Aug. car sales forecast, Ford dials back diversity initiatives, Toyota's global output falls

Hey everyone.  Fresh episode of the CDG Podcast just hit the airwaves…

Today, Matthew Crawford, the Chief Product and Innovation Officer for Cars.com, discusses:

— Building a marketplace for 30 million monthly car shoppers.
— How dealers are gaming the marketplace algorithm
— Best practices for selling cars online.

You can stream the full episode now on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple.

— CDG

1. Aug. car sales to get boost thanks to Labor Day weekend

New car sales are picking up speed this August, driven by stronger seasonal demand and end-of-month Labor Day deals.

By the numbers: With incentives up nearly 60% from last year and inventory slowly rebounding, J.D. Power projects new vehicle sales will rise 4.2% year-over-year to around 1.44 million units.

But while higher sales volume is good news, the average transaction price drop is cutting into dealer profits … Read more

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2. Ford dials back DEI affiliates, takes a ‘fresh look’ at policies

Ford is hitting pause on its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) commitments, cutting ties with key organizations.

Driving the news: Under growing pressure from conservative groups and political critics, the automaker says it’s taking a “fresh look” at its DEI practices to navigate today’s charged political climate.

This move (similar to Harley-Davidson and John Deere) signals a broader corporate pivot away from post-2020 diversity pledges … Read more

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3. Toyota's global sales stumble again in July as challenges persist

Big picture: Toyota’s ride isn’t as smooth lately, with safety scandals and growing competition taking a toll on its performance.

Global output has declined for six consecutive months, while July saw a 5% drop in U.S. sales due to production pauses and fewer selling days.

The automaker is also navigating reputational hurdles, including a safety certification scandal and an airbag issue affecting key models … Read more

• China’s electric car race is becoming more about chips.

• Chevrolet sees an opportunity with the redesigned Equinox.

• Ohio GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno plans new car dealership.

• GM dealership was hit with a $350,000 judgement for wrongful repossession.

• Tesla cars still can't fully self-drive through an empty tunnel.

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG