The dealership space is a bit of an untapped resource in commercial real estate. But property and real estate matters are crucial areas for dealers to monitor. That’s where Ned Hennessey and the team at Surmount come into play. Surmount is a full-service commercial real estate platform and said it’s the only one focused exclusively […] [Read More]

Auto dealers today are under constant pressure to operate more efficiently, forecast more accurately, and make faster, data-driven decisions. From inventory management to customer engagement, traditional methods of running a dealership are being re-evaluated in favor of smarter, scalable approaches rooted in automation and intelligence, which means successful dealers are constantly forced to keep pace […] [Read More]

Car dealers and car buyers both share a strong interest in the future of the auto retail business. But according to the latest research from automotive consulting and technology firm Urban Science and The Harris Poll, they have widely differing ideas about what that future will look like. For example [Read More]

The certified pre-owned market closed the first half of the year up roughly 2% from 2024, but the final month of the first half was a tough one — though that was expected. Citing its analysis of Motor Intelligence data, Cox Automotive said there were 200,950 CPO sales in June, which is down 3.7% year-over-year […] [Read More]

Everyone loves Friday — the work week is done and the coming weekend offers limitless possibilities. But according to data from CARFAX, Friday has a dark side. The vehicle history report provider’s research found Friday is the riskiest day for car accidents for most U.S. drivers, with at least 42 states reporting more accidents on […] [Read More]

While new-car sales made a significant jump in the second quarter, used-vehicle sales took just a small step up, according to the latest data from Lotlinx. The dealership inventory management platform’s Q2 2025 Quarterly Vincensus Report showed a 7% increase in new sales volume over Q1, a surge it attributed to the “tariff- driven rush” […] [Read More]

The U.S. auto industry is on the brink of another major inflection point. For dealer principals paying attention, the signals are clear: we are moving into a period of structural change: Tariffs, rising operational costs, and evolving consumer preferences are converging to reshape automotive retail, once again. Here’s the uncomfortable truth: the question is no […] [Read More]

The direct effects of tariffs on used vehicles are negligible. But that doesn’t mean they have no effect at all. Cars Commerce’s Industry Insights 1H Report showed the major impact of tariffs on the used-vehicle market, in areas ranging from supply and the age of available used units to consumer demand and prices. “Tariff pressure […] [Read More]

Brand loyalty continued rising in the first half of 2025 — with a very notable exception. The LexisNexis Risk Solutions Automotive Brand Loyalty Mid-Year 2025 Study found overall brand loyalty for new vehicles rose to 53.3% through June 30, up 1.2 percentage points from the end of 2024. That continues a steady rise from the […] [Read More]

Over the next three years, dealers are expected to face ongoing inventory challenges, with a shortage of about 8 million used vehicles and lease returns down by 50%. In some cases, dealers are going to have to offer vehicles they may not have thought of as retail units in the past. One thing to keep […] [Read More]