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Welcome to The Weekly, a roundup of the top five auto industry headlines of the week.
AI-powered digital marketing is driving higher dealer conversions at lower cost, report finds
The return on investment for digital marketing continues to improve, with dealership conversions surging nearly 40% in April as more stores lean on AI-powered automation to optimize budgets in real time, according to Fullpath.
The details: In its April 2026 Auto Intelligence Index, an analysis of retail trends across its nationwide network of franchised dealerships, the AI data company highlighted several findings pointing to stronger digital ad efficiency.
How Purdy Group USA runs a people-first operation
Harold Hurst, COO for Purdy Group USA, aims to run a people-first operation.
For instance, their dealerships shut down for five days the week before Christmas for paid time off that doesn’t impact employees’ personal time-off banks.
Hurst credits the group’s people-first philosophy for helping fuel their growth.
Driving the news: The paid Christmas break is just one example of how Hurst/Purdy tries to do things differently, even if it’s not universally loved.
“The manufacturers hate it,” Hurst told Daily Dealer Live host Sam D’Arc about the Christmas shutdown.
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How a U.S. Marine veteran’s service helps inform his leadership today
Manny Sedano didn't always plan to sell cars.
The San Diego native joined the Marines after high school in 1991, serving until 1995.
He intended to enter law enforcement after, but an unexpected part-time job put the brakes on that.
Some background: Sedano started selling vehicles in June 1995 at Puente Hills/Leo Hoffman Chevrolet in L.A., where his family friend, the late Bob Fernandez, worked.
He rose quickly from sales to finance to sales manager, then general sales management at that store, before leaving L.A. in 2006.
That’s when he purchased a Payless Car Sales used-vehicle dealership in Bakersfield, Calif., and formed Sedano Automotive Group.
Toyota recalls 43K+ Tundras as rival truck brands eye market share opportunity
Toyota has recalled more than 43,000 Tundras as competing truck brands look to capitalize on any opening to gain share in the highly competitive segment.
First things first: The recall was issued after debris was discovered inside the engines of certain Toyota pickup trucks, which could potentially lead to “catastrophic failure,” Yahoo Autos reported.
And according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall affects 43,566 Tundras from the 2024 model year equipped with Toyota’s V35A engine.
Sedans gain fresh appeal as OEMs reconsider the affordable car segment
More affordability-minded consumers are gravitating toward sedans as several automakers reconsider the segment.
With the average vehicle price hovering around $50,000, more buyers are turning to sedans, with younger and future drivers also eyeing the segment.
Big picture: U.S. sedan sales reached nearly 1.5 million units in 2025, driven largely by the Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, Nissan Sentra and Honda Accord, CarBuzz reported.
