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Hey everyone,
In case you missed it, we just dropped a year-end podcast special featuring the Car Dealership Guy himself, Yossi Levi, reflecting on how the platform has grown — and what’s ahead for 2026.
And, if you prefer to read instead of listen, we also published a short recap pulling out five key takeaways from the episode.
— CDG
First time reading a CDG Newsletter?
The total cost of ownership (TCO) of a new vehicle is falling:
In 2025, the average expense of owning and operating a new vehicle was $11,577 annually, or $964.78/month, a $719 decline from 2024.
The primary reason: Last year, depreciation (the biggest cost of owning a car), decreased by $300 on average.
On the top of that, financing, fuel, and insurance costs are also down meaningfully against 2024.
But if average new car prices continue to rise, these gains might not be enough to entice shoppers.
(Data source: AAA Your Driving Costs report)
Automakers rebalance portfolios as hybrid vehicle demand accelerates
As EV demand cools, automakers are quietly shifting their weight to hybrids, and buyers are following.
With tax credits gone, full EV sales dropped sharply late last year, while hybrids kept gaining share.
They now account for a bigger slice of transactions than EVs, turn faster on dealer lots, and give OEMs a way to monetize the battery investments they’ve already made.
Big picture: Hybrids are holding as the practical middle ground because they’re cheaper than EVs, easier to sell, and profitable today, making them a critical inventory and training focus for dealers as powertrain preferences keep shifting.
A quick word from our partner
A 10-Minute Demo That Unlocks the Best Night at NADA
If you’re already going to the 2026 NADA Show, you might as well get invited to the best night of the week.
DAS Technology is hosting a private party at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and the only way to get a pass is by booking a short demo at Booth #1311W.
You’ll see how DAS uses AI and data to improve lead response, service retention, and marketing ROI, then enjoy a night with Daymond John, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and NFL legends Tim Brown and Brandon Marshall.
Don’t miss once-in-a-lifetime experiences like attempting a field goal and ziplining across a professional football field!
Opinion: A new era of American car culture is taking shape
A lot of younger buyers are waiting longer to get licenses or buy cars, but they’re still forming real connections through games, YouTube, social media, and tech-focused mods tied to the cars they grew up with online.
In other words, the passion is there, it’s just happening before ownership and outside the traditional showroom.
Bottom line: The brands and dealers that lean into that early fandom will be the ones these buyers already trust when they’re finally ready to spend real money on a car.
Stellantis confirms return of Ram TRX with supercharged V-8
Ram is bringing the TRX back, and it’s doing it the loud way.
The 2027 Ram 1500 TRX will return late this year with a supercharged V-8 engine, updated driver-assist technology, and a price around $100,000.
Its comeback signals that Stellantis is stepping back from earlier plans to phase out V-8 engines as emissions rules loosen.
Looking ahead: While the TRX isn’t expected to sell in large numbers, it serves as a high-profile model designed to draw attention to the Ram brand and compete with other high-performance trucks like Ford’s Raptor R.
Hyundai is recalling more than 50K Tucson vehicles over fire risk from improper wiring harness
