Operations
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Courtesy of Ford Motor Company
ColumnHow creating FordDirect helped avert a potential automaker-dealer showdown
Dealer veteran David Kain, the joint venture’s first employee, recounts how the partnership came about during the early stages of internet shopping.
By Steve Finlay • March 11, 2026 -
Courtesy of American Honda Motor Co.
Honda limits tariff impact via logistics, procurement tweaks
The automaker is also tackling supply gaps, but warns China rare earth supplies are emerging as a new risk.
By Antone Gonsalves • March 5, 2026 -
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Provided by NPX Semiconductors
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Courtesy of Volvo Cars
Volvo ramps up EX60 production to meet demand
The automaker sees strong demand in Europe for its midsize electric SUV ahead of U.S. launch.
By Paul Myles • March 4, 2026 -
Courtesy of General Motors
GM merging its CPO dealer sales program with CarBravo
The move will consolidate the automaker’s certified pre-owned vehicle sales under a single, nationwide omnichannel platform for car shoppers.
By Eric Walz • March 4, 2026 -
Courtesy of Brightpick
NAPA expands use of warehouse robots
Following a pilot project last year, the auto parts retailer plans to roll out 100 robots from Brightpick at a new facility.
By Antone Gonsalves • March 4, 2026 -
Courtesy of Sonic Automotive Inc.
Sonic Automotive has big plans to revitalize used-car unit
Expecting a used-car market boom, executives outlined plans to set the EchoPark brand up for rapid growth through a $10 million-plus marketing campaign and new e-commerce app.
By Jim Henry • March 3, 2026 -
Courtesy of Elektrobit
AI doubled auto industry cyberattacks: Upstream
The rise of malicious incidents last year reveals that the mobility industry’s early adoption of the technology has accelerated cybersecurity risks, a new report found.
By Paul Myles • March 3, 2026 -
Courtesy of The Wyler Collection
Ferrari stands out as ultra-luxury dealership acquisitions rise
Some dealers will work to acquire other exotics just to own a Ferrari franchise, experts say.
By Alysha Webb • March 2, 2026 -
Permission granted by Matt Bowers
Matt Bowers buys dealership from Asbury Automotive Group, expanding empire
Dealers are increasingly bullish on Stellantis’ brands, especially on the Ram side, said David Hacman, who advised Bowers on the acquisition.
By Alysha Webb • Feb. 27, 2026 -
Courtesy of Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings
Aston Martin plans 20% cut in workforce as losses mount
The British automaker lists U.S. and China tariffs among the factors creating “unprecedented” uncertainties.
By Paul Myles • Feb. 26, 2026 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
7 reactions: Auto industry takes on Supreme Court tariff ruling
Despite the struck-down tariffs’ limited effects on auto imports, industry stakeholders used the moment to call for greater trade clarity, flexibility and a renegotiated USMCA.
By Bengt Halvorson • Feb. 24, 2026 -
Courtesy of Stellantis
Stellantis names former GM exec to lead purchasing and supplier quality for North America
Marcelo Conti spent the past 11 years at General Motors, most recently as the automaker’s head of purchasing for interior, exterior and thermal products.
By Eric Walz • Feb. 19, 2026 -
Courtesy of Jaguar Land Rover
JLR clears distinct powertrain paths for Jaguar, Land Rover despite financial losses
The decision to sell only battery-electric Jaguars means the automaker will have to decide whether to compete as a small-volume, high-end brand — or target volume in the long-run, according to one analyst.
By Paul Myles • Feb. 19, 2026 -
Retrieved from BMW on February 17, 2026
Penske Automotive saw premium luxury sales miss targets in Q4 2025
The dealership group says the result was the product of tariffs, stalled EV sales in the U.S. and weakness in the U.K. market.
By Jim Henry • Feb. 17, 2026 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Tariffs, supplier fire continue to batter Ford
Confusion over the start date for auto part levy offsets caused the automaker to incur higher costs than it originally expected.
By Phil Neuffer • Feb. 13, 2026 -
Getty Images
Asbury Automotive posts record revenues despite new DMS, M&A costs
CEO David Hult said 2025 saw a lot of distractions, but nonetheless, the group was able to record an $18 billion revenue year.
By Jim Henry • Feb. 11, 2026 -
Courtesy of Volvo Cars
Volvo blames US tariffs, exchange rates for 2025 profit slump
The automaker saw operating income fall by over 40% in both the fourth quarter and full year, but expects an electrified product pipeline will help it return to growth in 2026.
By Paul Myles • Feb. 9, 2026 -
Permission granted by U.S. Marine
Mitsubishi dealership acquisition heralds birth of new auto group with used-car focus
Consultant Jen Morley told WardsAuto the owner’s emphasis on used-vehicle sales tracks with strategies used by other Nissan and Mitsubishi dealers.
By Alysha Webb • Feb. 5, 2026 -
Sean Gardner via Getty Images
At NADA Show 2026, dealers will seek out lessons in operational excellence
Auto retailers are convening in Las Vegas to talk business, but for many, improving fixed operations and falling margins remains top of mind.
By Jim Henry • Feb. 3, 2026 -
Getty Images
Group 1 Automotive’s record 2025 revenues driven by Fixed Ops, F&I
Fixed Ops improved performance last year reflected ongoing efforts to add and retain service technicians.
By Jim Henry • Feb. 2, 2026 -
Courtesy of Aumovio
Aumovio to cut 4,000 jobs as part of R&D spending rollback
The company, spun off from Tier 1 supplier Continental, said the layoffs are meant to bring R&D spending to below 10% of sales from 11.9% in Q3 2025.
By Paul Myles • Feb. 2, 2026 -
Courtesy of General Motors
The top automotive industry trends to follow in 2026
With automakers navigating tariffs, a sea of regulatory changes, supply chain uncertainties and waning EV demand, we’ve rounded up articles that dive into the topics OEMs and dealers are watching.
By Eric Walz • Jan. 30, 2026 -
Permission granted by Todd Blue
Todd Blue has big plans for Ferrari of Rancho Mirage
Now that he finally owns it, Blue told WardsAuto he hopes to put Ferrari of Rancho Mirage at the center of a luxury-auto ecosystem focused on customer experiences.
By Alysha Webb • Jan. 29, 2026 -
Courtesy of Sony Honda Mobility
Sony Honda Mobility partners aligned on EV vision
It’s taken some effort to merge cultures from to two since its launch in 2022, but Sony Honda Mobility of America’s CEO says it’s going better than expected.
By Dave Zoia • Jan. 28, 2026 -
Courtesy of General Motors
GM’s Buick Envision production shifting from China to US in 2028
The onshoring of production is designed in part to mitigate tariffs that have driven up the price of the compact SUV and cut into sales.
By Eric Walz • Jan. 23, 2026
