At least it didn’t end in a tie
There is no shortage of dramatic news going on in the automotive space in Canada. Having said that, I don’t intend to write about any of it. Instead, I’m going to give you a little change of pace. I’d like …
News
The China question
If you want a reminder of how quickly the automotive conversation can shift in this country, look no further than the reaction to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent announcement that Canada would allow up to 49,000 Chinese-built electric vehicles into the market. …
A look back, a look ahead
Dealers hoping to catch a breath after the chaos and uncertainty of 2025 are facing another year with even less certainty. To no one’s surprise, the Canadian automotive industry faces ongoing uncertainty in 2026, still feeling the effects of U.S. President …
Digital marketing
Engagement beats reach in digital marketing’s next act Dealers will need to rethink how engagement is measured, and where customers are getting stuck. The automotive industry’s latest evolutionary phase may appear de-evolutionary on the surface: digital marketing is melting back …
Are you ready to meet your clone?
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 …
The 2026 crystal ball is cloudy
Chuck Seguin looks ahead at a year shaped by economic headwinds, shifting OEM demands, and continued dealer resilience Since we are at the beginning of the New Year, I thought it would be appropriate to offer some insights into the …
Handling the AI conversation
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, …
Start fresh, start strong
Start the new automotive sales year with clarity and purpose As a new automotive sales year gets underway, what separates the most successful sales professionals from the rest isn’t merely the number of vehicles they sold last year — it’s the …
The importance of work order review
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 …
Why 2026 feels different on the showroom floor
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 …
15 ways to sell more used vehicles in 2026
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 …
A New World Order
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, …
