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Hey everyone,
Fixed ops is running the show right now…carrying margins, retaining customers, and keeping rooftops steady while variable slows.
We’re digging deeper into the space, but want to know what you want more coverage on — Service BDCs? Tech retention? Warranty chaos?
Shoot us an email & point us where to look next.
— CDG
First time reading the CDG Newsletter?
Ford is responsible for nearly 50% of vehicle recalls year-to-date:
For a total of 9,420,920 affected.
Remember back in the day when Ford’s slogan was “Quality is Job 1?”
My, how far we’ve come.
(Data/graph source: BizzyCar / NHTSA)
New car transaction prices break $50,000 barrier for first time — KBB
New-vehicle prices just crossed a major threshold. According to Kelley Blue Book, the average transaction price hit $50,000 in September, a first for the U.S. market.
The rise reflects a heavier mix of luxury models and higher-priced EVs, which now make up a record 11.6% of sales.
Analysts say it’s a sign of both strength and strain: profits remain solid, but affordability is keeping more buyers on the sidelines or in the used market.
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Vehicle recalls surge in Q3 for highest quarterly total in almost two years
Vehicle recalls jumped to their highest level in nearly two years, with automakers issuing 96 campaigns covering 8.5 million vehicles in Q3, according to BizzyCar.
Ford led the pack, accounting for nearly 60% of all units recalled, largely due to backup camera failures and electrical issues.
For dealers: The surge is both a headache and a revenue opportunity. Most fixes still require in-person service, meaning stores that tighten recall outreach and technician pipelines stand to win big as margins elsewhere thin out.
Auto lending troubles signal a K-shaped economy
Subprime delinquencies reached 6.4% in August, the highest level since 2016, and repossessions have returned to Great Recession-era levels.
Meanwhile, prime borrowers are holding steady, widening the split between those who can keep paying and those who can’t.
Big picture: Affordability’s been a headline for a while, but for good reason, because it’s still showing up in real-time data, and with regulators stepping back, the pressure’s landing squarely on lenders and dealers to manage the fallout.
Missed yesterday’s episode of Daily Dealer Live?
Presented by:
Starkey on After-Sale CX, DAS Tech CEO on Driving Sales, Ruder on Client Growth
Featured guests:
Tony Starkey, Customer Experience Manager at Bob Poynter Family of Dealerships
Alexi Venneri, CEO of DAS Technology
Chris Ruder, General Manager at Northcutt Chevrolet
