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Hey everyone. Catch this week’s Car Dealership Guy Industry Spotlight with Sam D’Arc yet?
In this episode, Sam and David Steinberg, CEO and Founder of Foureyes, explore how rethinking data—and prioritizing “match rate”—is unlocking AI’s full potential at the dealership.
— CDG
Over the past 10 years—the median range of EVs has more than tripled:
In 2014—the average range for an EV was only 84 miles (pulled down by the Nissan Leaf at the time).
But last year—that number jumped to 283 miles with models like the Lucid Air, Rivian R1T, and Tesla Model S reaching maximum ranges of 400 - 500 miles.
Pretty crazy – EV battery tech has come a very long way.
(Data source: Department of Energy)
1. Dealer wait times, delays pick up in 2024, hurting customer satisfaction
Car buyers faced longer wait times at dealerships in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest CDK Global’s Friction Points Study.
Test drives posed the biggest challenge, with 55% of buyers waiting to get behind the wheel, up from 41% in 2023.
Additionally, 36% of shoppers waited for sales staff to locate their desired vehicle, compared to 29% the year before.
And financing delays also surged, with nearly half of buyers waiting over 30 minutes to complete paperwork.
Bottom line: Although some dealerships are making progress by leveraging digital retailing and AI tools—many must still fix their bottlenecks—or risk losing customers for good … (Go deeper: 4 min. read)
2. Ford is paying back dealers up to $240K for EV chargers
Ford is trying to rebuild trust with its dealers by sending out reimbursement checks after canceling its controversial EV certification program.
The initiative, launched in 2022, required dealers to invest sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars on EV infrastructure like charging stations.
Those who didn’t comply risked losing access to EV inventory.
Unsurprisingly, the program sparked major backlash and even lawsuits, leading Ford to shut it down in 2024.
Moving forward: Ford is scaling back its EV requirements—dealers now only need two Level 2 chargers and some virtual training to stay certified … (Go deeper: 1 min. read)
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3. German automakers brace for impact as Trump eyes tariffs
German automakers are on edge as President Trump moves closer to imposing tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, a move he says is aimed at curbing unauthorized migration and drug trafficking.
These tariffs, expected as soon as February 1, could send car prices soaring for U.S. consumers and push inflation higher, say the automakers.
Volkswagen is particularly vulnerable. Industry analysts estimate that 65% of VW’s U.S. sales would lose competitiveness under the proposed levies.
Big picture: For now, it seems Trump is determined to move forward, though negotiations with affected countries remain a possibility … (Go deeper: 2 min read)
Police investigating suspected arson at Salem Tesla dealership.
New car average transaction prices flirt with record highs and GM, Ford EV sales soar.
Kia to sit out Super Bowl as automakers poised for minimal presence this year.
Trump says he’s open to TikTok sale to Elon Musk or Larry Ellison.
Stellantis recalls over 63,000 U.S. vehicles, NHTSA says.
Did you enjoy this edition of the Daily Dealer newsletter?
Thanks for reading everyone.
— CDG
