AI adoption in auto retail is expected to deepen as more dealers push to modernize their operations, making 2026 “the first true AI Operations Year,” according to Spyne.
The details: Based on the results of its 2026 U.S. Automotive Market Sentiment & Dealer Operations Report, the AI tech company projects that 2026 will mark a major turning point for artificial intelligence in the business, with 76% of U.S. dealerships planning to increase their AI budgets next year.
74% of those surveyed noted AI voice agents as the top priority for their AI investment—for automation in lead response, inbound call management, and service scheduling.
Other priorities include merchandising and inspection automation (68%) to speed up time to market; pricing and analytics (62%) to provide accurate used-car values and drive real-time, data-driven decisions; and sales and after-sales (54%).
Via Spyne
Spyne’s study, drawn from nearly 1,200 dealership executives in 34 states and conducted from July through October, classifies dealers into three AI-adoption categories, including “early majority,” “fast followers,” and “laggards.”
What they’re saying: “As buyers moved online and affordability tightened, manual processes couldn’t keep up,” said Spyne co-founder and CEO Sanjay Kumar Varnwal (via Auto Remarketing). “Demand was there, but operational bottlenecks held too many stores back. That’s why 2026 has to be the year dealerships treat AI as core infrastructure, not an experiment.”
Why it matters: “The stores that modernize their operations now will be the ones that protect margin and win the next cycle,” Varnwal added.
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Between the lines: As more dealerships move beyond the AI experimentation phase, the benefits of the tech are already apparent, according to Spyne’s findings.
Those that used AI for visual merchandising, lead response, or inspection automation in 2025 reported a 25–30% increase in showroom appointments.
They also reported a 33% reduction in BDC operating costs, a 67% increase in online listing engagement, and 12–15 hours saved per week in operations.
“Dealerships can no longer absorb process inefficiencies,” said Varnwal. “Speed of response and quality of presentation now determine who captures shrinking margins.”
Bottom line: Early adopters are already seeing more showroom appointments, lower BDC costs, higher online engagement, and hours saved each week—underscoring that dealers who modernize their operations with AI now will be the ones who protect margin and capture the next demand cycle.
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