market","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Days on market” measures how long a vehicle sits unsold on a dealer’s lot (or in listings) before it’s purchased. Longer days on market often signal weaker demand, pricing issues, or inventory that’s not moving.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is basically how many days a car has been sitting unsold. If it takes a long time to sell, it usually means the price or demand isn’t working out."}},{"startTime":660.1,"endTime":666.0,"type":"concept","title":"tariffs","url":"/glossary/tariffs","quote":"Tariffs took care of that. They just made those vehicles way too expensive to continue to import.","canonicalId":"concept:tariffs","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Tariffs are taxes added to imported goods. When tariffs hit vehicles or parts, they can raise the final price of imported cars, reducing demand and limiting what dealers can sell profitably.","simplifiedExplanation":"Tariffs are extra taxes on imported products. If cars cost more because of tariffs, fewer people buy them, and dealers have a harder time moving inventory."}},{"startTime":742.7,"endTime":748.3,"type":"concept","title":"service department","url":"/glossary/service-department","quote":"And they have to hope that the service department can carry them while they're going through all this.","canonicalId":"concept:service-department","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.84,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A dealership’s service department performs maintenance and repairs, often generating steady revenue and customer retention. The segment implies that if new-car sales are pressured, dealers will lean more on service income to stay afloat.","simplifiedExplanation":"The service department is where the dealership fixes and maintains cars. If selling new cars is tough, the dealership hopes service work can keep money coming in."}},{"startTime":821.0,"endTime":827.4,"type":"concept","title":"overpriced","url":"/glossary/overpriced","quote":"So on the product, because it's not desirable anymore or it's overpriced. So, yeah, dealers revolve.","canonicalId":"concept:overpriced","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Overpriced” refers to pricing that’s higher than what buyers are willing to pay, which reduces sales velocity. In dealer terms, overpriced inventory increases holding costs and can force discounting to move units."}},{"startTime":846.5,"endTime":853.5,"type":"concept","title":"create a market","url":"/glossary/create-a-market","quote":"They keep building stuff. They keep pushing it on the dealers, but they haven't created a market for it.","canonicalId":"concept:create-a-market","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Create a market” means generating enough consumer demand through pricing, incentives, marketing, and product positioning so vehicles sell at sustainable margins. The speaker argues manufacturers keep building cars but don’t ensure demand exists."}},{"startTime":865.8,"endTime":877.5,"type":"brand","title":"Volkswagen","url":"/glossary/volkswagen","quote":"is about Volkswagen, a brand that you and I have been talking about a lot. And we have another story this morning from Stellantis, where they did more layoffs...","canonicalId":"brand:volkswagen","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Volkswagen (VW) is a major automaker whose dealer network and sales performance can strongly influence how other brands are perceived in the US market. In this segment, the host ties VW’s struggles to dealer frustration and declining sales momentum.","simplifiedExplanation":"Volkswagen is a big car brand. The point here is that when Volkswagen’s sales start slipping, dealers get less interested in stocking and pushing those cars."}},{"startTime":923.6,"endTime":933.9,"type":"concept","title":"ultimate buyer of it instead of the customer","url":"/glossary/ultimate-buyer-of-it-instead-of-the-customer","quote":"Are we going to keep buying their product that they're not supporting, that they're not creating interest in or a demand for it? Are we going to keep being the ultimate buyer of it instead of the customer?","canonicalId":"concept:ultimate-buyer-of-it-instead-of-the-customer","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"This phrase describes a situation where dealers end up buying and holding inventory rather than customers driving sales. It’s a sign of demand mismatch—dealers become the buffer for slow-moving products."}},{"startTime":963.0,"endTime":968.0,"type":"concept","title":"manufacturer isn't going to do it","url":"/glossary/manufacturer-isn-t-going-to-do-it","quote":"But they employ a lot of people and so you need them to at least be able to break even so they can pay their employees who can help keep the economy going. The manufacturer isn't going to do it. So, yeah, dealers will take a stand.","canonicalId":"concept:manufacturer-isn-t-going-to-do-it","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"The host suggests manufacturers won’t absorb the financial burden when demand is weak, leaving dealers to manage the fallout. This frames the dealer revolt as a response to lack of manufacturer support or incentives."}},{"startTime":1035.2,"endTime":1043.3,"type":"brand","title":"VW","quote":"...Audi has been suffering for two or three years now, VW has been suffering for four quarters now where they've had declines in sales...","canonicalId":"brand:vw","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“VW” refers to Volkswagen, another large automaker. The segment compares Volkswagen’s multi-quarter sales declines to Audi’s, arguing that prolonged demand weakness isn’t sustainable for dealers.","simplifiedExplanation":"VW is short for Volkswagen, a major car brand. The speaker is saying that when VW cars don’t sell for a long time, dealers can’t keep absorbing the losses."}},{"startTime":1056.6,"endTime":1070.2,"type":"concept","title":"dealer councils","url":"/glossary/dealer-councils","quote":"...this is when it's important that the factory dealers associations, where they have the dealer councils, where they actually sit and listen to what the dealers are suggesting...","canonicalId":"concept:dealer-councils","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.8,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Dealer councils are structured groups where dealers meet with the automaker to share feedback and influence decisions. In this context, the speaker argues that dealer councils matter because dealers see real customer demand firsthand."}},{"startTime":1122.8,"endTime":1133.2,"type":"concept","title":"days on the market","url":"/glossary/days-on-the-market","quote":"You know, still 2025 sitting out there, 115 days on the market. I know that. Yeah, you used to work right next to it, 86 days on the market, 120 days on the market.","canonicalId":"concept:days-on-the-market","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Days on the market” (DOM) is how long a vehicle has been listed for sale before it sells. Higher DOM typically signals weak demand and often correlates with more aggressive pricing or incentives.","simplifiedExplanation":"Days on the market tells you how long a car has been sitting for sale. If it’s been there a long time, it usually means it’s not selling well, and you may find better deals."}},{"startTime":1174.1,"endTime":1178.9,"type":"brand","title":"Chrysler","url":"/glossary/chrysler","quote":"I would also continue to say that's the Lanthus vehicles. So Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ford is on this list as well.","canonicalId":"brand:chrysler","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Chrysler is an American automaker brand. The hosts list Chrysler among brands they think have good negotiability and buying power for consumers.","simplifiedExplanation":"Chrysler is a car brand. The hosts are saying Chrysler dealers may have more room to negotiate right now."}},{"startTime":1176.0,"endTime":1178.9,"type":"brand","title":"Dodge","url":"/glossary/dodge","quote":"So Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ford is on this list as well.","canonicalId":"brand:dodge","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Dodge is an American automaker brand known for performance and muscle-car heritage. In this segment, it’s included in the list of brands where dealers may be motivated to move inventory.","simplifiedExplanation":"Dodge is a car brand. They’re including it as a place where you might find better deals because cars are sitting longer."}},{"startTime":1178.9,"endTime":1180.8,"type":"brand","title":"Jeep","url":"/glossary/jeep","quote":"So Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ford is on this list as well.","canonicalId":"brand:jeep","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Jeep is a brand focused on SUVs and off-road vehicles. The hosts mention Jeep as part of the set of brands with stronger consumer buying power due to inventory and dealer motivation.","simplifiedExplanation":"Jeep makes SUVs. The hosts are saying Jeep dealers may be more willing to negotiate right now."}},{"startTime":1180.8,"endTime":1184.4,"type":"brand","title":"Ram","url":"/glossary/ram","quote":"So Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Ford is on this list as well. Ford still has tens of thousands.","canonicalId":"brand:ram","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Ram is the truck brand within Stellantis, known for pickups. It’s included in the brands the hosts expect to have good negotiability because dealers are trying to reduce unsold inventory.","simplifiedExplanation":"Ram makes pickup trucks. They’re saying Ram dealers may be more motivated to sell because trucks are taking longer to move."}},{"startTime":1331.6,"endTime":1347.6,"type":"concept","title":"inventory management","url":"/glossary/inventory-management","quote":"Okay. It's not inventory growth. It's inventory management. It's to understand what your daily sales rate is per model so that you can make adjustments...","canonicalId":"concept:inventory-management","priority":0.9,"confidence":0.95,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Inventory management is the active process of controlling how many vehicles you have on the lot and how quickly they sell. In a dealership context, it means tracking sales pace by model so you can adjust ordering and allocations instead of letting cars pile up.","simplifiedExplanation":"It’s how a dealership decides how many cars to keep on the lot. They watch how fast each model sells, then order less or more so they don’t end up stuck with too many cars."}},{"startTime":1460.9,"endTime":1468.8,"type":"concept","title":"manufacturer stroke us a check to make us whole","url":"/glossary/manufacturer-stroke-us-a-check-to-make-us-whole","quote":"I am telling you, from all the years I did it, not once did I ever see a manufacturer stroke us a check to make us whole if we lost money that year. They just don't do it.","canonicalId":"concept:manufacturer-stroke-us-a-check-to-make-us-whole","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.82,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"This refers to the idea that manufacturers typically don’t compensate dealers for losses caused by overstock or poor sales. Dealers bear the financial hit, which is why they push back on allocations and try to manage inventory themselves.","simplifiedExplanation":"They’re saying the car company usually doesn’t pay the dealer back if the dealer loses money on unsold cars. So the dealer has to manage the risk and try to sell the cars themselves."}},{"startTime":1605.3,"endTime":1613.7,"type":"concept","title":"aged cars","url":"/glossary/aged-cars","quote":"Well, if I have aged cars like that, I have them up either in the showroom or right next to the showroom.","canonicalId":"concept:aged-cars","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.86,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"“Aged cars” are vehicles that have been on the dealership lot for an extended period without selling. Dealers often use showroom placement, sales incentives, and aggressive pricing to reduce inventory aging and avoid further financial pressure.","simplifiedExplanation":"“Aged cars” are cars that have been sitting at the dealership for a long time. Dealers try to push them out with better visibility, incentives, or discounts."}},{"startTime":1718.0,"endTime":1751.7,"type":"concept","title":"supply and demand","url":"/glossary/supply-and-demand","quote":"It's just got different supply and different demand. Really, really, really good question there from Dale.","canonicalId":"concept:supply-and-demand","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.85,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"Supply and demand describes how pricing changes based on how many cars are available versus how many buyers want them. The speaker uses the example of a car sitting for 3 days versus 300 days to show how demand expectations shift discounting."}},{"startTime":2012.0,"endTime":2018.1,"type":"term","title":"rear seat entertainment system","url":"/glossary/rear-seat-entertainment-system","quote":"Seen back in the Sienna with an available rear seat entertainment system. Slip into the RAV4 with available all wheel drive and let's go.","canonicalId":"term:rear-seat-entertainment-system","priority":0.5,"confidence":0.9,"source":"hybrid-fuzzy+gpt-5.4-nano","data":{"explanation":"A rear seat entertainment system is a set of screens and media controls designed for passengers in the back row. It can include DVD/media playback, streaming, and headphone support to keep kids (or passengers) occupied on longer trips.","simplifiedExplanation":"This is the entertainment setup for the back seats—usually screens and audio so passengers can watch or listen to things during the ride."}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Ray","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"Zach Shefska","role":"host"},{"id":"s3","name":"Bleav","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/cars-dealers-can-t-sell-so-they-are-revolting-episode-1050/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}