Presented by:
Hey everyone,
Another episode of our Industry Spotlight podcast—a focused series hosted by Sam D’Arc—just aired, and this time, Sam’s joined by Dorian Jimenez, Owner-Dealer Operator of Classic Chevrolet OKC, and Chuck Stilwill, EVP of Ikon Technologies.
Together, they’re getting into Dorian's journey from GSM to owner, the best practices for protecting inventory, the key dealer benefit of connected data, and more.
— CDG
First time reading a CDG Newsletter?
2.45 million cars on U.S. roads likely have rolled back odometers:
That’s a 14% rise YoY, more than double the typical annual growth.
The reason: Used car competition is high, and scammers are doing everything they can to artificially inflate values.
And it’s getting easier as more cars switch over to digital odometers…
(Data source: CarFax)
Veteran political strategist Mike Murphy urges dealers to rethink how they sell EVs
Political strategist Mike Murphy is arguing EV sales didn’t slow because the product failed, but because the industry wrapped them in politics instead of selling what actually matters.
His advice to dealers is simple and practical:
Talk about fewer oil changes, lower fuel costs, and how EVs drive, then give shoppers real time with the unit, like a weekend test, so charging and daily use stop feeling intimidating.
He also says the stores that actually close EV deals tend to do one more thing right by putting their salespeople in EVs as daily drivers, so conversations come from real experience instead of a brochure or script.
A quick word from our partner
ChatGPT can write emails, plan trips, even tell jokes…
But it can’t tell you which VINs are at risk of sitting too long, how your dealer performs against your competition, or how to improve your VDPs.
That’s where LotGPT comes in. It's the only chatbot built exclusively for car dealers. It knows your market, dealership and inventory.
Fueled by Lotlinx’s decades of VIN and Shopper data, plus your live inventory, Google Analytics and CRM, it delivers relevant answers and guidance to help you sell cars faster and more profitably.
LotGPT is free for dealers, but invite-only.
Subprime auto financing stress is adding pressure to loan approvals
Higher vehicle prices, elevated rates, and the real cost of insurance and maintenance are hitting lower-income buyers first, pushing subprime delinquencies past 6.6%.
As a result, lenders are responding by tightening structure and approvals, while refinancing is keeping the broader system from breaking, but at the cost of longer terms and more negative equity.
Bottom line: Credit is still flowing, but the margin for error is shrinking. Dealers should expect tougher approvals, slower trade cycles, and a widening gap between buyers who can still get bought and those who can’t.
U.S. new car sales poised to dip slightly in 2026 — forecast
The new-car market is coming off its strongest year in a while, but the easy momentum appears to be behind it.
Cox Automotive expects 2025 to close around 16.3 million units sold, the best showing since 2019, while projecting a slight decline in 2026 to a 15.8 million SAAR as economic growth cools, hiring slows, and EV tax incentives expire.
Big picture: As the cycle normalizes, dealers will need a tighter inventory mix, smarter incentives, and solid F&I execution to keep volume and margins in balance.
Missed yesterday’s episode of Daily Dealer Live?
Presented by:
Thomas on Dealership Security, Wise on Recruiting
Featured guests:
Karianne Thomas, Director of Security at Zeigler Auto Group
Brad Wise, Executive Manager at Ferman Chevrolet Mazda
