Industry News
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Weekly roundup: Trump threatens 25% tariffs on EU auto imports, Ford accelerates secret $30K EV truck, 14 VW dealers protest Scout’s direct sales approach
ICYMI: President Trump proposes 25% tariffs on EU auto imports amid ongoing trade tensions. Ford accelerates a secret EV truck project to challenge China with a $30,000 model. Fourteen California Volkswagen dealers push back on Scout's sales approach. Auto debt rises 37% with dealers face increasing need for flexible financing....
Solutions Central
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Inside Automotive
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How AI is reshaping dealership operations, data strategy, the intelligent dealership model
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future consideration for car dealers. It’s a present-day competitive necessity. That is the central message from Todd Smith, CEO of QoreAI and author of The Intelligent Dealership: How AI and Data Transform Automotive Retail. Smith joins us on today’s episode of Inside Automotive...
Mergers & Acquisitions
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CBT Now
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Dealerships changing hands at record pace, what you need to know before making a move
A record number of car dealerships are changing hands in 2026, driven by aging owners cashing out at peak values while a new generation of buyers zeroes in on the...
How dealers can build trust to keep customers coming back
One of the most valuable assets a dealership can have is not its inventory or even its service department. It's trust. Lose it once, and you could lose that customer...
Edmunds Q1 report reveals rising negative equity as affordability pressures reshape trade-ins
Negative equity is vastly becoming a major pain point in the auto market, with more than 3 in 10 trade-ins now carrying upside-down loans, according to Edmunds. Joining us on the...
The hidden sales killer most professionals don’t even notice
Several sales professionals and small business owners are losing potential customers way before the first conversation ever happens… and unfortunately, most don’t even realize it’s happening. At least that is the...
Dealers risk wasting marketing dollars without trained oversight
Marketing inside dealerships is getting more complex, and the people running it are struggling to keep up. Some dealers are spending up to $100,000 a month on marketing with little...
How NADA’s education escalator is helping dealers build better teams in 2026
Dealers looking to stay competitive in today's rapidly shifting automotive landscape have one thing in common: they are investing in their people. That is the message from Camron Wilson, Vice...
Why the demo drive remains the most critical step in closing sales
The demo drive remains one of the most critical steps in a dealership’s sales process, yet it is often rushed or overlooked. On today's episode of CBT Now, Sean Gardner, instructor...
CBT News Shorts
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Dealerships changing hands at record pace, what you need to know before making a move
A record number of car dealerships are changing hands in 2026, driven by aging owners cashing out at peak values while a new generation of buyers zeroes in on the right stores in the right markets. It’s creating a rare economic environment for dealers to buy, sell, or reposition their...
Executive Profile
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The Executive Profile: What’s next for dealer and philanthropist Rita Case?
Welcome to another edition of the Executive Profile on CBT News. Recently, anchor Jim Fitzpatrick traveled to Davie, Florida, to speak with Rita Case, president and CEO of the legendary...
Mike Maroone’s insights on EVs, affordability, expansion, attracting and retaining talent, succession, and much more
The auto industry has experienced several ongoing changes in the five years since CBT News host Jim Fitzpatrick last spoke with industry legend and former AutoNation Executive Mike Maroone in...
Serra Automotive’s Joe and Matt Serra on fostering a great culture and future plans for the 50-year-old dealer group
Recently, Jim Fitzpatrick had the opportunity to visit the Serra Automotive headquarters in Fenton, Michigan. On this episode of the Executive Profile, he is joined by the President and CEO...From Our Publishing Partners
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AI fixes the gaps that are costing you service customers
There are multiple areas where service breaks down, but most of it traces back to communication, specifically on the phone and over text, where customers are actually deciding whether to move forward or move on. What we see is pretty simple. Volume comes in peaks and valleys, and the staffing model...
