Top-performing dealership brands are increasingly using AI to manage their reputation, rather than relying on traditional, manual methods.
The details: According to the latest insights from Reputation, industry leaders are using AI-based systems to tie brand perception directly to operational outcomes.
Top performers use AI to unify public and private reputation data into a single source of truth.
They interpret why trust is rising or fading, not just where it happens.
They push insights into action across operations, marketing, and customer experience teams.
And they prove improvement over time, focusing on sustained performance rather than short bursts of recovery after bad reviews.
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Why it matters: Unlike traditional brand management, which reacts to reviews after the fact, AI-driven platforms analyze customer sentiment across platforms and touchpoints in real time. The result is a continuous feedback loop that helps leaders adapt faster and more precisely.
Zooming in: Reputation’s 2026 Automotive Reputation Report also highlights a few clear frontrunners:
Among carmakers, top performers include Subaru (1), Nissan (2), and Honda (3) for non-luxury brands. And Lexus (1), BMW (2), and Acura (3) for luxury automakers.
Top-performing private dealer groups include Hendrick Automotive (1), Ken Ganley Automotive Group (2), and McGovern Automotive Group (3).
The leading public dealer groups in Reputation’s ranking are Penske (1), AutoNation (2), and Group 1 Automotive (3).
Among U.S. dealers, top performers include (1) Hendrick Lexus Charleston, (2) Hendrick Volvo Cars of Charleston, and (3) Hendrick Lexus Northlake.
What they’re saying: In just one year, our dealers helped Acura move from fifth to third place—aligning with the goal of the Acura Dealer Digital Program to deliver a more responsive, premium and distinctly Acura experience across every client interaction,” stated Jennifer Symington, assistant vice president of marketing for American Honda.
Bottom line: Automotive leaders are utilizing AI to see problems and opportunities much earlier, correct course faster, and let that compounding advantage quietly show up in search visibility, showroom traffic, and gross.
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