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Hey everyone,
Happy Monday (!) ICYMI this weekend: Our Breakdown newsletter “Spending more to sell less: 3 lessons tied to dealership margins in Q3” went live Sunday morning.
Check it out here.
— CDG
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Dealer panel points out increasing role of AI in used vehicle acquisition
With new vehicle margins compressed between $1,200 and $1,400 for non-luxury stores, dealers are looking for additional opportunities in the used car market.
That effort starts with acquiring quality inventory.
Driving the news: During Daily Dealer Live, Rob Ruth, president and owner of Bob Ruth Ford, Brooke English Guy, general manager at Coastal Chevrolet Cadillac Nissan, Charlie Spradlin, general manager at Art Moehn Auto Group, and Frank Knox, chief operating officer at AutoAcquire AI, joined host Sam D’Arc to discuss their strategy for acquiring vehicles in today’s market.
The roundtable, featuring dealerships of different sizes, explained how they are looking outside the auction for vehicles, including their service drive and customer database.
“It’s not a passive behavior when it comes to acquiring a car,” Knox said. “It has to be proactive.”
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IRS sends reminder on car loan interest deduction
Entering the final months of the year, the IRS just reminded dealers that some customers may be able to deduct their car loan interest on their taxes.
What we know: As part of the Working Families Tax Cuts passed by Congress in 2025, a tax deduction for interest on new vehicle purchases was included. Eligible vehicles had to have final assembly in the United States.
The deduction phases out for single taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes over $100,000 and $200,000 for joint filers by $200 for every $1,000 of income over that threshold.
First-year returns: At the end of the tax filing season in May, the IRS reported 1.4 million filers claimed the deduction on their 2025 returns.
The deduction is not going to make the final decision on purchasing a vehicle for the consumer with the overall benefit, but it could be worth a mention, being the equivalent of one payment (or more) off their taxes.
After nearly 50 years, Mangino family sells 2 N.Y. stores to Georgica Auto Holdings
Georgica Auto Holdings purchased two dealerships from Tina Mangino-Coffey, Patricia Mangino, and Ralph Mangino Jr., in a deal that closed Oct. 28.
For context: The sale included Mangino Chevrolet, in Amsterdam, New York, and Mangino Buick GMC, in Ballston Spa, New York, both near Albany. Georgica Auto, led by CEO Jonathan Sobel, will keep the store names, according to the Dave Cantin Group (DCG), which advised the sellers.
Mike Coffey, a longtime operator of the dealerships, will stay on to oversee both stores. He’s also the spouse of Tina Mangino-Coffey, one of the family’s second-generation owners.
Strategic note: The Dave Cantin Group said it spent several months reviewing the family’s succession options. And while second- and third-generation Mangino family members were involved in the business, the family ultimately chose to sell.
Fiat extends 500 production shutdown for fourth straight week amid weak demand and chip shortages
Tesla to end Cybertruck production by mid-2027 as Musk shifts focus to robotaxi expansion
