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Hey everyone,
The weekend is a great time to get caught up on podcasts. And we had some great guests stop by this week!
Definitely worth a listen.
— CDG
First time reading a CDG Newsletter?
Welcome to The Weekly, a roundup of the top five auto industry headlines of the week.
3-year-old Rogues lead vehicle sales through Manheim lanes in June
The 2023 Nissan Rogue was the top vehicle moved through Manheim auction lanes in June as more of the models became available off lease.
Driving the news: During its Q2 call last week, Manheim featured the top vehicles moving through its busy lanes that featured a strong conversion rate of 57.5% – nearly a full point higher YOY.
Downing Auto Group on logging the top stores for their brands in Louisiana
For Ryan Downing, of Ross Downing Auto Group, consistency is the key to operating multiple dealerships across several states and earning top marks for their brands in Louisiana.
“You want each store to have the identity of the leader, and you want each store to have the identity of the community that it’s in. But the core processes for us to have to be well aligned across the group,” Downing told Sam D’Arc on a Daily Dealer Live.
Driving the news: The Ross Downing Auto Group operates CDJR and GM dealerships in Hammond and Gonzales, Louisiana, and added a fifth dealership in Mobile, Alabama, earlier this year.
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Successful dealer-athlete partnerships require strategy, not star power, experts say
A growing number of dealerships seeking greater marketing impact are turning to sports and athletes, with Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) partnerships expanding those opportunities.
Digging in: Sports figures such as Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway, 14-time NBA All-Star Karl Malone and NBA great Jamal Mashburn have helped pioneer a model that demonstrates the branding power of athletes in auto retail. But what's the best approach for a dealership or dealer group when partnering with a sports figure?
Dave Cantin, CEO of Dave Cantin Group—which recently launched a strategic advisory practice focused on professional athletes and automotive dealer groups—told CDG News there are several factors dealers should consider when teaming up with an athlete, with DCG President Brian Gordon adding his perspective.
Dodge brings back ‘power dollars’ as gas-powered Charger sales surge
Dodge is looking to build on the momentum of its gas-powered Charger by bringing back its popular Power Dollars incentive.
The details: The promotion gives retail buyers of a new 2026 model-year SIXPACK-powered Charger a $10 cash allowance for every horsepower.
DIY auto maintenance gains momentum as dealers face growing service competition
Selling customers on dealership service and routine maintenance may become more challenging as consumers gain more options for maintaining their vehicles.
The details: As vehicle ownership costs continue to climb, more consumers are embracing do-it-yourself maintenance, with companies such as DoorDash making DIY auto care more seamless.
