What happens when car prices hit record highs, consumers feel the squeeze, and dealers are forced to play a smarter game, not a harder one?

In this episode of The Fixed Ops Roundtable, Sarah Vantine sits down with Steve Greenfield, General Partner at Automotive Ventures, for a wide-ranging conversation about where automotive retail is really headed, and why fixed operations may be the most important lever dealers have right now.

Steve brings a rare vantage point to the table. With nearly 50 early-stage investments across dealer-facing technology, he sees the future before most of us ever feel it. And in this conversation, he doesn’t hold back.

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What we discuss in this episode:

• Why dealers can’t control the economy, but they can control fixed ops
• How rising vehicle prices, negative equity, and interest rates are reshaping consumer behavior
• The first real wave of AI hitting fixed operations (and why it’s starting with phone calls)
• How smarter scheduling, service videos, and automation are transforming the customer experience
• What dealers can learn from companies like BusyCar, MoreCloud, and TruVideo
• Why global pressure—especially from China’s automotive market—will change repair costs, loyalty, and profitability
• The evolving role of the technician and why this might actually attract the next generation
• How dealers should think about vendor selection without getting overwhelmed at events like NADA

This episode is packed with practical insights, real examples, and forward-looking ideas that matter right now, especially if you’re trying to future-proof your service department while everyone else is still chasing the front end.

If you’re a dealer, operator, or industry leader wondering where to focus next, this is one of those conversations that helps you see the board more clearly.

Listen to the episode featuring Steve Greenfield for even more insights!

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Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fixed-ops-roundtable/id1608656237

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HHYoyvCo1PSFwYn02UXY

Thanks, Steve Greenfield

Connect with Ted Ings and the Fixed Ops Roundtable:

• Register for the next Fixed Ops Roundtable Event
• Ted Ings on LinkedIn
• Center for Performance Improvement