Dealers attending NADA 2026 heard AI promises everywhere. What should they take seriously now? The AI conversation in automotive accelerated rapidly in 2025. Some dealers moved quickly, others more cautiously. What mattered was whether restraint was deliberate, driven by learning, engagement, …
How auto retail executives can build a thought partner to accompany them on their journey Senior leadership can be lonely. You’re expected to make fast decisions with incomplete information, navigate competing priorities, and maintain a consistent philosophy across dozens — sometimes …
Work orders aren’t paperwork — they’re profit, protection, and a powerful management tool hiding in plain sight When I was a service manager, there was never a time you could walk into my office and not see a stack of work …
From merchandising and follow-up to financing and inventory selection, small execution improvements can add up to meaningful gains If you want to sell more used vehicles this year, there are several practical strategies worth revisiting — many of them rooted in …
In a volatile market, strong cash flow matters more than booked sales or paper profits Today’s automotive ecosystem is volatile. New tariffs, supply-chain disruptions, recessionary economic indicators and OEM spending restrictions have forced Canadian dealerships to work harder than ever …
Sales are holding, but consumer anxiety is changing the rules of engagement for dealers As CADA’s chief economist, a big part of my daily routine involves answering the same fundamental question, often phrased differently and for different reasons: where is …
Our columnist David Adams is retiring and reflects on a 40-year career in automotive, sharing key lessons learned along the way Anew world order. That was a statement made by Prime Minister Mark Carney during his mid-January visit to China, …
In this two-part series, our columnist looks at the difficult role of being a dealership’s general manager Ask most people in the automotive industry to define the core responsibilities of a sales manager, service advisor, technician, or even controller, and …
Will 2026 be a turning point for affordable, practical vehicle ownership? British Columbia enters 2026 at a crossroads — one that reflects both the province’s unique pressures and the broader affordability challenges unfolding across Canada. While BC faces several issues that are more …
Operating a dealership these days isn’t for the faint of heart. Are you still in the game? At this point in 2023, we find ourselves in a very crazy world. Dealers have many outside influences to consider as they attempt …
The Carney government’s first budget is a familiar tale of what is said and what is really done As Ottawa rolled out the media campaign leading to the release of the 2025 Federal Budget, one thing became clear: this is …
The automotive industry has always evolved — but the pace, scope, and unpredictability have never been greater. Over the past 20 years that Canadian auto dealer has been publishing, the automotive industry, both in Canada and globally, has undergone tremendous …
