Car Dealership Guy Podcast
Car Dealership Guy
Updated about 7 hours agoThe Car Dealership Guy Podcast Network is your front-row seat to the people, companies, and trends shaping the future of automotive retail—delivered across three focused formats: The Car Dealership Guy Podcast (Tuesdays & Thursdays) Hosted by Yossi Levi, these deep-dive interviews feature top dealers, operators, and innovators driving the industry forward. Daily Dealer Live (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays) Our live-streamed show, also released here in audio format, brings real-time news, sharp takes, and high-impact guests—think CNBC for car dealers. Industry Spotlight Hosted by Sam D’Arc, this segment highlights standout dealerships and vendors with tactical insights and stories from the front lines. Follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for highlights and behind-the-scenes content from every episode.
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Episodes (524)
#49 How A.I. is changing car buying forever, Who's job is up for grabs, Predicting car shopper behavior, Buying a car in 2024 vs 2030 | Aharon Horwitz, CEO of Fullpath
In this episode, I'm speaking with Aharon Horwitz, CEO of Fullpath. This episode is brought to you by: Autofi - AutoFi's powerful platform helps dealers sell smarter, not harder—online and in the showroom. Learn more at autofi.com/cdg Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:51) - Fullpath & customer data experience Platforms (00:04:47) - What happened that spawned the opportunity for Fullpath? (00:15:03) - How are you leveraging AI for the auto industry? (00:20:29) - Where will AI have the biggest impact in the industry? (00:25:13) - What’s the industry’s appetite for AI? (00:36:53) - What does the car buying experience look like in 5 years? (00:39:29) - How can smaller dealerships survive the AI wave? Check out Fullpath here Follow Aharon on X Read Play Bigger by Al Ramadan Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#48 Buy Here Pay Here secrets revealed, Managing 40% loan default rates, Financing customers that banks avoid, Crazy customer horror stories | Tiger Okeley, President at Oak Motors
In this episode, I'm speaking with Tiger Okeley, President at Oak Motors. This episode is brought to you by: AutoFi's powerful platform helps dealers sell smarter, not harder—online and in the showroom. Learn more at autofi.com/cdg 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 CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:26) - What is a buy here pay here dealership? (00:03:20) - How’d you get into this industry? (00:07:10) - Why is Buy Here Pay Here so controversial? (00:11:23) - What does your business do? (00:13:22) - What’s your customer profile? (00:16:27) - How are you able to approve people who may not qualify elsewhere? (00:18:49) - Pricing risk & interest rates (00:26:02) - Where do you source vehicles? (00:28:05) - Repossessions (00:32:48) - What’s the level of utilizaiton you can get out of a car? (00:37:18) - Do you target a specific IRR or profitability metric? (00:43:24) - How do you fundraise? (00:47:13) - Philanthropy Check out Oak Motors here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#47 Managing $500M+ in dealership ad dollars, Uncovering marketing budgets, Do gimmicky dealership mailers work? | David Regn, Co-Founder & CEO of Stream Companies
In this episode, I'm speaking with David Regn, Co-Founder & CEO of Stream Companies. This episode 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 Stream Companies - Full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled ad agency doing the ordinary extraordinarily well. Learn more @ https://www.streamcompanies.com/ Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:38) - Starting Stream (00:03:52) - What services does Stream offer today? (00:04:16) - How have you seen dealers shift the way they deploy marketing dollars? (00:08:59) - Stream’s scale (00:14:27) - How much are dealers paying to acquire a customer? (00:17:06) - Do local dealers have an embedded advantage over national brands or vice versa? (00:18:35) - What is the budget you are responsible for and where is it being deployed? (00:20:30) - Thoughts on 3rd party listing sites (00:27:20) - Do you still believe in traditional media advertising? (00:30:12) - Call to Actions (00:32:32) - Are you doing anything in the AI space? (00:33:47) - Is there any meaningful AI implementation on the consumer front? Check out Stream Companies here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#46 Selling $5.5B+ worth of car dealerships, State of the auto market, Most and least desirable brands, What’s next for dealership profits? | Alan Haig, President & Founder, Haig Partners (Part 2)
In this episode, I'm speaking with Alan Haig, President & Founder of Haig Partners This episode is brought to you by: Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at carscommerce.inc Haig Partners - Helping dealers maximize the value of their businesses. Learn more at Haigpartners.com Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? 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) - The state of the car market (00:05:54) - Findings from the Haig report (00:11:36) - How is Toyota doing well with declining market share? (00:15:32) - What brands are dealers flocking toward right now? (00:18:49) - What brands are dealers staying away from & the talent war (00:29:18) - Is it easier to find buyers or sellers right now? (00:36:06) - Drivers Behind Economies of Scale (00:39:26) - How do you explain the rise of non-car business investors getting into the industry? (trim up) (00:45:37) - What are you seeing in terms of dealer sentiment? (00:50:16) - How do you add value to your dealerships today? (00:55:23) - What’s the best way to cultivate talent in this industry? (01:01:26) - What’s your outlook for the car market in 2024? Check out Haig Partners here and the Haig Report here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#45 Building a $200M+ car parts empire, Solving the auto repair crisis, Most profitable parts, Using A.I. and 3D printing | David Meniane, CEO Carparts.com
In this episode, I'm speaking with David Meniane, CEO of Carparts.com This episode is brought to you by: Car Dealership Guy Newsletter - Become an automotive insider in just 5 minutes. Get the weekly email that delivers transparent insights into the car market. Be the first to know where the market is moving, for free. Join here: https://newsletter.cardealershipguy.org/subscribe AutoFi's powerful platform helps dealers sell smarter, not harder—online and in the showroom. Learn more at autofi.com/cdg Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:59) - David’s journey to America (00:02:54) - Going on Shark Tank *trim up the question* (00:04:33) - Starting CarParts.com (00:08:13) - What are you seeing in the economy? (00:09:53) - Who buys parts online? (00:10:38) - How do you compete with dealers? (00:12:06) - What’s been the experience building this company? (00:19:01) - Are you doing anything with AI? (00:21:15) - How have interest rates impacted your business? (00:21:49) - What are your margins? (00:25:20) - Who is your competition? (00:26:02) - Why are tires considered separate from the parts industry? (00:26:49) - Thoughts on EVs (00:30:02) - Who is your customer? (00:31:14) - What do you think about manufacturing in the US? (00:34:31) - What does the future look like for your business? (00:35:48) - David’s media goals Check out Carparts.com here Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#44 Making millions from Parts & Service, Dealership incentives, Economic concerns, Record profits and Daryl’s favorite auto franchises | Daryl Kenningham, CEO at Group 1 Automotive
In this episode, I'm speaking with Daryl Kenningham, CEO at Group 1 Automotive This episode is brought to you by: Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. To learn how you can measure and improve your team’s follow-up performance, visit carscommerce.inc/experience Dealer Image Pro - A car with bad photos sends the wrong message about your dealership. Photo Assistant improves your photos and increases speed-to-market. Head over to makemyphotosgreatagain.com to learn more. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:08) - The founding story of Group One (00:05:47) - Moving from OEM to the dealership side of the business (00:07:52) - What was the driving force behind going international? (00:12:24) - OEM’s appreciation for dealer networks (00:14:07) - Consumer feelings about dealerships (00:16:07) - Incentive programs (00:17:17) - Daryl’s favorite brands and opportunities right now (00:18:06) - Manufacturers side-stepping dealer laws (00:19:21) - Differentiating in service (00:24:31) - Is there any technology you’re investing in? (00:25:50) - Pick up and Delivery for Service (00:29:00) - What do you look for in new acquisitions? (00:30:55) - Are there brands you’re avoiding right now? (00:31:44) - Rebranding acquisitions to fit the brand (00:34:17) - How do you structure your operations? (00:37:15) - Growing while remaining a community-branded dealership (00:38:31) - Operating leverage and economies of scale for dealerships (00:41:17) - Are you seeing an increase in staff turnover? (00:42:55) - Pricing pressure on cars (00:48:41) - How are you thinking about your company over the next 3-5 years? Check out Group 1 Automotive here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#43 Building a $1.5B+ digital car auction, Peter’s car market predictions, OPENLANE's acquisition of Manheim Canada | Peter Kelly, CEO at OPENLANE
In this episode, I'm speaking with Peter Kelly, CEO at OPENLANE. This episode is brought to you by: Car Dealership Guy Newsletter - Become an automotive insider in just 5 minutes. Get the weekly email that delivers transparent insights into the car market. Be the first to know where the market is moving, for free. Join here: https://newsletter.cardealershipguy.org/subscribe CarNow - The industry leader in automotive messaging and digital retailing solutions. See how CarNow can make an impact at your dealership by visiting https://info.carnow.com/cdg Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:41) - Peter’s background (00:06:40) - Were you the first fully digital auction attempt? (00:07:22) - What is Open Lane? (00:09:41) - Acquiring Manheim Canada (00:12:40) - Do you see the future of car buying being all digital? (00:14:32) - What is the key to a successful auction at your scale? (00:16:47) - Supply and demand (00:21:36) - Looking abroad for value (00:23:03) - Should American dealers be looking to Canada for vehicles? (00:25:39) - What does the future of Open Lane look like? Check out more on OPENLANE here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#42 Building an app store for 16,000 dealers, Pitfalls of direct-to-consumer, Dawn of the A.I. salesperson? | Phil Oriani, CEO at Shift Digital
In this episode, I'm speaking with Phil Oriani, CEO of Shift Digital. This episode is brought to you by: Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. To learn how you can measure and improve your team’s follow-up performance, visit carscommerce.inc/experience AutoFi - AutoFi empowers your team with digital retail technology that accelerates the sale. Learn more @ https://www.autofi.com/cdg/ Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:41) - Phil’s career journey with Shift Digital and Ford Direct (00:17:10) - How does tier 1, 2, and 3 advertising work for cars? (00:20:44) - Do traditional OEM commercials work? (00:23:19) - What tier 3 marketing have you seen work recently from dealers? (00:26:50) - Do dealers have the technology to compete with Carvana? (00:28:39) - What do you think about the trend of the leading automotive software providers consolidating under one umbrella? (00:32:44) - Who is your customer and how do you make money? (00:35:21) - What is the risk with DTC model? (00:39:43) - Harnessing the power of organic social media (00:44:36) - What does the world look like if Shift didn’t exist? (00:46:31) - Are you seeing anything in AI work to change the dealership experience? (00:50:22) - How do you see the technological landscape changing for dealerships over the next 5 years? (00:52:04) - How do you see Shift Digital evolving? Check out Shift Digital here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#41 How CarGurus is evolving, Amazon’s threat to car dealers, Cracking down on fake car prices, Why he’s hiring former dealers | Jason Trevisan, CEO at CarGurus
In this episode, I'm speaking with Jason Trevisan, CEO at CarGurus. This episode is brought to you by: CarNow - The industry leader in automotive messaging and digital retailing solutions. See how CarNow can make an impact at your dealership by visiting https://info.carnow.com/cdg 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 CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Links: CarGurus Jason on LinkedIn CDG's emergency episode on Hyundai/Amazon Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:30) - Jason’s journey into automotive (00:03:32) - The impact of technology on the consumer experience (00:05:50) - Taking over as CEO (00:08:12) - CarGurus’ core business model (00:12:59) - Balancing keeping customers and dealers happy (00:14:37) - What are you doing to mitigate bad-faith actors? (00:17:45) - How do you hedge your business against Google? (00:22:42) - How do you envision the company evolving alongside the customer experience? (00:26:07) - Why is CarGurus a great option for consumers? (00:27:18) - Do you recruit Ivy League students? (00:33:38) - CarOffer (00:39:46) - Thoughts on Hyundai/Amazon (00:44:20) - How will dealer marketing change over the next 5 years? (00:49:07) - How are you thinking about the future of CarGurus? Check out CarGurus here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#40 Secrets behind dealership franchise laws, Consumer-friendly auto brands, Dealers’ top legal concerns | Leonard Bellavia, Founding Partner at Bellavia and Blatt Law
In this episode, I'm speaking with Leonard Bellavia, Founding Partner at Bellavia and Blatt Law This episode is brought to you by: CDK Global - Empowering dealers with the tools and technology to build deeper customer relationships. Learn more @ CDKglobal.com Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at carscommerce.inc Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:47) - Len’s career in law and auto (00:05:52) - How the perception of the dealer has changed over 40 years (00:11:11) - The history of franchise laws (00:15:48) - Do we still need franchise laws in today’s market? (00:21:38) Is there a world where manufacturers become retailers? (00:35:38) - What’s stopping Ford from going DTC with their EVs? (00:47:23) - The benefit of Telsa embracing a franchise system (00:51:09) - Do you get the taste of 2009 with everything we're seeing in the EV push? (00:54:09) - What are the top concerns you hear from dealers today? (00:59:21) - What brands would you recommend to buy or lease? (01:02:44) - Dealers vs. Cancer Check out Bellavia Blatt here Get in touch via email at [email protected] Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#39 Predicting auto loan defaults, 96 month terms, Vehicle affordability, Will repos keep rising? | Betty Jotanovic, President of Chrysler Capital and Auto Relationships at Santander
In this episode, I'm speaking with Betty Jotanovic, President of Chrysler Capital and Auto Relationships at Santander. This episode is brought to you by: AutoFi - AutoFi empowers your team with digital retail technology that accelerates the sale. Learn more @ https://www.autofi.com/cdg/ Podium - The lead conversion platform for car dealerships. Get 10% of your plan by texting “CarDealershipGuy” to (833) 441-1166 or visit https://bit.ly/48UKr4x Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:04) - Betty’s background and career (00:09:47) - Distribution channels (00:10:52) - Difficulty in signing up with new dealers (00:12:23) - What makes an excellent dealership to work with (00:15:28) - Quantifying risk (00:16:21) - Auto loan and economic concerns (00:24:28) - Quantifying risk on EVs (00:26:25) - Repossessions and fraud (00:30:37) - Balancing digital lending vs. having a physical presence (00:33:05) - Embedded advantages to being vertically integrated (00:34:46) - What do you do with all the loans once they’re issued? (00:36:10) - Reacting to the changing nature of lending (00:39:16) - Automating the lending business (00:41:44) - Macroeconomic outlooks (00:43:28) - Advice to dealers (00:45:42) - Where to learn more Check out Santander here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
Emergency Podcast: Amazon and Hyundai launching online car sales?
You’re probably wondering: what is an “Emergency Podcast”? On November 18, 2023, Amazon and Hyundai made a splashy announcement that they’re teaming up to offer online car sales. I received tons of questions from dealers and consumers and decided to try something new: An impromptu, live podcast on Twitter Spaces. My special guest on this episode is Andrew Wright, a long-time car dealer and the incoming Chairman of Hyundai’s National Dealer Council. The following episode is the full, raw, and unedited recording of our discussion that occurred on November 17, 2023 @ 12pm ET. I hope you enjoy this episode and that it helps bring clarity to the situation. Please leave a comment on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, or wherever you are, and let me know if you want more of these.
#38 DealerRater’s unstoppable rise, Dealership incentives, Car buyer concerns, Secrets to Carvana | Jamie Oldershaw, VP of Reputation Strategy at Cars Commerce and GM of DealerRater
In this episode, I'm speaking with Jamie Oldershaw, VP of Reputation Strategy at Cars Commerce. This episode is brought to you by: Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at carscommerce.inc AutoFi - AutoFi empowers your team with digital retail technology that accelerates the sale. Learn more @ https://www.autofi.com/cdg/ Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:02) - Jamie’s experience at DealerRater (00:13:12) - The DealerRater Product (00:17:41) - The decision-making process of the consumer (00:24:33) - How DealerRater makes money (00:26:26) - Fraud prevention (00:30:27) - Thoughts on anonymous reviews (00:32:41) - Jamie’s take on Yelp (00:35:24) - Thoughts on the state of the car market (00:37:21) - Adapting the dealership model (00:39:04) - Automating the consumer experience (00:42:27) - Patterns in Brand reviews (00:44;15) - The best way for consumers to purchase and the best way for dealers to leverage platforms like DealerRater (00:48:45) - The future for DealerRater (00:50:36) - Where to contact Jamie Check out Cars Commerce here. Get in touch with Alex by emailing him at [email protected] Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#37 Making millions from subprime loans, From the streets to $150K/month, Raising capital at Church, Acquiring stakes in dealerships | Bruce Miller, Owner at Miller Motors
In this episode, I'm speaking with Bruce Miller, Owner of Miller Motors. This episode is brought to you by: Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at carscommerce.inc Podium - The lead conversion platform for car dealerships. Get 10% of your plan by texting “CarDealershipGuy” to (833) 441-1166 or visit https://bit.ly/48UKr4x Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:51) - Bruce’s journey into automotive (00:06:17) Bruce’s business today (00:09:57) - Bruce’s mentality in approaching business (00:12:41) - Opening up a dealership (00:27:41) - How Bruce runs his dealership (00:35:44) - Profits (00:36:56) - Marketing and tracking customers (00:39:21) - It takes 100 customers to sell 21 cars (00:41:29) - The main misconceptions about independent dealers (00:43:16) - The future of the independent dealer (00:46:42) - Learning about equity (00:50:44) - Final thoughts (00:53:06) - How to get in touch with Bruce Check out Miller Motors here. Get in touch with Bruce by calling him at (504) 615-9297 Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#36 Car market predictions, Alex's acquisition playbook, Solving software fatigue, Will online car sales go away? | Alex Vetter, CEO of Cars Commerce (Part 2)
In this episode, I'm speaking with Alex Vetter, CEO of Cars Commerce. This episode is brought to you by: Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at carscommerce.inc AutoFi - AutoFi empowers your team with digital retail technology that accelerates the sale. Learn more @ https://www.autofi.com/cdg/ Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:04) - Ringing the bell at the NYSE (00:04:38) - Launching Cars Commerce & SaaS fatigue (00:08:30) - Alex’s approach to acquisitions (00:11:19) - Current gaps in the customer journey (00:14:57) - Focusing on commerce and thoughts on the economy (00:18:27) - The evolution of retail (00:25:17) - Instant financing (00:26:00) - How onsite behavior has changed (00:27:21) - The upside for Cars.com (00:31:39) - D2D trading (00:34:14) - The loss of the budget car (00:36:12) - Trends in the industry (00:40:00) - Final thoughts Check out Cars Commerce here. Get in touch with Alex by emailing him at [email protected] Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#35 Raising $300M+ for automotive venture capital, Rise and fall of Vroom, Hottest auto tech investments, His biggest wins and losses, AVs, EVs and A.I. | Chase Fraser, Founder and Managing Partner, FM Capital
In this episode, I'm speaking with Chase Fraser, Founder & Managing Partner at FM Capital. This episode is brought to you by: AutoFi - AutoFi empowers your team with digital retail technology that accelerates the sale. Learn more @ https://www.autofi.com/cdg/ Podium - The lead conversion platform for car dealerships. Get 10% of your plan by texting “CarDealershipGuy” to (833) 441-1166 or visit https://bit.ly/48UKr4x Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:49) - Vroom-Carvana Saga (00:05:26) - Chase’s background and specializing in automotive (00:08:34) - Sourcing deals & areas of focus (00:11:00) - How dealers should think about autonomous cars (00:14:28) - The auto agency model (00:16:16) - Tightening parameters in VC for Autotech (00:19:51) - The state of AI in auto and how it will impact dealerships (00:28:07) - Thoughts on EVs (00:38:17) - Dealers acting as investors with Chase (00:42:21) - Regional dealership consolidations (00:44:18) - Economic concerns (00:48:36) - Advice to dealers (00:50:55) - Chase’s biggest VC wins and humbling moments (00:55:00) - Get in touch with Chase Check out FM Capital here. Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership) This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#34 Secrets to successful dealership acquisitions, Tools for wealth creation, Industry trends he’s bullish on, Profiting $10M on Tesla stock | Daniel Crainic, Owner of Time Auto Group
In this episode, I'm speaking with Daniel Crainic, CEO of Time Auto Group This episode 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 Podium - The lead conversion platform for car dealerships. Get 10% off your plan by texting “CarDealershipGuy” to (833) 441-1166 or visit www.podium.com/automotive Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here. Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:02:43) - Daniel’s journey into the industry (00:07:55) - Growing from 1 to 7 lots (00:09:51) - Acquiring real estate (00:13:35) - Marketing tricks (00:15:04) - Financing through Tesla stock (00:19:00) - Balancing family and work (00:20:16) - Delegation (00:21:23) - Dan’s first acquisition & moving into the franchise model (00:29:32) - The turnaround playbook (00:31:01) - Mentors (00:34:37) - Incentivizing General Managers (00:36:41) - Creating wealth in this business (00:44:20) - Biggest challenges (00:47:08) - Rebates, acquiring inventory, and technology (00:54:39) - What are you bullish on in the industry (00:58:49) - How to get in touch Check out Time Auto Group here Follow Daniel on X Email Dan at [email protected] Check out the website for me and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#33 Launching a dealership with $40K, Profits and losses, Selling Teslas in the Midwest, Highs and lows of running a small dealership | Brandon Miller, Founder of Miller Auto
In this episode, I'm speaking with Brandon Miller, Founder of Miller Auto. This episode is brought to you by: Podium - The lead conversion platform for car dealerships. Get 10% off your plan by texting “CarDealershipGuy” to (833) 441-1166 or visit www.podium.com/automotive 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 CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here. Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:03:06) - Brandon’s previous life as the mayor of a small town (00:05:42) - Starting a dealership (00:11:40) - Funding inventory and knowing what to buy (00:15:40) - Brandon’s role at the dealership (00:16:38) - The profitability of the dealership (00:17:05) - Financing inventory (00:19:04) - Auction Strategies (00:20:03) - Building a vertically integrated company (00:22:19) - Building a Tesla modification arm of the business (00:28:25) - Monthly sales numbers (00:29:05) - Marketing strategies (00:30:08) - Profits & team structure (00:35:06) - Warranties (00:35:56) - The Tesla market in Wisconsin (00:41:20) - The impact of interest rates on dealerships (00:43:08) - Consumer lending (00:45:21) - How to get in touch with Brandon Check out Miller Auto here. Follow Miller Auto on X & Facebook Check out the website for me and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#32 Will the dealership survive, Where she's investing big, Tech's biggest challenges in the dealership, Vulnerable leadership | Barb Edson, Chief Marketing Officer, CDK Global
In this episode, I'm speaking with Barb Edson, Chief Marketing Officer at CDK Global. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here. Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:57) - Barb’s career background (00:03:47) - What is the Internet of Things? (00:04:45) - The auto industry is ripe for disruption (00:06:23) - Why the dealership is NOT going away (00:10:46) - The biggest challenges and inefficiencies in the industry (00:14:40) - What areas were you behind the 8-ball most? (00:16:20) - The CDK dealership experience (00:20:25) - The continued digital transformation of the industry (00:23:36) - Future-proofing tech (00:26:33) - Barb’s process for improving the product (00:29:51) - What changes in automotive retail over the next 5 years? (00:32:56) - Will dealers be challenged in adopting this technology? (00:34:35) - Where people can reach Barb and CDK You can learn more about CDK Global here or follow them on X @CDKGlobal. Check out the website for me and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#31 Used car auction frenzy, Stumbling upon million-dollar classics, UAW & bankruptcy risk for car companies | John Clay Wolfe, Founder & President @ GiveMeTheVin
In this episode, I'm speaking with John Clay Wolfe, Founder of GivemetheVIN.com. You can check out the full story of John's historic barn find and see the cars they got ahold of here. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here. Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Topics: (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:33) - John’s early career in media and auto (00:07:17) - How John's radio career impacted his wholesaling business (00:08:52) - Starting GivemetheVIN.com (00:11:05) - Where John sources cars (00:13:26) - Acquiring a barn full of classic vehicles (00:25:57) - John’s take on the UAW strikes (00:35:01) - What car John would recommend buying right now (00:36:04) - John's focus for the next 3-6 months (00:38:55) - Thoughts on the future of vehicle wholesaling (00:41:34) - Why Carmax is the best (00:43:13) - How to reach John (00:44:58) - Closing thoughts You can check out John's radio show here and GivemetheVIN here. Check out the website for me and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#30 Why auto loan fraud is rising, Riskiest types of dealerships, Novel credit repair scams, $8B “fraud” opportunity | Frank McKenna, Chief Fraud Strategist, Point Predictive
In this episode, I’m speaking with Frank McKenna, Co-Founder and Chief Fraud Strategist at Point Predictive. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Point Predictive. You can access the free Point Predictive Auto Lending Fraud Report here. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here (00:00) - Intro (01:15) - Frank’s background & Why Point Predictive exists (05:55) - The massive scale and spectrum of fraud (12:15) - Keeping up with evolving fraud methods (26:35) - Are independent dealers riskier than franchise dealers? (37:33) - Preventing losses and making money (43:07) - How COVID enabled a new cohort of fraudsters (45:35) - Wrapping up Follow Frank on X @frankonfraud and on LinkedIn here. Check out the website for me and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#29 Secrets to selling exotic cars, Rise of rich crypto buyers, Profits in the exotic business, Selling a company for millions | Jason Putnam, Co-Founder, Tactical Fleet
In this episode, I'm speaking with Jason Putnam, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Tactical Fleet. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Jason's background 05:35 - Attracting exotic clients 11:45 - Selling to Sonic Automotive 14:15 - Unit Economics 25:00 - Scaling, customer profiles, internet money 35:52 - The best "deals" in exotic right now 38:15 - Macro forecast, wrapping up Follow Jason on LinkedIn and check out Tactical Fleet's website. Check out the website for more and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#28 Marketing with college athletes, Future of online car sales, Brewing auto lending issues, Creativity in an unsexy business | Rick Ricart, President of Ricart Automotive
This episode is brought to you by: KEYper Systems - Key Management Simplified. Fullpath - Discover Automotive's Leading Customer Data and Experience Platform. In this episode, I'm speaking with Rick Ricart, President of Ricart Automotive. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here 00:00 - Intro 02:40 - The Ricart Family & Rick’s background 08:08 - Sponsorship deals in the era of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) 12:29 - Marketing, media, crafting company culture 19:46 - Ricart’s unique business model 28:30 - Ricart’s fastest-growing division 35:03 - Optimizing the online buying experience 50:02 - Lending, negative equity, repossessions 54:00 - Rick’s marketing idea that didn’t get picked up 56:55 - Inside look at OEM politics and EV rumors 1:01:40 - How manufacturers will change and adapt to new market trends 1:08:00 - Software and investing in the future 1:14:19 - Wrapping up Follow Rick: @RickRicart on X. Rickart Automotive's website. Check out the website for more and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#27 State of auto lending, Best and worst car deals, UAW strike, #1 issue for car shoppers, Winners & losers in the EV space | Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at Cox Automotive
This episode is brought to you by: KEYper Systems - Key Management Simplified. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here Today, I'm speaking with Jonathan Smoke, Chief Economist at Cox Automotive. 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - DJ Smokey Smoke returns 05:55 - The general state of the market 15:25 - Interest rates and how they affect the industry 18:03 - Supply & demand, inventory issues, price improvements 26:55 - Winners & losers in the EV space 34:00 - Used car market update 38:30 - Will UAW strike? 48:00 - Best deals for consumers right now 52:25 - The state of auto lending 1:03:10 - Wrapping up Follow Jonathan: @SmokeonCars on X. Jonathan's LinkedIn. Smoke on Cars insights at Cox Automotive. Check out the website for more and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
#26 Secret sauce of used car wholesaling, Biggest threat to used car auctions, Viability of zero-fee auction, Elon Musk and A.I. | Robert Hollenshead, Founder of RH Auto Sales and Accu-Trade
This episode is brought to you by: KEYper Systems - Key Management Simplified. Interested in advertising with CarDealershipGuy? Drop us a line here Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here In this episode, I'm speaking with Robert Hollenshead, Founder of R. Hollenshead Auto Sales and Accu-Trade. 00:00 - Intro 02:21 - Bob's background 08:27 - Lack of transparency back in the day 13:11 - Creating things the industry needed 35:24 - Accu-Trade, Galves, Manheim index, Kelly Blue Book 48:31 - Consensus forces bad decisions 55:59 - A.I. & The future of auctions 1:07:16 - Wrapping up Follow Robert: LinkedIn R. Hollenshead Auto Sales Accu-Trade Galves Check out the website for more and follow me on X @GuyDealership! This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.