Dealership lots may look stable from the street, but the real action is happening underneath: trade rules, factory moves, EV lease math, VIN-level advertising, and AI systems are reshaping the business.

Today’s episode breaks down Toyota’s $3.6 billion Tacoma production shift to Texas, the EV residual-value problem hitting leases, LotLinks’ warning that 44% of dealers lack VIN-level ad visibility, and Reynolds & Reynolds’ Ray platform for agentic AI inside dealership workflows.

Today's Key Headlines

~Toyota plans a $3.6 billion investment to move Tacoma production toward San Antonio, Texas

~Toyota’s San Antonio capacity is expected to rise from roughly 200,000 to 350,000 vehicles annually

~BMW iX3, Kia EV3, Bentley Torcal, Ford’s small EV pickup and Ferrari’s Luce show the crowded EV pipeline

~Cox Automo ...