What to Expect in the Automotive Retail Space

Special Guest - Cliff Banks

As automotive retail evolves, staying ahead of rising trends and the latest technology is important. On this episode of The Walk Around podcast, Cliff Banks of The Banks Report shares his thoughts on the future of this space in the modern dealership. As an “industry insider,” Cliff’s unique background in journalism has helped him grow and become a pioneer in automotive news.

In this episode you’ll hear:

How non-traditional sources are changing automotive journalism
Industry insights and trends that dealers are thinking about
Tips to identify the right DMS vendor for your business
Thoughts on an end-to-end approach in the future of retail
The importance of trustworthy relationships between vendors and dealers

Episode Breakdown

0:00 – Intro
2:16 – Meet Cliff!
5:11 – Thoughts on new media automotive reporting
10:54 – Insights into the automotive industry
13:44 – What is on the mind of dealers?
17:00 – Will automotive transactions become end-to-end?
21:32 – Who leads the automotive technology space?
24:08 – How to identify the right dealership vendor
29:52 – How AUTOVATE differs from other events
35:09 – What should dealers be talking about?
38:00 – Best Bets

Cliff Banks is the founder of AUTOVATE, an annual conference, podcast, and newsletter that covers the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment in automotive retail. AUTOVATE has helped foster nearly $2 billion in acquisitions and investments in automotive retail technology companies. Cliff has 35 years of experience in the automotive sector and nearly 25 years as a journalist and analyst. In his career, he spent over a decade as an editor with WardsAuto, managed the Digital Dealer conferences and publications for two years and launched The Banks Report, an online newsletter focused on investment in the automotive retail space.

For more about Cliff, visit his LinkedIn.