Auto Collabs

Send us Fan Mail Most companies chase growth—Sanjay Varnwal is chasing velocity, and it’s changing how dealers think about inventory, AI, and survival.

Most industries are still complaining about the talent shortage.

Most dealers think they’re losing on price—but the real reason customers walk away is far more human (and far more fixable).

Jen Suzuki doesn’t walk into a room, she revs it.

If your competitive edge is still price, you’re already losing—the real battle is happening in experience, simplicity, and how you make people feel.

Automotive spent years patching old systems together and now AI is forcing the industry to confront what should have been rebuilt a long time ago.

At the NY Auto Forum, Tom Castriota, former NADA Chairman and Owner of Castriota Chevrolet, breaks down the growing pressure dealers are facing.

At the NY Auto Forum, Lance Woelfer, Vice President of Automobile Sales at American Honda, breaks down a major shift in strategy as the EV transition slows across the U.S.

At the NY Auto Forum, Alan Cooper shares a deeply personal perspective on an often-overlooked reality in the automotive industry—mental health.

At the NY Auto Forum, Liza Borches, President of Carter Myers Automotive, breaks down a growing disconnect in the service lane.

At the NY Auto Forum, Steve Greenfield, CEO of Automotive Ventures, breaks down how dealers need to rethink their business for the next 5–10 years.

At the NY Auto Forum, Stewart Stropp, VP of Customer Success at J.D. Power, breaks down how service is becoming one of the most critical drivers of customer retention and long-term profitability for dealers

At the NY Auto Forum, Senator Bernie Moreno lays out a blunt, high-stakes reality facing the U.S. auto industry.

At the New York Auto Show, Mark Schienberg, President of the show, breaks down what it actually takes to bring one of the largest automotive events in the world to life.

At the NY Auto Forum, Force Marketing CEO John Fitzpatrick breaks down the real forces shaping automotive retail right now—from tariffs and policy shifts to EV adoption and affordability pressures.

At the NY Auto Forum, John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, breaks down one of the most critical moments facing the global auto industry.

This episode was originally released on April 24, 2025.

A candid, hosts-only conversation about the mindset shift quietly transforming the automotive industry from the inside out.

Behind every dealership is an unseen battle over regulation, competition, and control—and the next few years may decide who really owns the future of the automotive industry.

If service drives sales, why are dealers letting their best customers slip through the cracks?

Send a text Third-gen dealer leader Emily Marlow Beck breaks down why humility is a competitive advantage, how to become “essential” to customers, and how to lead through AI-era uncertainty without losing your heart.

Send a text This episode originally released on April 4, 2024.

Send a text Bob George breaks down why AI won’t save automotive retail—unless the data underneath it is rock solid.

Send a text Managing 76 dealerships and 11% of Toyota’s U.S.

Send a text Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Brian Skalovsky, Director of Battery Recycling at Cox Automotive, to unpack one of the least understood—but most critical—parts of the EV conversation: what actually happens to batteries after they leave the vehicle.

Send a text Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Alex Kwanten, Managing Editor of U.S.

Send a text Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Kyle Mountsier and Paul J Daly sit down with Drew Ferguson, Head of the Office of Policy and Government Affairs at Hyundai Motor Group, to unpack how automakers navigate uncertainty without losing focus.

Send a text Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Erin Keating, Executive Analyst at Cox Automotive, to challenge one of the most repeated headlines in the industry: the $50,000 new car.

Send a text As auto loans stretch longer and negative equity piles up, one former prosecutor explains why transparency—not pressure—might be the most profitable move dealers can make.

Send a text Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show during Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier sit down with Will Bright of SafeRide AI to unpack what autonomy really means—and what consumers actually want from it.

Send a text Live from the Washington, DC Auto Show at Public Policy Day 2026, Paul J Daly sits down with John Bozzella, CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, to unpack the rapidly shifting landscape of U.S.

Send a text At Public Policy Day 2026, Kyle Mountsier and Paul J Daly sit down with Jamie Darvish, owner of Darcars, to unpack the growing affordability crisis facing the automotive industry.

Send a text Behind every car is a chain of decisions — made by lawmakers, regulators, and executives long before the vehicle hits the road.

Send a text Jay Ku says the next wave of AI in automotive won’t win by automating people out—it’ll win by making average teams deliver a top-tier human experience every single time.

Send a text Since we'll be at Public Policy Day on January 21, we're releasing one of the best conversations we had at last year's event.

Send a text New episodes release Thursday.

Send a text New episodes every Thursday!

Send a text Recorded live at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's The Merge 2025, this episode features Drew Ferguson, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, sharing a deeply personal view of what automotive investment really means for American communities.

Send a text Recorded live at Merge 2025, this episode of Auto Collabs features Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan, a lifelong advocate for the auto industry and someone whose personal and professional history is deeply tied to it.

Send a text Recorded live at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's the Merge 2025, this episode of Auto Collabs features Jason Hoff, CEO of Mercedes-Benz North America, sharing a clear look at where the brand is headed—and what that means for dealers.

Send a text Recorded live at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's the Merge 2025, this episode features Michael Dunne, one of the most respected global analysts on the Chinese auto industry.

Send a text Recorded live at Merge 2025, this episode of Auto Collabs features Jeff Walker, Chief Commercial Officer of SDVerse, unpacking one of the most important—but least understood—shifts happening inside modern vehicles: the move to truly software-defined architectures.

Send a text Recorded live at the Alliance for Automotive Innovation's The Merge 2025, this candid conversation with Senator Bernie Moreno offers a clear look at how quickly sentiment in the auto industry has shifted.

Send a text Clean power is only half the story; affordability and access are the real battleground.

Send a text If your dealership tech stack feels broken, Jason says there’s a reason—and the fix starts way upstream.

Send a text This might be the definitive reboot in modern automotive.

Send a text If you’ve ever wondered why some dealers win online and others don’t, it often comes down to one thing: who has better data.

Send a text Most people think casinos and car dealerships live in different worlds.

Send a text Autonomy isn’t the future of new cars—it might be the future of used cars too.

Send a text The biggest safety challenge Honda is tackling isn’t autonomy—it’s the way people actually drive.

This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

Everyone argues about electric cars — meanwhile, electric boats quietly solve problems the auto industry hasn’t touched.

The car-buying journey has officially changed and it's nothing to do with dealers.

The biggest mistake dealers make with AI?

This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

This exclusive interview series from Automobility LA at the LA Auto Show is brought to you by Cars Commerce.

Igor Skinder has seen every side of the car business—and he still believes people matter more than the metal.

This former teacher used simple, repeatable hospitality—not buzzwords—to scale and auto group.

If your appraisals still start with a sharpie on a worksheet, this one’s for you.

What if one number could cut burnout, fix your follow-up, and turn “lost” leads into lifetime service customers?

Apple Store energy meets Ford retail as JB Burnett builds a concierge dealership that actually fits how people buy.

Streaming is splintered, AI is the new TV guide, and last-click is dead—Michael Kraut lays out the dealer playbook for what’s next.

On this episode of Auto Collabs, the crew welcomes Jennifer Morand—the incoming chairwoman of the Automotive Experience Alliance (AEA) and powerhouse behind the Chicago Auto Show.

In this episode, David joins Michael and Paul to talk about the hidden frictions of automotive retail and the disconnects that most dealers don’t even know they have.

When Nick Askew first plugged AI into his daily marketing work, it was like flipping a switch—from a grind to a productivity cheat code.

Curtis Gardner isn’t your typical technician.

Laurie Halter isn’t just a PR veteran with her finger on the industry’s pulse—she’s now bringing hard data to the AI conversation in fixed ops.

In this episode, Paul J Daly sits down with veteran automotive journalist Jamie Butters, fresh off his transition from Automotive News to the Wall Street Journal.

AI, vibe coding, and endless vendor promises—dealers are being told the future is already here.

When your side hustle is building AI that builds companies, you're officially in "mad scientist" territory—in the best way.

John Sacco reveals how recycled metals are the unsung heroes fueling everything from hospitals to highways, and yes—even your car.

This episode of Auto Collabs gets seriously smart as Paul, Kyle, and Michael welcome Sanjay Varnwal, founder of Spyne.

Thuy Adomitis didn’t plan on joining the auto industry—until a 14 hour car buying ordeal

Jade Terreberry brings her data-driven hustle and people-first mindset to the table.

Greg Uland returns to Auto Collabs with a timely look at how Reynolds & Reynolds is helping dealers prepare for a more efficient, tech-driven future.

Kaylee Felio, better known in the industry as "The Parts Girl," brings her unique flavor of grit, smarts, and systems thinking to this Auto Collabs episode.

Billions of data points, a deep background in consumer electronics, and a passion for keeping cyclists safe from autonomous vehicles are reshaping dealership service retention strategies.

Adam Marburger redefines F&I leadership with a servant’s heart and a black belt mindset.

Attention-grabbing creativity, franchise fatigue, and the art of brand-building in the modern age.

Alain Nana-Sinkam’s automotive career began with a childhood passion—organizing Matchbox cars into a meticulously curated dealership on his bedroom floor.

Chad Graves covers what really moves the needle in automotive marketing

Carol Marshall unpacks how culture, trust, and hospitality can supercharge your dealership.

F&I veteran Rudy Graff brings decades of grit, grind, and gut checks into a conversation that reveals the high-stakes game behind the deal jacket.

Monik Pamecha is turning chaos into clarity with AI that actually understands what customers need.

David Steinberg returns with the data-driven truth bomb that 88% of your leads might be telling you something you're ignoring—and it's costing you more than sales.

Unpack how robots, data, and AI are quietly transforming the dealership—from the parts department to the showroom floor.

Eric Flow is building a dealership legacy rooted in promises, not just profits—and his take on vendor partnerships and culture is anything but ordinary.

Cindy Allen brings the soul of a musician and the mind of a technologist to one of the auto industry's most quietly transformative companies.

Setting big goals sounds great — but what happens when the hard part hits? Nick Askew shows us how perseverance, creativity, and curiosity can bridge the gap between ambition and reality.

For Erroll Bomar III, selling cars is just the surface—his real drive is inspiring lasting change, one relationship at a time.

Dave Karasick proves that data and flavor both require the right ingredients to succeed.

Mergers and acquisitions in auto aren’t just about buying stores—they’re about building legacies, and Dave Cantin is leading the charge.

AI is a powerful tool, but the human element is still the key ingredient in great customer experiences.

Endurance and innovation go hand in hand, whether you're running races or reshaping automotive data strategies.

When innovation meets obsession you get: data-driven inventory strategies and… lawn care AI?"

AI may be the future, but Carol Marshall reminds us it’s the human touch that keeps the automotive industry thriving.