Used Tesla prices are plunging, Toyota taps Instagram for F&I strength, auto tariffs triggering some job josses

Hey everyone. Episode 2 of Daily Dealer Live is airing today at 1 p.m. EST.

We’re sitting down with Chris Barman, CEO of Slate Auto, to talk strategy, scale, and what it really takes to lead in today’s market.

No fluff. No filters. Just real talk.

Streaming on all CDG channels. See you there.

— 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.

BREAKING: Ford hikes prices on Mexico-built models after tariff hit

Effective May 2, Ford is raising prices by up to $2K on the Mustang Mach-E, Maverick, and Bronco Sport.

Vehicles built after that date will land at U.S. dealerships starting late June.

Ford says the hikes reflect “usual” mid-year pricing, plus partial tariff pass-through.

Wow. The dam has broken…

(Source: Dealer notice via Reuters)

1. Plunging used Tesla prices? This used EV dealer isn't blaming Musk's politics

Used Tesla prices are falling fast—but one dealer is turning the slide into a sales surge.

In April, EV Auto sold a record number of pre-owned Teslas, moving 60 more units than it did in March. Model 3s (hello, $4K federal credit) and Model Ys are leading the charge.

Yes, average Tesla prices are down double digits year over year, but CEO Alex Lawrence says that’s actually fueling demand—not killing it.

Big picture: For some sellers, the value drop hurts. But for dealers like EV Auto, it’s opening the door to real momentum in the peak of used EV season.

(Go deeper: 4 min. read)

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2. Toyota Financial Service is turning Instagram into an F&I power tool

Toyota Financial Services just turned Instagram into an F&I warm lead machine.

The brand just launched @toyotafinancial, a new account packed with Reels that break down leasing, VSA, and legal terms—in under three minutes and without the jargon.

And yes, origami makes a cameo.

But the real play is this: simplified F&I content buyers actually watch, plus a revamped dealer hub that lets stores customize and publish Reels on their own pages.

Big picture: In a market squeezed by affordability and tariffs, warm leads matter more than ever. And TFS is meeting shoppers where they scroll—with answers, not pressure.

(Go deeper: 2 min. read)

3. Auto tariffs could trigger job losses far beyond the factory floor — report

The true cost of auto tariffs is showing up far from the factory floor.

New data from Implan shows that 1,250 recent auto layoffs at Mack Truck, Volvo, and Stellantis could ripple into 8,200 more job losses—from supply chains to healthcare, housing, and beyond.

At Stellantis alone, if 450 furloughed workers aren’t called back, the fallout could total 3,200 U.S. jobs lost and wipe out $145M in GDP.

Zooming out: Yes, these are early projections—but the math is clear: for every one job cut on the line, six to seven more could vanish in the industries that depend on them…

(Go deeper: 2 min. read)

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG

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