Alabama dealership wins big, Stellantis hits EV milestone, Ford vows to keep prices steady

Hey, everyone. The results of our first consumer-only survey on how shoppers are reacting to tariff news is out!

And the response has been phenomenal… so now, we’re going to do this quarterly.

Want to get in on the next one? Let us know…

— CDG

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Welcome to The Weekly, your go-to roundup of the top five auto industry headlines of the week. Let’s dive in.

1. Howard Bentley Buick GMC’s small-town charm is winning big

Staying at the top of GM’s dealer network for 10 straight years is rare.

Doing it from Albertville, Alabama (pop. <25K)? That’s something else.

Howard Bentley Buick GMC just won GM Dealer of the Year for the 10th year in a row—one of just 22 stores in GM’s top 1% of performers.

Their edge? A 100-person team, a 50K sq. ft. facility, and a no-fluff pricing strategy that pulls in buyers from across the country.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

Dealership innovation isn’t limited to operations—some are rethinking infrastructure, too…

2. Chuck Hutton Toyota is setting a new standard for what public EV charging can be

Memphis just became home to one of the largest public EV charging hubs in the U.S.

And it’s sitting front and center at a Toyota dealership.

Chuck Hutton Toyota’s new Electri-CITY Park is a solar-powered EV charging pit stop with lounges, cubicles, TVs, and even a dog park.

The idea came from dealer principal Young Kim, who’s led the store for 25 years and wanted to make charging feel less like a chore—and more like an experience.

And it’s not done yet: by May, 12 chargers go live. Phase two will add a full sports field for local youth teams.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

But EV infrastructure is only part of the equation. On the tech side, major players are racing to solve battery limitations…

3. Stellantis hits milestone on faster solid-state batteries for future EVs

Stellantis has reached a critical stage in solid-state battery development with partner Factorial Energy, by validating cells that charge from 15% to 90% in 18 minutes.

They’re also rated to work from -22°F to 113°F—directly addressing top consumer concerns around range and extreme weather.

The real challenge? Getting CDJR buyers to buy in.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

But even with breakthroughs on the horizon, the near-term outlook isn’t getting any easier..

Nearly 90% of shoppers say they would be more likely to buy an electric vehicle if they knew they could charge at home.

Problem is nearly half of them don’t know how home charging works. Where do you buy the charger? Who installs it? What does it cost?

Qmerit is your home charging solution —so you can overcome the #1 obstacle to selling an EV.

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Visit qmerit.com/carguy to learn more.

4. OEM profit forecasts are crumbling under tariff pressures

With tariffs on imported auto parts kicking in this week, automakers are starting to flinch.

• Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis both yanked full-year guidance this week—saying the tariff chaos makes it impossible to forecast accurately.

• And Stellantis CFO Doug Ostermann said the company won’t offer updated projections until it can do so “in a high-quality way.”

• Even GM’s profit forecast? CFO Paul Jacobson said, “You shouldn’t rely on that.”

The takeaway: With guidance unraveling and pricing in limbo, the auto industry is in the early innings of a much bigger game.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

As guidance disappears across the industry, Ford is calculating its next move carefully…

5. Ford to hold off on raising prices, says CEO Jim Farley

Ford isn’t showing its hand just yet, and CEO Jim Farley seems just fine with that.

Instead of raising prices in May, Farley says Ford’s holding steady for now, waiting to see how tariff costs shake out.

His math? Up to half of all U.S. vehicles and parts are imported—and tariffs could add $5K to $10K per unit.

The Trump Administration is offering partial relief starting May 3, but Ford’s next real move comes after its Q1 earnings on May 5.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

Three opportunities hitting the CDG Job Board right now:

• Spyne AI Inc: Account Executive (remote)

• Audi Fletcher Jones: Used Car Buyer (remote)

• Premier Automotive: Automotive Appointment Scheduler (Louisiana)

Looking to hire? Add your roles today—it’s 100% free.

• Hyundai shifts Tucson production to dodge tariffs, keep sales rolling.

• Opinion: Slate Auto’s new EV pickup is affordable, customizable, and way cooler than I expected.

• Not all EVs save drivers money—but these ones do

• OEM profit forecasts are crumbling under tariff pressures.

• Mercedes to add ‘core’ new vehicle to Alabama plant.

That’s a wrap for now – make sure you’re following along on X, LinkedIn and IG for more real-time updates.

Thanks for reading. Hit reply and let me know if you found The Weekly valuable or have any feedback. I’ll see you next weekend.

— CDG

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