Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2026 Women in Remarketing honorees in the April edition of the magazine and will be posting Q&As with each of these outstanding leaders on the website.

Next up, in alphabetical order by first name, is Maria Davila, who is remarketing services manager at Ally.

The Women in Remarketing program is presented by Ally.

What prompted/inspired you to join the auto industry and what do you enjoy most about it?
I believe I was destined to be in the auto industry.  As a child, I spent countless hours at my grandfather’s body shop, watching him transform damaged vehicles into something that looked brand new again.  From carefully dismantling each car, to welding, painting, and reassembling, I saw firsthand that his work wasn’t just mechanical – it was an art form.

What I enjoy the most about the auto industry is its constant innovation and the wide range of career paths it offers.  The shift toward electric vehicles and the continuous advances in manufacturing and engineering keep the industry dynamic and forward moving.  For those of us in the business side, that innovation directly shapes how we think, plan, and lead.

What is the top trend you’re watching in the used-car industry this year?
One of the most compelling questions facing the auto industry today is how consumer demand for EVs will shift following the expiration of federal EV tax credits – and how manufacturers will position themselves in response.  With those incentives gone, price sensitivity will likely become a larger factor in purchasing decisions, potentially slowing adoption among middle-market buyers who were on the fence.

Those manufacturers that have invested in cost reduction and operational efficiency will come out ahead so that competitive pricing doesn’t depend on government support.  How the market responds to this transition will tell us a great deal about where the EV landscape is truly headed.

What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career?
Early in my career, I stepped into a newly created role with a clear but daunting mission: improve customer satisfaction in a department that had struggled for years.  Morale was low, and skepticism ran deep.

The common belief was that because customers were there by need rather than choice, exceptional service simply wasn’t achievable.  We set out to prove otherwise.  By mapping and standardizing processes, investing in customer service training, and building a stronger team culture, we turned the tide.  Satisfaction scores surpassed the 95th percentile – and stayed there.  More than the numbers, what stood out the most was the transformation of the team.  They began to own their work in a way they never had before, and that pride became the engine of sustained success.  What started as one department’s turnaround became a model shared across the entire organization.

What book, film or song has inspired you personally or professionally?
“Hardwiring Excellence” by Quint Studer ranks among the most influential books of my career — one I’ve returned to repeatedly at different stages of my professional journey.   Its central insight is both simple and profound: when you take care of your people, they take care of your customers.  This truth applies universally, across any service-driven organization.  The nine principles Studer outlines serve as a practical roadmap for moving any organization from average to world-class.

Who is someone who has inspired you personally or professionally?
Few people have left a deeper imprint on my life than my grandfather.  On a personal level, he instilled in me a deep respect for education and a commitment to lifelong learning.  Professionally, he modeled what it means to show up every day with integrity—  to give your best and take real pride in your craft.  In every meaningful way, his teachings are woven into the person I’ve become.