Car Dealership Guy Podcast

Latest Episodes:

#87 Exposing the Future of EV's, Why 70% of EV owners will never go back, Car market says “what recession?” | David Thomas, Director of Content Marketing at CDK Global May 28, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with David Thomas, Director of Content Marketing at CDK Global where we discuss: The future of EVs in America, Car market says “What recession?”, Why 70% of EV owners will never go back, How China is tipping the scales on EV production and much more!

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Auto Hauler Exchange - The Auto Hauler Exchange has revolutionized the way vehicle haulers and vehicle shippers collaborate. The Exchange is the first digital marketplace of its kind in the vehicle logistics industry. Learn more @ https://www.autohaulerexchange.com/

Private Auto - The safest way to buy vehicles privately. Use code ‘CDG’ to list your car for free. Learn more @ https://privateauto.com/

CDK Global - Empowering dealers with the tools and technology to build deeper customer relationships.

Learn more @ https://www.cdkglobal.com/dealership-xperience-platform

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:30) - David’s career and background

(00:06:03) - The state of the car market

(00:11:05) - Where are we at today with how “easy” it is for consumers to buy a car?

(00:16:40) - What’s the state of EVs in the market?

(00:32:52) - If you had to place your bet on one automaker to win the EV strategy, who would it be?

(00:35:24) - What are you seeing as best practices for EV servicing?

(00:41:25) - What’s your opinion on the possibility of cheap EVs coming in from China?

(00:49:19) - What’s your short-term outlook for EVs?

Check out CDK Insights here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#86 Building a used car dealership empire, $125M in sales in one location, "Cigars and P&L statements", Turning recon into a profit center | Michael Kelley, General Manager of Bourne's Auto Center May 23, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Michael Kelley, General Manager of Bourne's Auto Center, where we discuss: How to build a used car dealership empire, Crushing $125M in sales in one location, "Cigars and P&L statements", Turning recon into a profit center and much more!

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Uber for Business - With Central, you can request a ride on behalf of your customers even if they don’t have the Uber app. If you’re ready to reduce the costs associated with maintaining shuttles and limit the liability of loaner vehicles, it's time to partner with Uber. Visit t.uber.com/CDGauto today

Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at https://www.carscommerce.inc/

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:34) - Michael’s career in auto

(00:05:37) - What are the high-level numbers for your dealership?

(00:08:06) - What is your sales structure?

(00:10:06) - What are your margins today?

(00:16:43) - How are you managing your reconditioning center?

(00:20:29) - How are you approaching your value lot?

(00:24:05) - What’s your appraisal process?

(00:26:03) - How do you share reconditioning with customers?

(00:27:16) - What is your sales process?

(00:33:33) - What is your customer demographic?

(00:36:00) - What is the value proposition you market to get people to come to your store?

(00:37:52- How much are your salespeople making?

(00:40:28) - How are you acquiring used cars?

(00:45:07) - Inventory carry costs

(00:46:59) - What’s your role in the business?

(00:47:42) - Michael’s Florida experience

(00:59:43) - Have you ever considered going franchise?

(01:01:52) - Get in touch with Michael

Check out Bourne's Auto Center here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#85 Transforming how dealers buy cars, Exiting for $300M, Surprising dealership growth hacks, Which retailers pay the most for customer trade-ins? | Nate Mihalovich, CEO of The Lasso May 21, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Nate Mihalovich, CEO of The Lasso where we discuss: His journey from $300M exit to transforming how dealers buy cars, Which retailers pay the most for customer trade-ins, surprising dealership growth hacks, How dealers out-compete Carmax and Carvana and much more!

This episode is brought to you by:

CDK Global - Empowering dealers with the tools and technology to build deeper customer relationships.

Learn more @ https://www.cdkglobal.com/dealership-xperience-platform

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

The Lasso - The best way to get multiple offers for your car. Learn more @ https://www.thelasso.com/cdg

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:39) - How did you get from tech to the car business?

(00:05:31) - What did you set out to build in 2020?

(00:10:52) - What is the value proposition for dealers and why do consumers sell this way?

(00:19:41) - What’s your total volume of vehicle transactions?

(00:22:43) - How do you handle issues with a customer selling their vehicle?

(00:28:52) - What are dealers telling you right now?

(00:32:10) - What are you seeing in the market right now?

(00:34:43) - What do you see for the future of traditional auctions?

(00:39:14) - The importance of having a dealer’s license

Check out The Lasso here - https://www.thelasso.com/

Get in touch with Nate here - Nate@thelasso.com

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#84 Secrets to building the largest Honda store in the U.S., Betting big on small brands, 100% commission pay plans, Why leasing took over Florida, Philanthropist disguised as a car dealer? | Rita Case, CEO of Rick Case Auto Group May 16, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Rita Case, CEO of Rick Case Automotive where we discuss: Secrets to building the largest Honda store in the U.S., Betting big on small brands, How leasing took over Florida, becoming a philanthropist disguised as a car dealer and much more!

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Podium - Whether it's providing accurate answers or keeping leads warm with follow-up questions, Podium's AI solution keeps customers engaged throughout their car shopping journey and sounds like a human on the other end. Check out Podium's AI BDC today by texting ‘CDG’ to (706) 710-2303 or visiting them online @ https://bit.ly/3wHfhPJ

Foureyes - Foureyes supports sellers with a complementary skillset that elevates their performance. This includes automated lead logging, personalized inventory updates based on shoppers’ interests, and real-time alerts when a prospect is back on your website. Learn more @ Foureyes.io

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:08) - The Case Duo & Rita’s car background

(00:06:29) - Do you recommend working with your spouse?\

(00:09:50) - How have you reinvented your operations and marketing?

(00:15:29) - What drives your philanthropic nature?

(00:17:56) - Why did you choose these southern markets?

(00:21:29) - How does your Ft. Lauderdale Honda store operate?

(00:30:45) - What’s a day like for GMs at your dealerships?

(00:32:39) - How are the GMs compensated?

(00:36:26) - How are you driving recruitment of talent?

(00:38:17) - Are there any regional trends you’re riding when it comes to affordability?

(00:45:48) - How are you viewing your used car business?

(00:46:57) - What’s exciting to you these days?

(00:48:37) - What’s your outlook for the industry?

Check out Rick Case Automotive here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#83 From marketing star to CEO of 18 dealerships, Selling 20,000 cars a year, Where he's heavily investing, Fixing the Jeep Cherokee 4xe sales slump | Robert Ourisman Jr., CEO of Ourisman Automotive Group May 14, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Robert Ourisman Jr., CEO of Ourisman Automotive Group, where we discuss: Going from marketing star to CEO, selling 20,000 cars a year, fixing the Cherokee 4xe sales slump, where he's heavily investing, fighting with automakers on inventory allocation and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Stream Companies - Full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled ad agency doing the ordinary extraordinarily well. Learn more @ https://www.streamcompanies.com/

Impel - From website, chat, sales, and service, Impel AI is custom-built to achieve your business objective featuring a proprietary blend of large language models, automotive optimization layers, and seamless integration with your entire tech stack. Learn more @ https://impel.ai/

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:21) - The Ourisman family dynamic

(00:06:17) - What’s your scale today?

(00:07:46) - What’s your father’s current involvement in the business?

(00:12:16) - What do you think about your mix of brands and what are you bullish on?

(00:14:33) - Why are you focusing on growing your collision business?

(00:16:34) - Does EV adoption concern you for service?

(00:19:17) - What are you excited about?

(00:21:50) - How are you navigating employee retention at the less-exciting brands?

(00:26:54) - What operational challenges are you facing right now?

(00:28:24) - Leasing penetration

(00:31:07) - Accepting allocation

(00:33:44) - What is the profit trend for your dealerships?

(00:35:21) - What’s your marketing strategy?

(00:38:44) - Does anything keep you up at night?

(00:41:33) - What’s your outlook for the industry?

Check out Ourisman Automotive Group here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#82 Solving the car theft epidemic, 1,000,000+ stolen last year, How theft is impacting auto insurance, Brands not at risk of vehicle theft? | Melissa High, Vice President of LoJack May 09, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Melissa High, VP of LoJack where we discuss solving the car theft epidemic, over 1,000,000 vehicles stolen last year, why auto insurance premiums are ripping, brands not at risk of vehicle theft, and much more:

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

StreamCompanies - Full-service, fully integrated, tech-enabled ad agency doing the ordinary extraordinarily well. Learn more @ https://www.streamcompanies.com/

LoJack - Nationwide stolen vehicle recovery and connected car solutions for dealers and consumers. Learn more @ https://www.lojack.com/

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:29) - Vehicle theft in the US

(00:06:52) - Do you see asset protection as a booming industry?

(00:09:53) - Melissa’s background and career

(00:12:31) - What are you focused on today when thinking about challenges in the industry?

(00:15:39) - What brands are the most susceptible to theft?

(00:16:53) - Is any brand impossible to steal?

(00:17:56) - What impact is theft having on insurance?

(00:20:27) - What are the biggest pain points for dealers?

(00:21:36) - What are the economics of your products for dealers?

(00:23:57) - How are you competing with Air Tag?

(00:26:59) - Vehicle theft and recovery stories

(00:31:16) - What trends are you seeing from manufacturers for vehicle security?

(00:33:20) - What do you predict for vehicle theft over the next 5 years?

Check out LoJack here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#81 Chairman of Hyundai Dealer Council speaks out, Selling 6,000+ cars in one county, Behind the scenes of Hyundai/Amazon partnership, Do dealers and car makers still need eachother? | Andrew Wright, Managing Partner at VINart Dealerships May 07, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Andrew Wright, Managing Partner of VINart Dealerships where we discuss: What's next for the Hyundai/Amazon partnership, selling 6,000+ cars yearly in one county, whether dealers and car makers still need each other, and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at https://www.carscommerce.inc/

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:21) - Andrew’s background and career

(00:06:29) - VINart Group

(00:08:49) - What are the benefits you see from being in the Lehigh Valley?

(00:13:19) - Shifting from mainstream brands to luxury

(00:15:00) - What brands are you bullish on?

(00:17:14) - What challenges is Hyundai facing?

(00:20:51) - Becoming chair of the Hyundai dealer council

(00:23:10) - Dealers and manufacturers need each other more than ever

(00:27:21) - What brand would you bet on if you were a used-car dealer?

(00:31:13) - Operations and service

(00:38:01) - Amazon & The future of the dealer/customer relationship

(00:47:10) - What are you seeing in terms of consumer health?

(00:54:19) - Is anything keeping you up at night?

Check out VINart Group here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#80 Building the dealership of the future, Selling 30K cars per year, Why AI isn't working today, Future of Carvana | Jeremy Beaver, CEO of Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) May 02, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Jeremy Beaver, CEO of Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) where we discuss: Running a dealership like a tech company, Selling 30K cars per year, Why AI isn’t working today, The future of Carvana and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Widewail - If your reviews say you’re the best, you’re the best. Make reviews manageable with Widewail, the fastest-growing reputation management vendor in automotive. Learn more @ https://www.widewail.com/

Cars Commerce - The platform to simplify everything about buying and selling cars. Learn more at https://www.carscommerce.inc/

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:31) - Jeremy’s background and career

(00:08:31) - What is it like running a dealership in SF?

(00:12:15) - What are you doing differently to meet the modern demands of the consumer?

(00:18:52) - What does your tech stack look like?

(00:20:56) - What are you seeing in consumer demand right now?

(00:25:02) - How are you getting feedback from customers?

(00:27:54) - How does your profitability compare to other dealers?

(00:29:59) - How are you working with Upstart’s AI?

(00:32:10) - What’s the state of AI in auto today?

(00:37:26) - Where does Carvana fit in the marketplace?

(00:38:42) - Why did you choose a third party for your website?

(00:41:50) - EVs

(00:45:07) - How are you approaching service?

(00:46:02) - How are you thinking about the next few years for the industry?

Check out DGDG here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#79 CDG Market Update: Can leasing save the car business, $25,000 Teslas, Negative equity crushing new car sales | Jessica Caldwell, Head of Insights at Edmunds and Gen Balouev, General Manager of Norm Reeves Honda Superstore West Covina Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the second episode of The Car Dealership Guy Market Update—Brought to you by Edmunds.

This new segment is a monthly discussion with automotive industry experts and dealers about where our car market is today -- and where it may headed.

From insider-only dealership insights to macroeconomic trends, my goal is to make you smarter and more informed about the state of our car market in less than an hour.

Let's get into it!

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Edmunds - Premier is a solution from Edmunds that connects you with in-market shoppers when, where, and how they want to connect. New customers get half off for 90 days when you sign up at https://edmu.in/3UARcDq

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:01:41) - Q1 Performance reports

(00:05:38) - The health of the new vehicle market

(00:09:31) - What brands are winning right now?

(00:14:30) - The state of affordability in sub-compact cars and pick-up trucks

(00:18:39) - Combating the affordability crisis

(00:22:15) - Negative equity

(00:27:43) - Interest rates

(00:31:13) - Used car profitability

(00:37:08) - EVs

(00:45:50) - Expectations for Q2

Check out Edmunds here.

Check out the website for more (https://dealershipguy.com) and follow me on X @GuyDealership! (https://x.com/guydealership)

This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.

#78 Building the “Amazon” of car shipping, Dirty secrets of the $70B vehicle logistics industry, Saving dealers millions with faster car transportation | Royce Neubauer, CEO of Auto Hauler Exchange Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the Car Dealership Guy Podcast. In this episode, I'm speaking with Royce Neubauer, CEO of Auto Hauler Exchange where we discuss: Building the "Amazon" of car shipping, Dirty secrets of the $70B vehicle logistics industry, How he's saving dealers millions with faster car transportation, and much more.

This episode of the Car Dealership Guy Podcast is brought to you by:

Experian - Experian Automotive is one of the most trusted sources of data and insights in the automobile industry and they're a one-stop-shop: Dealers can use automotive, lifestyle, and predictive data to find in-market car shoppers faster and at lower cost. By leveraging targeted audiences, dealers can communicate with car shoppers based on make, model, off-lease, off-loan, in-equity, fuel type, or vehicle servicing needs. Learn more @ https://bit.ly/3W1vrgY

Car Dealership Guy Industry Job Board - Connecting world-class talent with top-notch companies in Automotive. Find your next role—or start hiring today—at CDGJobs.com.

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:04:42) - Royce’s career and background

(00:08:36) - How does the state of automotive logistics compare today to other industries?

(00:22:47) - Do OEMs markup transportation to dealers?

(0:28:41) - What are you seeing in the industry in terms of savings?

(00:30:30) - Building predictability into the shipping process

(00:34:00) - What rates are you seeing in the market?

(00:36:28) - Why do carriers prefer to work with you?

(00:38:47) - Do you think shipping to consumers is a tailwind?