Syracuse, NY – March 16, 2026 – More Than Cars today announced that consumer-first automotive tech and retail transparency leader Zach Shefska will keynote the AutoIndustry.ai Summit--a new one-day event focused on practical AI implementation inside retail automotive operations. The Summit will take place May 12, 2026, at Live Casino Maryland, the day before ASOTU CON 2026.
Shefska and his father, automotive industry veteran Ray Shefska, built CarEdge into one of the most recognizable automotive consumer education brands on YouTube, helping millions of car buyers better understand pricing, negotiation tactics, dealer markups, and the mechanics of the retail auto market. What began as a transparency-focused educational channel has grown into a major consumer advocacy platform across digital media. CarEdge now reaches a rapidly expanding audience of car shoppers and industry observers, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers on YouTube and a combined social media following of more than one million across platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and podcast distribution channels. Their content regularly generates millions of views and engagements as consumers turn to the platform for guidance on one of the largest purchases most people make.
Shefska has received national media coverage for his industry innovations, including features with Fortune, CNN and The Wall Street Journal, as interest grows around AI-assisted shopping tools. At the AutoIndustry.ai Summit, Shefska will address how dealerships can best navigate customers who are leveraging AI to support their car buying process.
“We’re officially beyond the era of the internet lead. We have fully entered the era of ‘AI-assisted leads,’ and dealers need to be ready for that,” said Shefska, co-founder and CEO of CarEdge. “We have helped more than 50,000 customers buy a car with AI in the past year. Dealers shouldn't fight this evolution. They need to understand it and find ways to make it work for their business. Just as the internet came around in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, AI is rewriting the playbook for retail automotive and the most successful dealers will be the ones who embrace this change and are out in front of it.”
His keynote will explore how AI-equipped consumers are reshaping negotiation dynamics, what operational adjustments may be required inside dealerships, and where opportunity exists for stores that adapt early.
A Working Symposium Within the ASOTU CON Experience
The AutoIndustry.ai Summit expands the ASOTU CON experience by creating dedicated space for operators who are experimenting with AI, allowing for deeper, more tactical conversations ahead of the broader retail automotive programming.
The Summit is structured as a working symposium and is designed for dealer principals, general managers, sales managers, fixed operations directors, and operators who are actively testing or deploying AI and LLM tools in their stores. Programming will include live workflow demonstrations, practitioner panels, and interactive prompting sessions focused on real-world dealership applications.
“We’re seeing dealers experiment with AI across sales, service, and marketing,” said Paul J. Daly, Founder and CEO of More Than Cars. “The Summit is designed to move beyond theory and focus on real-world dealership application.”
ASOTU CON 2026 brings together automotive leaders accountable for people, performance, and long-term growth. Built for operators making real decisions about technology, profitability, and team structure, the multi-day event centers on candid dialogue and practical execution.
The AutoIndustry.ai Summit is a standalone ticketed event and also available as an add-on for ASOTU CON attendees. To secure tickets for the AutoIndustry.ai Summit, ASOTU CON 2026, or both events, visit https://www.asotucon.com/tickets.
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About More Than Cars
More Than Cars is part media network, part creative agency — and fully committed to amplifying the people of retail automotive. With the boldness of a startup, the craft of an agency, and the reach of a media platform, More Than Cars delivers content, experiences, and creative services that energize the industry.
About CarEdge
CarEdge is a leading consumer platform dedicated to empowering car shoppers to make confident, informed and financially savvy decisions saving them save money, time and hassle. The company is redefining transparency, fairness and value in the automotive industry. Connect with them at www.CarEdge.com or on social media on YouTube, TikTok, X, Facebook, and Instagram.
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