Dealership M&A market update, auto loan fraud spikes, Hyundai commits $21B to U.S.

Hey everyone. This week, I sat down with Andrew Dahl, President of Dahl Automotive, a 12-franchise dealer group in Wisconsin and Minnesota, on the latest episode of the CDG Podcast.

We discussed how he’s scaling to $1B a year, the challenges of family legacy, and how finding a higher power changed his life and business.

Trust me, his story is a must-listen. Tune in on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

— CDG

1. M&A update: Smaller dealers move in as dealership valuations finally cool off

The dealership M&A market cooled in 2024 as profits leveled from pandemic highs.

According to Haig Partners:

• Rooftop transactions were down 28% from 2021.

• But last year was still the fourth busiest on record.

Big picture: In a cooling market with stabilizing profits, buyers and sellers are aligning on value—and transactions are more sustainable.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

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2. Auto loan fraud tops $9 billion in 2024

Auto lending fraud just hit an alarming $9.2 billion in 2024.

That’s a 16.5% jump from the year before.

And the bulk of that fraud (72%) comes from buyers lying about their income or employment to secure loans.

What we know: Dealers are getting caught in the crossfire—and with increased buybacks and rising fraud risks, avoiding the fallout is harder than ever.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

3. Hyundai pledges $21B U.S. expansion as automakers brace for tariffs

Hyundai just pledged a notable $21 billion investment in the U.S. by 2028.

The pledge will go toward a new steel plant in Louisiana, boosted vehicle production, and renewable energy efforts.

The kicker? 

Hyundai is doubling down on U.S. manufacturing just as new tariffs are set to roll out—and President Trump is calling the automaker’s move a win for his policies.

(Go deeper: 1 min. read)

And President Trump isn’t the only one who thinks so…

• Automakers seek clarity as reports suggest Detroit 3 may avoid big tariffs

• Access to labor looms as an obstacle in Trump’s auto reshoring hopes

• Bank of America automates refi, title transfers

• Feds investigate 2015-17 Ford F-150 pickups over sudden downshifts at highway speeds

• All the EVs (and PHEVs) you can buy with 0% financing in March 2025

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG