Tobias Hartmann
Cars Commerce, the U.S.-based automotive marketplace and dealer technology company behind Cars.com, has named Tobias Hartmann as its next CEO, effective Jan. 15, 2026, according to a company announcement.
Hartmann will succeed Alex Vetter, who will step down as CEO and board member on the same date. Vetter is expected to remain in an advisory role through March 31, 2026 to support the transition.
While Cars Commerce has limited direct operations in Canada, the leadership change is still relevant for Canadian dealers because of the company’s influence on North American digital retailing and third-party marketplace strategies. Cars Commerce owns and operates several platforms commonly used by dealer groups and dealer vendors, including Dealer Inspire websites, digital retailing tools and vehicle appraisal products.
Hartmann brings experience from large-scale digital marketplaces and consumer platforms in Europe. U.S. industry observers typically see that background as a signal of tighter focus on lead conversion, pricing discipline and return on investment: areas that increasingly affect how dealers evaluate third-party platforms.
For Canadian dealers, any changes would likely be gradual rather than immediate. The change also comes as dealers across Canada continue to scrutinize digital spending amid affordability pressures, inventory constraints and rising customer acquisition costs. Even dealers not directly using Cars Commerce products could feel indirect effects if competitors adjust pricing or features in response to changes south of the border.
