How Tesla, Tariffs & Market Shifts Are Reshaping Car Sales | David Thomas, Director of Content Marketing at CDK Global

Today, I’m sitting down with David Thomas, Director of Content Marketing at CDK Global to discuss: Tesla polarizing customers and the brands they are flocking to, The potential impact of auto tariffs and how manufacturers are pivoting, the coming drought of used rental inventory—plus much more. This episode is brought to you by: DriveHRIS - DriveHRIS streamlines hiring, onboarding, timesheets, PTO tracking, and payroll—all in one seamless platform. Let DriveHRIS handle HR and Safety so you can focus on what really matters—boosting your CSI scores, improving customer experience, and selling more vehicles. Visit @ https://drive2025.com/ to grab your FREE workbook on 'Retention Strategies for Dealerships in 2025. PayJunction - Are you leaving money on the table with your current payment processor? This is why PayJunction provides a modern, integrated payment solution that lowers costs, improves financial visibility, and streamlines transactions for auto dealers without requiring a software change. Ready to cut costs and save time? Download this free guide to learn how PayJunction can help your dealership optimize payments and cut costs here @ https://carguymedia.com/payjunction 🚨 Don’t forget to subscribe to Car Dealership Guy Bites, for quick, daily insights into automotive retail — delivered in less than 5 minutes: Subscribe on Apple: https://carguymedia.com/apple_bites Subscribe on Spotify: https://carguymedia.com/spotify_bites Subscribe on YouTube: https://carguymedia.com/youtube_bites Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu Topics: 00:00: Intro 00:08 What is the current state of the auto industry? 01:10 What is David Thomas’ background and experience? 02:46 How does economic uncertainty affect consumer behavior? 06:26 How do inventory levels impact customer experience? 13:45 What are the latest trends in the EV market? 16:48 How does Tesla influence market dynamics and politics? 23:28 How can salesperson performance in dealerships improve? 30:34 What are the predictions for the auto industry’s future? 33:30 What are the final thoughts and conclusions? Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff: CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/ CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/ My Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.