Podcast
Used Car Dealer Podcast
Hosted by Used Car Dealer Podcast · EN
Welcome to the Used Car Dealer Podcast.You don’t have time for another vendor-sponsored podcast. You need actionable insights from people who understand your business inside and out. No sales pitches. No vendors-sponsored content. Just authentic, straight-to-the-point advice for used car dealers.Hosted by industry veterans the Used Car Dealer Podcast is the ONLY show that’s 100% focused on YOU.In each episode, we share tips on how to supercharge your used car business. You’ll hear interviews with industry experts, hot debates, and must-have news from across the industry.Whether you’re in sales, F&I, management, or in the allied industry, you’ll love the Used Car Dealer Podcast. Subscribe today anywhere you listen to podcasts.
15episodes
Episodes
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UCDP Ep #76 – NIADA Convention 2025, Dealer Advocacy & Market Shifts w/ Jeff Martin
Jun 18, 202500:18:18Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach Klempf welcomes back Jeff Martin, CEO of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), to discuss the upcoming 2025 NIADA Convention, major changes in the used car market, and how independent dealers can thrive amid uncertainty.Jeff shares what to expect at this year’s convention—from new “Dealer Rounds” networking sessions to a robust AI-focused education track—and why NIADA is doubling down on advocacy, education, and data as its core value pillars. The conversation also covers tariff concerns, the state of used car pricing and supply, and how regional EV adoption is shaping dealer strategy.If you're wondering whether the convention is worth the trip or looking for insight on dealer priorities for 2025 and beyond, Jeff delivers actionable insights for independent dealers navigating today’s complex environment.📍 Register for the 2025 NIADA Convention: 👉 niada.com/convention🕒 Timestamps & Topics00:00 – Intro: NIADA 2025 Convention & Used Car Industry Shifts 00:30 – Q: What are some major changes or new features at this year’s NIADA convention? 01:42 – Q: Any standout speakers or education tracks for 2025? 03:04 – Q: How are you thinking about engagement and dealer value at this year’s event? 03:55 – Q: What would you say to independent dealers on the fence about attending? 04:48 – Q: What’s driving high used car prices in 2025, and how are dealers adapting? 05:54 – Q: Should independent dealers be concerned about tariffs and sourcing? 06:49 – Q: Are independent dealers embracing EVs, or is there hesitation? 07:51 – Q: What have you learned since becoming NIADA CEO, and what’s the current focus? 10:29 – Q: What are your biggest priorities for the rest of 2025 and going into 2026? 12:17 – Q: How is NIADA approaching digital transformation and training for dealers? 13:18 – Q: Rapid Fire Round: • What’s an underrated opportunity for dealers in 2025? • What habit or resource shaped your leadership approach this year? • What excites you most about the future of the independent dealer community?🎧 Listen to more episodes: sellyautomotive.com/podcast 📄 Read the full transcription: https://blog.sellyautomotive.com/blog/jeffmartin-niada-2025
Transcribe →UCDP Ep #75 – Automotive Tariffs, Inventory & EV Trends w/ Kevin Roberts of CarGurus
Jun 4, 202500:30:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Kevin Roberts, Director of Economic & Market Intelligence at CarGurus, to decode today’s whiplash market—from March’s tariff shock to the spring surge in used-car supply. marries first-party shopper data with macro-economics, why dealers shifted from clearing aged units to stocking up, and what rising interest rates and affordability crunches mean for pricing strategy. The conversation digs into EV and hybrid demand curves, the pitfalls and upside of used-EV retailing, and the “COVID playbook” tactics dealers can dust off to stay nimble when policy and consumer sentiment swing week-to-week. Whether you’re wrestling with inventory turn, scouting low-price cars for budget-strapped buyers, or debating how tariffs will reshape new-versus-used dynamics, Kevin’s data-driven insights deliver a roadmap for 2025 and beyond.Kevin’s data is based on the following CarGurus report - https://dealers.cargurus.com/drc/cargurus-intelligence-report-april-2025Below are the main questions Zach asks Kevin, along with timestamps:00:29 Q) Can you give a brief overview of your background, your role at CarGurus, and what a Director of Economic & Market Intelligence actually does?02:11 Q) Over your career, how have you seen the auto industry’s use of data evolve?03:55 Q) How does the market intelligence your team produces translate into concrete strategies for dealers?05:04 Q) Used-vehicle inventory just hit a three-year high—what’s driving the rebound in supply?07:52 Q) We’re seeing used-car prices rise; is that mostly buyers racing ahead of potential tariffs, or are other forces at play?09:48 Q) Today, what dollar range truly counts as a “low-price” vehicle in the used market?10:38 Q) Average days-on-market are trending down—what’s causing cars to sell faster?12:10 Q) Right now, would you call it a seller’s market or is power shifting back toward buyers?14:53 Q) What trends are you seeing in shopper interest for used EVs, and what factors matter most to those buyers?16:57 Q) Beyond Tesla, how are non-Tesla EVs performing in the used market?19:38 Q) From a dealer’s perspective, what are the biggest challenges in retailing used EVs today?22:00 Q) Now that the early-April tariff rush has passed, what lingering impacts do you expect on new- and used-car pricing?24:36 Q) What practical guidance is CarGurus giving dealers to navigate this volatility?26:27 Q) Looking ahead, what key trends or potential market shifts should dealers watch through 2025?28:34 Q) What’s your outlook for the used-car and EV segments as we move toward 2025 and beyond?29:54 Q) Where can dealers find CarGurus’ latest intelligence reports?Listen to more episodes here: https://www.sellyautomotive.com/podcastRead the full transcription: https://blog.sellyautomotive.com/blog/kevin-roberts-cargurus-2025
Transcribe →UCDP Ep #74 - Modernizing Trade-Ins and Dealer Payments: Tim Zierden, TradePending
May 1, 202500:20:49Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Tim Zierden, Chief Operating Officer at TradePending, to unpack how the company’s trade-in, payment, video, and retention tools are “making automotive simple” for more than 5,000 dealerships. Tim shares what drew him to the role after two decades at Cox Automotive, KAR Global, and Dealertrack, the biggest milestones powering TradePending’s recent expansion, and how real-time data helps dealers outpace tariff-driven price swings. The conversation also dives into AI-lite automation vs. personal video, the rise of CDPs, and the customer-life-cycle tactics that turn online shoppers into lifelong service customers. Whether you’re wrestling with affordability headwinds or hunting for higher-ROI digital retailing solutions, Tim’s insights are a must-listen.Below are the main questions Zach asks Tim, along with timestamps:00:37 Q) What pulled you toward TradePending after two decades in auto-tech?02:52 Q) Beyond the recent acquisitions, which milestone mattered most for the company’s growth?04:01 Q) How does your “make automotive simple” mantra guide product decisions?05:21 Q) What’s the biggest thing dealers say TradePending improves for engagement and sales?08:54 Q) How do you keep onboarding painless and support seamless for new clients?10:59 Q) How is TradePending helping dealers navigate today’s tariff-driven price swings?14:49 Q) Which emerging tech or consumer habits will reshape dealerships next?17:19 Q) What fresh innovations are you rolling out to keep dealers competitive?19:27 Q) What key factors should dealers weigh when choosing digital-retail and trade-in tools?Listen to more episodes here: https://www.sellyautomotive.com/podcastRead the full transcription: https://blog.sellyautomotive.com/blog/tim-trade-pending
Transcribe →UCDP Ep #73 – Real-Time Lot Management with Mike Hanna of TrueSpot
Apr 28, 202500:22:56Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Mike Hanna, CEO of TrueSpot, an innovative company transforming fixed ops with real-time vehicle and key tracking technology. They discuss how TrueSpot’s solutions minimize wasted time, cut costs, and ultimately enhance the customer experience. From initial challenges and triumphs to upcoming features and the future of location intelligence, Mike offers valuable insights for dealers looking to modernize their service operations.Below are the main questions Zach asks Mike, along with approximate timestamps:Q) How did TrueSpot get started, and what was the main “aha” moment behind its creation?Q) What were the biggest early challenges of bringing real-time location tech into dealerships?Q) You also work outside automotive—how do other industries compare or differ from dealerships?Q) What is Fixed Ops 360, and how does it improve day-to-day service operations?Q) Can you share a real-world example of how TrueSpot impacts a dealership’s productivity or CSI?Q) Aside from efficiency, how do you see customer experience evolving in fixed ops?Q) Which upcoming features or innovations are you excited to bring to market in 2025?Q) Does AI currently play a role in your software or operations?Q) What’s the biggest leadership lesson you’ve learned while scaling a tech solution in auto retail?Q) What advice would you give dealers looking to modernize their service departments with new technology?Listen to more episodes here: https://www.sellyautomotive.com/podcastRead the full transcription: https://blog.sellyautomotive.com/blog/truespot-mike-hanna
Transcribe →Used Car Dealer Podcast - Episode #3 - Interview with Tom Hampton
Oct 11, 2019Tap to summarizeIn episode #3 Zach does a 1v1 interview with Tom Hampton who is a 3rd generation car guy. Tom has been going independent dealer to independent dealer with his team in Texas and has logged over 50,000 hours with his team over the last 13 years.-------------------Listen to our other podcast episodes:https://www.sellyautomotive.com/podcastOur Blog for Auto Dealers:https://blog.sellyautomotive.com/blogDownload our Free Guide for Automotive CRM:https://www.sellyautomotive.com/guidesRelated Press:https://www.sellyautomotive.com/pressFollow Us On:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SellyAutomotiveTwitter: https://twitter.com/sellyautomotiveLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a1-software-group-llc
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