Car Dealership Guy

[NEWS] Rivian is doubling down on its EV focus—without cutting ties to micromobility: The plan? To spin-off its micromobility business (named Also)—which makes scooters, three-wheels, and smaller EVs. The goal? To sharpen its focus on core models like the R1S and upcoming R2. What we know: Rivian will still keep a stake in the company—but by cleaning up its focus…the potential for streamlined operations and long-term profitability could be closer than ever. Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by Haig Partners: https://lnkd.in/eguaNpfE (Data source: Rivian)

Used car auctions were on fire today Cars were easily going $1–2K higher than just yesterday Buckle up — this won’t show up in the data for another week or two

AUTO TARIFFS UPDATE: BMW price increases will go live effective May 1, 2025. Here’s the updated MSRP breakdown:

Car dealers are sitting on a data goldmine... Many just don’t know how to make it profitable yet. Chad Rycenga, Chief Product Officer at Authenticom, explains how creating utility from data is shaping the future of auto retail. ? Stream the latest episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast now on your favorite platform—brought to you by CRC Transport LLC and CDG Recruiting - The Go-To Talent Partner for Dealers

Will be on CNBC Fast Money at 5:10pm ET to talk tariffs and dealer sentiment — tune in!

[NEWS] Nissan is betting big on its comeback: How? With a new mix of EVs, hybrids, and updated gas-powered models— And a refreshed look at the Leaf, Rogue, and next-gen Sentra. However—some analysts say its future might still depend on some sort of merger. Bottom line: Nissan’s pushing for innovation and adaptability…but is it enough? Read today’s top automotive stories, presented by Haig Partners: https://lnkd.in/eubzTN5s (Data source: Nissan)

Not saying vehicle markups are coming back But also — wouldn’t expect most dealers to discount current inventory now that tariffs are looming. If future inventory is only getting more expensive, there’s little reason to move current units for less.

Digital tools are only as good as the data that fuels them: Today on the CDG Podcast, Authenticom’s Chief Product Officer Chad Rycenga, breaks down why most dealers struggling with AI tools or marketing attribution don’t have a tech problem—they’ve got a data problem. And why fixing it doesn’t have to be complicated. Top lessons learned from Chad: 1. Bad data quietly erodes performance across your entire operation. – Authenticom reviewed 14 billion DMS records last year—mostly CRM, sales, and service data. – 70% needed cleanup: duplicate records, outdated addresses, wrong emails, or missing names. – When dealership tools are working off incomplete or conflicting info, everything suffers—especially AI. 2. How to start basic data hygiene. – Most dealers haven’t touched their data in years—Chad says that’s the fastest fix with the biggest impact. – Start by “de-duping” customer records and verifying contact info through services like USPS, phone, and email databases. – Even simple cleanup can lift service marketing results and improve vendor performance overnight. 3. Clean data is the foundation for everything that comes next. – Once your records are cleaned up, you can actually trust A/B tests on campaigns, inventory decisions, or follow-ups. – Chad worked with a dealer post-DMS conversion to clean their database, then launched a direct mail campaign based on improved customer profiles. – The campaign lifted engagement—because it was finally reaching the right people with the right message. 4. OEMs are using predictive analytics—dealers are still playing catch-up. – Chad’s team is helping manufacturers model pricing and demand by region using dealer data. – Those insights aren’t always reaching the retail layer—but they will as dealer data becomes more usable. – The majority of stores still aren’t equipped to plug into these models, but the infrastructure is getting closer. 5. Most dealers don’t know who’s using their data—or what it’s being used for. – Chad says dealers often work with 5+ vendors touching the same customer data—but with no unified view. – That fragmentation makes it nearly impossible to measure ROI or prevent conflicting campaigns. – Until dealers centralize visibility and control, marketing attribution and vendor performance will stay murky. The full episode is live! Stream it now - YouTube - https://lnkd.in/ek3tCaUv Apple Podcasts - https://lnkd.in/efXmwYT2 Spotify - https://lnkd.in/e6Ri-Xwq Authenticom is hosting a data ‘cleanse’ giveaway of up to 10,000 records:?https://lnkd.in/dAWvd7cm

Sales increased in 2024 for almost every car brand: JLR, Lincoln, and Mazda had the greatest gains— While the usual suspects—Stellantis, Audi, and Infiniti—fell at the other end of the spectrum. But overall—really encouraging to see so much growth. The big question now is— How much will tariffs reshape sales moving forward? (Data/graph source: Q4 Haig Report)

Potential tariff impact on automotive (according to Cox Auto): ? 30% disruptions in auto production ? Higher prices ? Lower incentives ? Some nameplates eliminated Wild