ICYMI: U.S.-China trade deal lets Nexperia resume chip shipments. Former Vice President Dick Cheney dies at 84. CDK Study shows mobile service and digital tools boost dealership loyalty. Toyota and Honda report strong sales but uneven profits across regions. Ford may scrap the F-150 Lightning amid EV demand decline and mounting losses.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
Trump-Xi deal clears way for Nexperia to restart global chip supply
The U.S. is set to allow Dutch semiconductor maker Nexperia to resume shipping chips from its facilities in China, according to a person familiar with the matter. The move follows a trade agreement reached this week between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at their summit in South Korea. Read More
Dick Cheney, former U.S. Vice President, dies at 84
Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, died Monday night at the age of 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular diseases. While Cheney is well-known for his impact on national security and foreign policy, he also considerably shaped the discussion about the American automotive industry during the 2008 financial crisis. Read More
2025 CDK Service Shopper Study highlights loyalty shifts, mobile growth, and digital demands
As economic uncertainty and changing buyer habits put pressure on new vehicle sales, dealership service operations are becoming increasingly critical, according to the 2025 CDK Service Shopper Study. Surveying over 2,000 vehicle owners, the study examined trends in customer loyalty, appointment behaviors, mobile service adoption, and the growing influence of online reviews. Read More
Toyota, Honda report strong global sales but face uneven profits across regions
Toyota Motor Corporation reported consolidated vehicle sales of approximately 4.78 million units, up 227,000 from the prior fiscal year, with net revenues rising 5.8% to 24.63 trillion yen ($168.7 billion). Despite higher sales, operating income fell to 2.005 trillion yen ($13.7 billion) from 2.464 trillion yen ($16.1 billion), while net income declined to 1.773 trillion yen ($12.1 billion). Income before taxes reached 2.478 trillion yen ($17.0 billion). Read More
Ford weighs scrapping F-150 Lightning as sales, EV demand falter
Ford is considering scrapping its electric F-150 Lightning pickup after the model fell far short of sales expectations, according to the Wall Street Journal. If finalized, this would make the Lightning America’s first major electric truck casualty, highlighting the financial risks of large, pricey EV pickups. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
Lotlinx launches LotGPT, a free AI advisor tailored for car dealerships- Lance Schafer & Len Short
Lotlinx has launched LotGPT, an AI-powered tool designed specifically for car dealerships to streamline inventory management, optimize pricing strategies, and provide actionable insights for daily operations. Joining us on the latest episode of Inside Automotive to break down how LotGPT works and what it means for dealers are Lotlinx’s Executive VP and GM of Product & Technology, Lance Schaefer, and Executive Chairman Len Short.Â
How dealers can optimize service, technicians, and customer experience – Dave Rogers | Piazza Auto GroupÂ
On this upcoming episode of Service Drive, Dave Rogers, Fixed Operations Director at Piazza Auto Group, shares strategies for dealerships to succeed amid a technician shortage. Rogers details how tactics such as multi-point inspections, video walk-arounds, and mobile service units are helping his stores boost productivity and retention.
Make every marketing dollar count with vendor collaboration
Fragmented marketing is holding your dealership back from its full potential. On this episode of Marketing Matters, host Colin Carrasquillo, digital marketing director of the Nielsen Automotive Group, explains how aligning vendor partners and sharing data can transform scattered marketing efforts into a system that drives more leads, sales, and long-term profitability.
