Knight Auto scales fleet ops, Toyota brings back C-HR as EV, Ford issues major SUV recall

Hey everyone. Just dropped a new episode of the CDG Podcast with Derek Hansen, VP of Ops at Cox Automotive.

We get into the weeds on how AI is changing inventory pricing, what dealers really need to know about tariffs, and where vAuto is headed next.

Smart, tactical, and loaded with takeaways.

Catch it now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple.

— CDG

Welcome to the Daily Dealer a concise rundown of the most important automotive industry headlines that matter to car dealers, automakers, and industry insiders.

Most of Mexico’s auto parts suppliers are dodging President Trump’s new tariffs:

92% of suppliers already meet USMCA’s content rules, but the other 8%?

They rely on imported specialty components, which push them out of compliance.

Big picture: While most Mexican auto suppliers are currently in the clear, even a small gap can cause some trouble.

Auto parts drive over $100B in annual production, accounting for 20% of Mexico’s exports (mostly to the U.S.)

(Data source: Mexico’s National Auto Parts Industry Director Gabriel Padilla via Mexico News Daily)

1. Knight Auto Group expands fleet services with new Ford Pro Elite facility

Knight Auto Group doesn’t wait on vendors to slow them down—if they can do it faster and better, they bring it in-house.

That’s exactly what they did with bringing truck upfits (like flatbeds, strobes, ladder racks) under their own roof, cutting delays and driving a 10% sales bump in ‘24.

And now they’re going even bigger.

With a Ford Pro Elite center is on deck, built from the ground up for fleet, with dedicated lifts, separate techs, and no retail traffic clogging the lanes.

Big picture: Fleet is where Knight sees white space. From in-house installs to a dedicated Pro Elite facility, he says every move going forward is built to solve customer pain and stack margin.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

Dealerships that sell vehicles across state lines know out-of-state titling and registration can be a headache.

That’s why DLRdmv created DLR50 – The nation’s fastest-growing interstate titling platform.

DLRdmv understands the impact these deals can have on your business. With DLR50, your dealership now has 24/7 portal access to calculations, pre-filled forms, checklists, inquiries, plus white glove processing and specialist support, DLR50 is a game-changer.

You can even acquire duplicate titles in all 50 states directly through the DLR50 platform!

Out-of-state deals don’t have to be complicated! Let DLR50 simplify the entire process for you and your team.

Click here to show us how DLR50 can help your dealership today!

DLRdmv – “The Dealer’s DMV”

2. Toyota reboots C-HR as an electric compact SUV for American buyers

Toyota’s quietly bringing back the C-HR—but this time, it’s all-electric.

The compact crossover will return to the U.S. in 2026 with up to 290 miles of range, following its European EV debut earlier this year.

For context: It’s Toyota’s second U.S. EV only after the BZ4X—which quietly doubled deliveries last year and surged 188% in Q4 alone.

It’s a classic Toyota approach, with a low-key rollout, steady scaling, and a hedge against the boom-and-bust EV cycle.

(Go deeper: 3 min. read)

Missed yesterday’s episode of Daily Dealer Live?

Subprime borrowers denied, Honda tariff impact, and more

• Bill Vaughn, General Manager of Al West Nissan

• Ed Petersen, CEO of Wrench

• Ryan Knight, Director of Operations at Knight Automotive Group

3. Ford recalls 274,000 SUVs for brake defect

Ford’s quality issues just flared up again—this time with 274K Ford Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators heading back to the shop.

The problem? A brake line defect tied to faulty install work. Ford says only 1% of vehicles are impacted, but 45 warranty reports are already on record.

This also marks the second recall for Expeditions and Navigators in less than a month, and follows 60+ recall for Ford in 2024.

Bottom line: CEO Jim Farley is trying to fix quality with process, but the public’s watching results. And right now, recalls are winning.

(Go deeper: 2 min. read)

Thanks for reading everyone.

— CDG

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