Tariffs have been the headline of the year in the auto industry. But to dealership customers, they’re not worth talking about — at least for now. According to customer review and reputation management platform Widewail’s latest research, released in its Q1 2025 Automotive Voice of the Customer Report, tariffs are just the tiniest blip on […] [Read More]

Charisma! Insights says artificial intelligence is no longer a theoretical promise for the future or even a “nice to have” for dealership service departments — it’s evolved into a “strategic imperative” and “a growing reality reshaping dealership operations from the ground up.” The dealership technology research and strategy firm’s new report, AI in the Service […] [Read More]

The automotive industry is facing unprecedented times. From prolonged elevated interest rates to tariffs, dealers are navigating uncharted territory yet again. This new era demands bold decisions, long-term thinking, and strategic pivots. Here’s how smart dealers and general managers can win amid volatility — and why the commercial department may be the most resilient in […] [Read More]

Connected cars can provide entertainment, give directions and help prevent collisions. But according to a new report from AI-powered cloud-based data management platform Upstream, one thing they can do — but aren’t — is help reduce vehicle recalls. Upstream’s report, Under Pressure: Why After-Sales Quality Strategies Must Evolve in the Age of Connected Vehicle Data […] [Read More]

Used-vehicle inventory is not just getting tighter. It’s getting older. Cox Automotive data presented during this week’s Q2 Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index call shows the significant impact the COVID pandemic has made on the current supply. The average age of vehicles sold at Manheim auctions is now 6.7 years. That’s up 24% from the […] [Read More]

Used electric vehicles are breaking sales records seemingly every week in both the retail and wholesale sectors. So it’s no surprise that two more fell in the second quarter of 2025. During its Q2 Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index call this week, Cox Automotive noted retail sales of used EVs for the quarter surpassed 100,000 […] [Read More]

Car shoppers expect dealers to provide a seamless digital buying experience like the ones they get from Amazon and Apple, according to a new survey from artificial intelligence-powered customer data platform Fullpath. The survey of 1,000 Americans who have purchased or leased a vehicle within the past 24 months, conducted in collaboration with independent survey […] [Read More]

The American public’s relationship with electric vehicles is… complicated. Among those who already own an EV, on the other hand, it’s as simple as it could be. They want more. The latest EV driver survey by Plug In America, a national nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the shift to EVs, showed their loyalty is rock solid, […] [Read More]

In a business environment that seems uncertain and chaotic, auto dealer optimism is rising, according to the latest research from The Presidio Group. Despite concerns about tariffs and their effect on prices and the economy in general, The Presidio Midyear 2025 Dealer Direction Survey found 72% of the dealers surveyed said they expect profitability to […] [Read More]

The retail used-car market is proving to be a stable and solid force this year, especially the certified pre-owned segment, Cox Automotive said in its Mid-Year Review last week. On a week-to-week basis, used retail sales have consistently ... [Read More]