Industry News
Presented by
Weekly roundup: Tariff refunds open, Ford fights Chinese EVs, Southern union breakthrough impacts dealers
ICYMI: Spring optimism grows for dealers as challenges remain. Massive union breakthrough in the South signals ripple effects for dealers. Ford pushes to block Chinese EVs as it rolls out gas incentives in high-cost states. Tariff refund applications open as dealers and importers seek relief under the CAPE program. Stellantis...
Solutions Central
View All
Inside Automotive
View All
Social media success: A powerful blueprint for dealership dominance
Social media has become a key sales driver for dealerships. As consumer behavior shifts and competition increases, digital content now acts as a direct funnel for leads, trust, and revenue. In this episode of Inside Automotive, RFW Training founder Russell “Russ Flips Whips” Richardson outlines his social media strategies, which focus...
Driving Solutions
View All
How AI is transforming dealership fixed ops with breakthrough efficiency
Fixed operations in automotive dealerships are rapidly shifting as artificial intelligence (AI) and automation replace manual workflows, improving efficiency, customer experience, and profitability. On today’s episode of Driving Solutions, Jeff Adams, Director of Fixed Ops Product Planning at Reynolds & Reynolds, joins us to discuss how new AI tools can drastically...Mergers & Acquisitions
Presented by
CBT Now
View All
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...
New York Auto Show sees robust consumer interest, ride-and-drive engagement
Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association\ (GNYADA), reports that the 126th New York International Auto Show is drawing large crowds, strong consumer engagement, and renewed...
AI, SEO, and GEO: What dealers need to know to stay competitive in digital marketing
As artificial intelligence reshapes digital marketing, confusion around generative engine optimization (GEO) is leading some dealerships to misallocate budget and miss opportunities. Brooke Furniss, BZ Consultants Group, joins us on...
ASOTU CON 2026 set to expand attendance, spotlight AI and human-centered innovation
As we gear up for the fifth annual ASOTU CON, May 12–14, we’re sitting down with the founders to explore their vision, the buzz surrounding this year’s event, and what...
Industry braces as Volkswagen Scout lawsuit tests limits of dealer franchise agreements
Dealers across the country are keeping a close eye on the Volkswagen–Scout class action lawsuit, and for good reason. On today’s episode of CBT Now, we’re joined by Len Bellavia,...
Shep Hyken on how customer experience drives loyalty in 2026
Businesses continue to face increasing pressure to deliver consistent service and reliable products. On today's episode of CBT Now, Shep Hyken, customer service and CX keynote speaker, New York Times...
Shift Digital finds dealer websites outperform third parties as digital shopper behavior shifts
Dealer and brand websites generated higher-quality leads than third-party sources in 2025, even as overall lead volumes declined and consumer engagement patterns continued to evolve, according to Shift Digital’s latest...
CBT News Shorts
Featured
View All
Social media success: A powerful blueprint for dealership dominance
Social media has become a key sales driver for dealerships. As consumer behavior shifts and competition increases, digital content now acts as a direct funnel for leads, trust, and revenue. In this episode of Inside Automotive, RFW Training founder Russell “Russ Flips Whips” Richardson outlines his social media strategies, which focus...
Executive Profile
Presented by
Ben Keating on dealer legacy, racing discipline, and why he’s all-in on omnichannel auto retail
On this episode of Executive Profile, CBT News traveled to Victoria, Texas, to meet with Ben Keating, a third-generation car dealer and professional race car driver who has carved out...
Vaden Automotive’s Jane Vaden Thacher on succession, service, and scaling up
Jane Vaden Thacher, president and dealer operator of Vaden Automotive, leads one of the largest privately held automotive groups in the Southeast with 762 employees across 13 stores. In today’s...
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
View All
Training builds skills – Development builds results
The industry still confuses training with development Nearly every company that supports dealership F&I departments claims to offer training and development. In practice, those two terms are often used interchangeably, even though they represent very different levels of support. In today’s dealership environment, that distinction matters more than ever. F&I departments are...
