Becoming Canada’s #1 VW CPO Dealer: What’s Working, What’s Broken, and Where Profit Is Slipping Away | Greg Smith, VP Operations at Leavens Automotive Group
Today I’m joined by Greg Smith, VP operations at Leaven Automotive Group. We dive how he became the #1 Volkswagen CPO dealer in Canada, why he’s mystery shopping his own stores every month, his loss-leader strategy behind auction purchases and much more.
This episode is brought to you by:
1. Uber for Business - With Central, you can request a ride on behalf of your customers even if they don’t have the Uber app. If you’re ready to reduce the costs associated with maintaining shuttles and limit the liability of loaner vehicles, it's time to partner with Uber. Visit @ http://t.uber.com/CDGauto today
2. Experian Automotive - Like most Car Dealership Guy Listeners, you’re constantly looking for the inside edge on the auto industry. So if you’re ready to step up your game to the next level – outpacing the competition and building customer loyalty – there’s only one place to go from here: Experian Automotive. They’re the only ones with exclusive data across vehicles, consumers, and credit—plus expert data scientists who connect the dots to uncover the insights you need. Get the industry-leading insights from Experian Automotive today! Learn more by visiting @ https://carguymedia.com/4cfcLjZ
3. Nomad Content Studio - Most dealerships still get social media wrong—ignoring it, posting boring inventory photos, or handing it off to someone without a plan. Meanwhile, the dealer down the street is pulling millions of views and closing real car deals. That’s where Nomad Content Studio comes in. They’re the team behind dealers like Paragon Honda, Benzs & Bowties, and EV Auto. Nomad trains your videographer, guides what to film, then edits and posts across every platform for you. Want your dealership to be next? Head to http://www.trynomad.co and book a call.
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
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Topics:
00:22 What shaped Greg's early career?
02:10 Why transition to BMW Canada?
04:27 Biggest management challenges faced?
07:12 What defines your leadership style?
11:22 Most effective meeting strategies?
23:33 Best gross profit strategies?
26:03 Scaling challenges in auto retail?
30:29 Core dealership culture principles?
39:37 How to improve trade appraisals?
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CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
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47:18
Benstock on the US Dream, Lotlinx CEO on Building For Car Biz, Morgan on Legacy | Daily Dealer Live
Today's show features:
Brian Benstock, Partner/GM of Paragon Honda & Acura
Len Short, CEO of Lotlinx
Larry Morgan, Chariman of Morgan Family Ventures
This episode is brought to you by:
CarNow – CarNow isn’t just about flashy features or marketing buzz. It’s about helping dealers actually sell more. One store moved from a 3% close rate to 30% in just a month by switching to our connected platform. That’s the kind of lift you can’t ignore. From Chat & Messaging to ReConnect’s assisted follow-up, it all just works - and it works together. Curious what that kind of performance could look like for you? Take a look at the numbers: https://carguymedia.com/carnow
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership
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Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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1:08:55
“This Is the Worst It’ll Ever Be”—State of Dealership AI and What Dealers Should Be Asking | Eric Rea, CEO of Podium
Today I’m joined by Eric Rea, CEO of Podium. We dive into the state of Dealership AI in 2025, the questions dealers should be asking to stay ahead, why 10% of US dealers are using Podium's AI and much more.
This episode is brought to you by:
1. Qmerit - Selling EVs can have a lot of friction points. But home charging installation shouldn’t be one of them. That’s why dealers and automakers trust Qmerit—the go-to expert for home charging installations. Join Qmerit’s dealership partner program and start earning referral incentives on every installation. Visit @ qmerit.com/carguy to learn more.
2. Lotlinx - Get the best possible market advantage on every vehicle transaction. Optimize operations and boost profits using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Learn more @ https://lotlinx.com/
3. Podium - Don’t miss another lead. With Podium’s AI BDC, dealerships are seeing an 80% increase in after-hours appointments by handling leads 24/7. Instantly respond to inquiries, book test drives, and let your team focus on what matters: closing deals. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars at https://www.podium.com/car-dealership-guy
Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Topics:
00:15 What fueled Podium's rapid growth?
01:07 How did Podium get started?
03:00 How is AI transforming dealerships?
05:42 What makes Jerry AI special?
08:11 Customizing AI for dealers how?
13:08 Will AI replace BDC teams?
16:27 Future AI applications in auto?
26:00 How AI revolutionizes service departments?
32:25 Biggest voice AI challenges today?
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership
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Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions.
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38:37
Raymond on Buying First Store, VINart on OEM Co-Op Struggles | Daily Dealer Live
Today's show features:
Gerry Raymond, President of Gerry Raymond Automotive
Andy Wright, Managing Partner of VINART Automotive Group
This episode is brought to you by:
CarNow – CarNow isn’t just about flashy features or marketing buzz. It’s about helping dealers actually sell more. One store moved from a 3% close rate to 30% in just a month by switching to our connected platform. That’s the kind of lift you can’t ignore. From Chat & Messaging to ReConnect’s assisted follow-up, it all just works - and it works together. Curious what that kind of performance could look like for you? Take a look at the numbers: https://carguymedia.com/carnow
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership
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Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
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58:35
City Kia on Offsite Recon, Impel on AI Future, Sansone JR on New Kia Facility | Daily Dealer Live
Today's show features:
Raul Gomila, General Manager of City KIA of Greater Orlando
Devin Daly, CEO at Impel
Paul Sansone, Jr, Owner of Sansone Jr's Auto Group
This episode is brought to you by:
Transunion – TransUnion brings clarity to marketing chaos by delivering a 360-degree view of your customer, helping you deepen your insights, accelerate your decision making, and better measure the impact of every marketing dollar. Visit https://carguymedia.com/transunion to learn more.
Impel – Impel AI helps you drive loyalty with proactive, personalized service outreach that scales seamlessly. From service milestones to recall alerts and tailored incentives, Impel makes service outreach feel more like a concierge service than marketing. With AI-powered service scheduling via text and email—your team can stop managing calendars and focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences. Future-proof your service drive today. Visit https://carguymedia.com/40nWpRj
Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: https://cdgpartner.com
Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: https://bit.ly/3Suismu
Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff:
CDG News ➤ https://news.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Jobs ➤ https://jobs.dealershipguy.com/
CDG Recruiting ➤ https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/
My Socials:
X ➤ https://www.twitter.com/GuyDealership
Instagram ➤ https://www.instagram.com/cardealershipguy/
TikTok ➤ https://www.tiktok.com/@guydealership
LinkedIn ➤ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy/
Threads ➤ https://www.threads.net/@cardealershipguy
Facebook ➤ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683
Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com
The Car Dealership Guy Podcast Network is your front-row seat to the people, companies, and trends shaping the future of automotive retail—delivered across three focused formats:
The Car Dealership Guy Podcast (Tuesdays & Thursdays)
Hosted by Yossi Levi, these deep-dive interviews feature top dealers, operators, and innovators driving the industry forward.
Daily Dealer Live (Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays)
Our live-streamed show, also released here in audio format, brings real-time news, sharp takes, and high-impact guests—think CNBC for car dealers.
Industry Spotlight
Hosted by Sam D’Arc, this segment highlights standout dealerships and vendors with tactical insights and stories from the front lines.
Follow us on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for highlights and behind-the-scenes content from every episode.
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