TOGETHER WITH

It’s finally here!

We’re previewing the new season of The Truth About Car Dealers live tomorrow at 1:00pm EST, and we want you to join us to celebrate.

More details coming tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Keep Pushing Back,
-Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi

_{Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe here!
Reading time: 3 min}

Live from NADA 2026, Rohrman Auto Group CEO Ryan Rohrman and Foureyes CEO Dave Steinberg sat down with us to talk about something every dealer is wrestling with—bad data.

In just a few minutes, they cut to the core of what’s holding most stores back: messy systems, disconnected teams, and blind spots that lead to frustrated customers.

Foureyes is working to fix that with a smarter, more connected data foundation that helps dealers see what’s really happening in their pipeline, and act on it.

Watch the full interview now to discover how Foureyes is helping dealers turn good data into great deals.

At the NADA Show, one of the most divisive conversations on the floor was whether Chinese automakers could eventually find a place in the U.S. market. Dealers openly acknowledged the profit potential, even as trade leaders pushed back hard. Presidio Group president George Karolis summed up the tension clearly, noting that many dealers see Chinese brands as both a threat and an opportunity, with vehicles that are “slick and more affordable.”

That affordability problem is the hinge. Several dealers privately admitted that if Chinese OEMs arrive with pricing that solves today’s new-car payment challenge, politics may not stop stores from listening. Cable Dahmer Automotive Group owner Carlos Ledezma put it plainly: if that’s what consumers want, dealers will have to pay attention.

NADA CEO Mike Stanton took the opposite stance on policy, calling Chinese entry “bad for our industry, bad for our country, bad for consumers,” even while conceding the association wouldn’t block dealers from adding franchises. Ford Blue president Andrew Frick captured the underlying reality: dealers are entrepreneurs, and it’s hard not to view any new opportunity through that lens.

The economic backdrop helps explain why this topic is gaining traction.

Cox Automotive reports January new-vehicle sales softened to a 14.9 million SAAR, down 3.5% year over year, as weather disruptions and tighter margins weighed on the month.*

Incentives declined again, averaging $3,200, as OEMs and dealers pulled back to offset rising tariff costs. Used vehicles, however, provided a steadier note: the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose in January, supporting trade values and helping dealers hold stronger inventory positions heading into spring.*

Outside the showroom, early labor signals are worth watching. Job openings dropped sharply to their lowest level since 2020, a potential headwind for consumer spending on big-ticket purchases. Sentiment improved modestly in February, and tax refund season may provide a near-term boost, but vehicle loan balances continue to contract, showing that financing caution hasn’t gone away.

Even automaker marketing reflects the uncertainty.

CNBC notes that most OEMs are skipping Super Bowl advertising this year, a sign budgets are tightening and brands are shifting toward more targeted digital and regional strategies.*

Renault is considering buying out Volvo Group and CMA CGM to take full control of Flexis, its electric van joint venture, after revisiting the business plan because market growth hasn’t matched expectations. The move fits a wider streamlining push under CEO François Provost, including folding the Ampere EV unit back into Renault and restructuring Mobilize.

A reported Apple update would allow third-party voice AI apps like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to run directly inside CarPlay, instead of routing everything through Siri. Users likely won’t be able to replace the Siri button or wake word, but they could launch their preferred chatbot app and have it jump straight into voice mode.

Mexico’s auto market posted its strongest January on record: 131,472 light vehicles sold, up 8.7% year over year, with estimates closer to 139,800 when including non-reporting brands. The report credits aggressive financing competition and manufacturer price wars, amplified by a growing flow of models imported from China and strong gains from brands like MG, Changan, and Geely.