Bourne’s Auto scales used volume with fixed pricing, Tesla leads EV app use, GM reshapes powertrain plans

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— CDG

Welcome to the Daily Dealer a concise rundown of the most important automotive industry headlines that matter to car dealers, automakers, and industry insiders.

The 60-day auto loan delinquency rate for subprime hit its lowest point in nearly a year:

In the auto asset-backed securities market, the delinquency rate slowed to 5.7%—dropping from an all-time high of 6.56% in January.

At first glance, this is positive movement…

But historically, subprime delinquencies are still insanely elevated.

(Data source: Fitch Ratings)

1. How Bourne’s Auto Center turned used car sourcing into a well-oiled machine

Bourne’s Auto is an independent used dealer moving 300 retail units a month—no fluff, no franchise cushion.

The playbook? A one-price setup with no haggling, no back-and-forth, and a goal to close every deal in under 45 minutes. Also, nearly half of their inventory is priced under $25K, a key move to stay competitive with payment-conscious shoppers.

Most of their cars come from auction, but they’re doubling down on private-party buys to keep fresh inventory flowing.

Bottom line: Volume like this doesn’t happen by chance…

(Go deeper: 4 min. read)

Courtesy transportation is no longer a nice-to-have.

It’s a need-to-have.

That’s why 80% of dealership respondents agree that providing courtesy rides with Uber has helped retain customers, based on Uber’s survey of 79 organizations in 2023.

With Central, you can request an Uber ride on behalf of your customers, even if they don’t have the Uber app. Car dealerships love using Uber because it’s a simple way to offer white-glove customer service, supplement loaner cars or shuttles, and manage parts pickup and delivery.

• Dealers can request one-way or round-trip rides, add multiple riders and locations, set spend caps, and even monitor trips in real time.

• Plus, you'll get monthly reports to keep track of everything.

If you’re ready to reduce the costs associated with maintaining shuttles and limit the liability of loaner vehicles, it's time to partner with Uber for Business.

Visit t.uber.com/CDGauto today to learn more.

2. EV app usage is up, but satisfaction still lags, except for Tesla — report

EV app usage is climbing fast, but satisfaction still depends on the badge.

J.D. Power says 79% of Tesla drivers now use the app every drive, up from 69% a year ago, with high marks for speed and reliability.

But in the mass market, most nameplates are still lagging with bloat and underused features. Sure, some brands (like Hyundai and Kia) are gaining ground, but industrywide, plenty of pain points persist.

Dealers: Try giving buyers a quick (and honest) brand-specific walkthrough. Point out what’s solid, and flag what’s clunky. That kind of transparency turns tech friction into loyalty…

(Go deeper: 4 min. read)

3. GM adjusts powertrain plans to reflect market demand and infrastructure limits

GM’s not backing off EVs, but it’s not rushing either.

CEO Mary Barra says GM is still all-in on electrification, even as the company invests $888M into a V-8 engine plant and publicly supports easing EV mandates.

Her stance? The market isn’t ready yet, and the customers (not the regulation) should drive the timeline. Barra also backed tariffs as a tool to help U.S. automakers stay competitive with low-cost Chinese EVs.

Zooming out: While GM’s still talking EVs, the moves say they’re hedging—staying in the game without overcommitting to a market that’s not quite there.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG

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