Market Pulse

As dealers ramp up AI adoption, customers have mixed feelings — survey

Dealer enthusiasm for AI is high—but positive consumer sentiment for the tech’s involvement in the buying process has declined year-over-year, according to Urban Science. (3 min. read)

Uber partners with Lucid Motors, Nuro to deploy 20,000 robotaxis

Uber plans to roll out the first Lucid robotaxis next year in a major urban hub—then scale up the service as demand grows. (2 min read)

Hyundai’s new loyalty program rewards routine, not big-ticket spending

For dealers, it could be a light lift with clear upside in the service lane and at the desk. (3 min. read)

Ash Savage

AutoCanada divests 13 U.S. dealerships in strategic pullback

CDG News alert (1 min. read)

U.S. rolls back fuel economy penalties for automakers dating back to 2022

CDG News alert (1 min. read)

Podcast Recaps

"Customers calling the service dept is a sign of failure"—Inside how the best dealerships are evolving

Featuring Longo Toyota's Paul LeBlanc, and Derek Simonds from Numa

Dealer Strategies

How Ed Roberts built a mobile vehicle service empire at Bozard Ford

"There is not a customer that wakes up in the morning that's excited to go into a car dealer,” said Ed Roberts, COO of Bozard Ford Lincoln. (2 min. read)

Former Tesla insider joins direct-to-consumer sales debate: Let the best model win

Farzad Mesbahi’s take is pro-consumer. Not anti-dealer. If direct works better, great. And if franchise stores deliver more, the market should back it. (4 min. read)

Ash Savage

Ford recalls 694,000 vehicles as fuel injector risk grows

Ford’s recall troubles have gone from bad, to worse, to record-breaking. (2 min. read)

Tariffs force Volvo to pull several models from U.S. market

CDG News alert (1 min. read)

Reed Auto Group expands in the Midwest with recent Ford store acquisition

CDG News alert (< 1 min. read)

Bravo Nissan sold to first-time buyer in Texas

CDG News alert (< 1 min. read)

The Breakdown

The quiet retreat of incentives—and what dealers are doing about it

Something’s gotta give

Car Dealership Guy

New auto loan interest tax deduction takes effect, but may offer limited relief — study

Still, it could help with select domestic SUV or truck shoppers in the $35K–$45K range if they’re in the income sweet spot and know it applies. (3 min. read)

Ash Savage

16 July 2025

VW resumes full exports of ID Buzz to U.S. amid market challenges

Volkswagen has resumed deliveries of its ID.Buzz electric minibus to the United States, a company spokesperson confirmed. (2 min. read)