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Hey everyone,
Fixed ops remains the MVP of the industry.
Dig into this week’s Market Pulse to find 5 tactics dealers are using to optimize profits for the dealership.
— CDG
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Welcome to The Weekly, a roundup of the top five auto industry headlines of the week.
Only two vehicles ace car seat test as family vehicle market grows
Only two vehicles earned top marks in Cars.com's 2026 Car Seat Report, revealing that some models are better equipped than others to meet the needs of families.
The details: The report, compiled by certified child passenger safety technicians over 12 months of hands-on testing, found that only the 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLS580 and the 2026 Volkswagen Tiguan earned straight A's across every car seat category.
Ten additional vehicles (listed below) were named "Top Finishers," ranging from the 2025 Acura ADX to the 2026 Volkswagen Atlas, with each earning A's in every category but one.
Keyport Kia harnesses the power of social media to drive sales past 200 per month
A third-generation dealer, Paul Sansone III has turned social media efforts into success, hitting more than 200 sales at Sansone Jr’s Keyport Kia in New Jersey.
Sansone III, who is referred to as PS3, and his sales manager, Billy Sherman, explained how they take a fun approach to using social media to generate leads during an appearance on Daily Dealer Live Monday.
Driving the news: Upon taking on the store, PS3 set the goal to sell 300 cars per month, with the motto, Road to 300, or #RT300. And immediately, he hired his wingman, Sherman, who shared his dedication to social media.
A quick word from our partner
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As buyers become increasingly selective, informed decisions matter more than ever.
Download our Q2 2026 Dealership M&A Market Update for updated Blue Sky Multiple Ranges, expanded Brand Watch analysis, and expert perspectives on today's dealership M&A market.
‘Techo Tuesday’ drives ROs 6% higher at Grubbs CDJR, Kia
Grubbs CDJR and Kia General Manager David Fillmore wanted to show the techs and advisors what they meant to the dealership, build culture, and enjoy some tacos; and the result was the start of the once-per-month “Techo Tuesdays.”
After three months of the lunches, which also include drawings for cash and prizes as incentives for hitting goals, the Grubbs CDJR and Kia stores in Wichita Falls, Texas, have seen their customer pay repair orders rise 6% and more ticket hours.
“We just started, but we’re seeing a lift from it. It’s just something to do to give back,” Fillmore told CDG.
Driving the news: Grubbs purchased the CDJR and Kia stores in February 2025 along with three other brands in Wichita Falls, and Fillmore took over as GM in November.
With a background in used cars, including at Berkshire Hathaway Automotive, he’s focused on developing relationships.
Dealership buy-sell deals are on the rise despite lower profits, Presidio reports
Dealership buy-sell activity keeps accelerating, even as average dealership profits have slipped, according to two reports from The Presidio Group.
For context, the first report tracks deal activity and dealer sentiment on buying and selling. The second tracks quarterly financial performance across the industry.
In the first report: Transactions through the first half of 2026 are estimated to be up 23% year over year, and that’s about 215 deals involving about 315 dealerships, according to Presidio's Q2 2026 Dealership M&A Market Update.
The share of dealers who said they want to sell in the next year rose to 18%, up from 11% at year-end 2025.
Auto loan refinancing surges as higher vehicle costs squeeze consumer budgets
Economic pressures are driving more Americans to refinance their auto loans, with vehicle type and rising loan balances fueling the trend, according to Caribou.
The details: Caribou's latest report found customers who refinanced their auto loans in Q2 saved an average of $162 per month—double the industry average—while reducing their APR by an average of 4.13 percentage points, the largest rate decline in a year.
Group 1 Automotive signs deal estimated at $1.3B to acquire Hennessy Automotive Companies
