Dave Cantin, President and CEO of the Dave Cantin Group, shares insights on the current state of automotive buy-sell activity and how dealers are approaching strategic acquisitions. Despite macroeconomic headwinds, the dealership M&A market remains incredibly strong with valuations holding firm and even climbing for certain franchises in prime locations.

• DCG has closed multiple deals recently, including a highly sought-after Subaru dealership in Northern California
• Most franchises have strong demand when they're in good locations with solid performance metrics
• Toyota, BMW, and Land Rover remain hot franchises despite challenges like tariffs
• Today's buyers are making more sophisticated, strategic acquisition decisions
• Jump IQ platform provides comprehensive data analysis of all 18,000 new car dealership rooftops
• The tool offers benchmarking capabilities across 40 KPIs and detailed valuation assessments
• Stellantis shows promise for recovery under new leadership, while Nissan remains challenging
• The best time to sell depends on individual circumstances, not just market conditions
• Underperforming stores often distract dealers from their better-performing assets
• Dealers excel at reacting to challenges but could benefit from more proactive planning

If you're considering buying or selling a dealership, contact the Dave Cantin Group to learn how their data-driven approach and market intelligence can help you make strategic decisions that align with your long-term goals.

Brian Benstock and Jay Abraham explore how automotive retailers can leverage artificial intelligence and strategic thinking to transform their businesses and thrive amidst industry disruption.

• Origins of Benstock and Abraham's professional relationship dating back to the 1980s when Benstock attended Abraham's seminar on "how to sell anything to anybody"
• Three fundamental ways to increase sales: increase volume of transactions, increase amount per transaction, and increase frequency
• The danger of becoming "successfully stuck" in comfortable but limiting business practices
• Looking outside the automotive industry for innovative business models and customer experience approaches
• How incremental improvements across multiple business processes can yield exponential growth
• Why time has become more valuable than money for today's consumers, and how service pickup/delivery models capitalize on this shift
• Viewing AI as a tool for business expansion rather than merely cost reduction
• The importance of "funnel vision" - borrowing success approaches from outside the industry
• How to empower every team member with AI tools to create cumulative impact
• Starting with small AI implementations that generate revenue to fund larger innovation

For more insights on thriving in today's automotive retail environment, watch the full series of Thriving in Chaos with Brian Benstock and Jay Abraham exclusively on CBT News.

The president has signed resolutions blocking California's EV mandate, marking a major legislative win for the auto industry nationwide. Brian Maas, President of the California New Car Dealers Association, discusses how this development impacts dealers, OEMs, and consumers in California and other states following California's emissions standards.

• California's Advanced Clean Cars 2 regulation required 100% zero-emission vehicles by 2035
• The Congressional Review Act process was used to eliminate California's special emissions waiver
• CARB agreed to pause enforcement for the 2026 model year even while their lawsuit is pending
• California EVs comprise 20% of new vehicle sales—triple the national rate but far below the mandated 35%
• California currently has 170,000 public chargers but needs 2.1 million by 2035
• Tesla's market share has dropped six consecutive quarters in California
• Dealers in California are now collectively selling more EVs than Tesla
• Current business climate shows dealer concern about tariffs, high interest rates, and political uncertainty
• Market uncertainty most significantly impacts consumer willingness to purchase new vehicles