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Hey everyone,
Happy Saturday and Memorial Day weekend!
It was a dynamite week of guests on our shows.
Have some extra time this weekend? Worth catching up on these.
— CDG
First time reading a CDG Newsletter?
Welcome to The Weekly, a roundup of the top five auto industry headlines of the week.
Toyota, Lexus and Mazda warn NJ dealers: Broker leases won’t be purchased
The financial services arms of Toyota/Lexus and Mazda this month issued notices to dealers stating that leases and sales involving brokers in the state of New Jersey will not be purchased.
The details: Under both policies, if a brokered deal is inadvertently purchased due to an oversight or misrepresentation, the dealer will be required to repurchase the contract.
Toyota/Lexus sent its memo on May 5 and cited today (May 20) as the effective date. Mazda’s memo went out May 19, with a June 2 effective date.
60 stores, 1 campaign, 1 goal: stop the scroll
Ed Morse Automotive Group, which owns 60 automotive franchised dealerships and powersports stores across multiple states, recently launched the campaign in an effort to sell the experience, not the car.
Between the lines: The infographic ad, as it is called, is part of a broader campaign called May Family Miles, a company-wide push built around road trips, family moments, and Mother's Day, rolled out simultaneously across all Ed Morse social media accounts.
“I think everyone already knows that we sell cars,” Tyler Sloan, creative producer for Ed Morse Automotive, told CDG News. “I think my job is to let people know why we sell cars and why we're different from other dealerships.”
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Lupo on Appletree Honda’s platform consolidation, advisor retraining, mobile service push
As the fixed operations director at AppleTree Honda and Acura, Richard Lupo has overseen the consolidation of the store’s platforms, service advisor retraining, and the leaning into mobile service to maintain and gain new customers.
Lupo, who started in the service department and became a master technician, still loves getting into the details, reading every manual, and learning how to do each aspect of the job.
Still, it’s worth noting that what Lupo is doing is just paying attention to the tools, the workflow, and the small inefficiencies that compound over time, which is why it works so well right now.
JD Power study shows dealers still win on trust, but lose ground on service speed
A JD Power study highlighting consumer gains and gaps with aftermarket service providers underscores several areas where dealers could win more service business.
The details: The JD Power 2026 U.S. Aftermarket Service Index (ASI) Study found that aftermarket providers are viewed as more convenient than dealerships, particularly in terms of speed, as cost becomes a bigger factor in service decisions.
Toyota, Nissan dealers brace for motor oil supply crunch amid Middle East disruptions
A motor oil shortage appears to be looming as prices surge amid the war in Iran, with Toyota and Nissan dealers already being advised on how to prepare for potential supply disruptions.
The details: Damage to key facilities in the Middle East, coupled with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, has created what CNN described as “the perfect storm” for a motor oil shortage.
Rising oil costs and potential shortages could pressure dealership fixed ops, particularly service departments reliant on consistent lubricant supply and predictable maintenance margins.
