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Hey everyone,
New episode of the CDG Podcast just dropped, featuring Jen Speerbrecher, Vice President at Veramatic.
Jen explains why your DMS often fails as a source of truth and how top-performing controllers are using automation to cut month-end closing times in half while guaranteeing 100% accuracy.
— CDG
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The average amount financed on a new vehicle just hit $43.9K in Q1:
That’s up from ~$41K a year ago.
Edmunds ties this to longer terms and lower down payments helping keep monthlys in range…
But it reinforces the same dynamic we’ve been seeing: Aka affordability being managed through structure, not improved at the price level.
(Data source: Edmunds)
How Mohawk Honda acquired 75 used cars from its service drive in March
Mohawk Honda acquired 75 used vehicles from the service drive in March alone, up from 25 to 30 per month, after overhauling the people, processes, and pay plans behind the program, according to GM Greg Johnson.
For context, the store runs 3,000 ROs a month and uses a combination of automated appraisal texts, two dedicated exchange consultants, and equity mining through automotiveMastermind to identify and convert the right customers.
The single biggest unlock: Paying service advisors on internals for acquired vehicles, which turned the team from skeptics into active participants.
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March auto sales slide for most brands as trucks and SUVs remain bright spot
March sales were down for most brands, with Honda, Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru all posting declines ranging from 8% to nearly 26%, partly skewed by last year's tariff-driven rush that inflated the comparison baseline.
The bright spots were concentrated in trucks and SUVs. The Ram brand, for example, was up 20%, Jeep Grand Cherokee up 10%, and Hyundai and Kia both closed Q1 with their best first quarters ever, fueled largely by hybrid demand.
Bottom line: Even with a tough YoY baseline, the split between mainstream softness and truck/SUV strength is holding as a consistent theme.
Subaru unveils 2027 Getaway EV to boost U.S. sales momentum
Subaru earlier this week unveiled the all-electric 2027 Getaway SUV at the New York Auto Show, a three-row AWD family SUV with more than 300 miles of range, 420 horsepower, and 3,500 pounds of towing capacity.
The debut comes as Subaru is navigating a rough patch in U.S. sales, with March down 23.5% year over year.
What we’re watching: The Getaway arrives at dealers in late 2026, and whether it can broaden Subaru's appeal among EV shoppers while the brand works through its sales slump remains to be seen.
