Affordability is causing consumers to spend more time in market before making a purchase. John Fitzpatrick, CEO of Force Marketing, discusses how the current affordability crisis is creating a challenge for dealers that rely on traditional marketing metrics. He points out how longer shopping journeys can make lead volume and conversion rates appear weaker even when consumers remain interested in buying. Joining us on CBT Live, John Fitzpatrick went over what his team is seeing across more than 1,500 dealerships, including the impact of higher payments, rising insurance and gas costs, Labor Day opportunity and the rapidly changing role of AI in dealership marketing.

Mike Maroone isn't dismissing Chinese vehicles. Build quality and technology are outpacing many competitors in the US. Government backing sets Chinese automakers apart from every import wave that came before. There's also growing suspicion that they're selling into Europe and South America at a loss just to move through overcapacity at home. He also commends Senator Bernie Moreno's efforts to protect the American auto industry. Maroone joined CBT Live to share where he lands on the question of U.S. market entry. ______ CBT Live, powered by: @CDKGlobal

WEEKLY ROUNDUP 🗣️ Get the top stories from this week in under 2 minutes! • SAAR holds at 16.4 million • Canada retaliates, matching US tariffs • Honda targets US for next plant • Volkswagen CEO & union leaders clash • Hyundai plans 100 new/refreshed models Powered by: @mialabsinc (

Going into Labor Day weekend, there’s an opportunity for dealers to turn increased vehicle usage into sales and service conversations. John Fitzpatrick, CEO of Force Marketing, discusses how Americans are expected to drive more over the holiday weekend. Hence, this notion alone gives dealers a big reason to engage with customers before and after their trips; especially, a consumer who spends several days driving an older vehicle may begin thinking differently about replacing it. Having joined us on today’s CBT Live, John Fitzpatrick went over what his team is seeing across more than 1,500 dealerships, the Labor Day opportunity and rapidly changing role of AI in dealership marketing.

U.S.-Canada tariff fight raises new concerns for North American dealers Canada says protecting its auto assembly and parts manufacturing industry — and the jobs tied to it — is a nonnegotiable condition of any future U.S. trade agreement as tariff tensions escalate. – Canada says vehicle assembly and parts manufacturing must remain protected in any trade deal. – Tariff treatment for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles remains a major sticking point in negotiations. – General Motors and Ford both operate production facilities in Canada that could be affected by the dispute. – The U.S. has ordered 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods following the collapse of talks. – Canada plans to impose its own $20 billion package of retaliatory tariffs beginning Sept. 8. – Prolonged uncertainty could affect vehicle pricing, inventory planning and the cost of imported components. For U.S. dealers, the dispute highlights just how interconnected North American automotive manufacturing has become — and how changes in cross-border trade rules can ultimately impact sourcing, inventory and the price of vehicles.

Volvo expands connected safety alerts across its EV lineup Volvo is expanding its Connected Safety suite with an over-the-air update that adds four new real-time safety alerts to select EVs, giving drivers more information about hazards before they encounter them. – New alerts cover large animals, pedestrians and cyclists, roadwork, and accidents – The EX90, ES90 and EX60 are among the models receiving the expanded Connected Safety features – More than 1 million Volvo vehicles already have connected safety features activated – Alerts use data from connected Volvo vehicles and traffic centers to help drivers react faster – Select EX90 and ES90 models with Bowers & Wilkins and Dolby Atmos also gain Apple CarPlay Spatial Audio – In Europe, Volvo vehicles can share certain alerts with vehicles from other brands through the European Data for Road Safety ecosystem The update highlights how automakers are increasingly using software to add safety and technology features after a vehicle has already been sold — creating another opportunity for dealers to demonstrate the ongoing value of connected vehicles.

Hybrid financing jumps as EV demand cools, Experian reports Hybrid vehicles are gaining momentum with U.S. buyers as EV demand cools, with hybrids reaching a larger share of new-vehicle financing while also offering the lowest average monthly payments. – Hybrids accounted for 16.80% of new-vehicle financing in Q2 2026, up from 12.99% a year earlier. – EV financing fell to 8.15%, down from 9.21% last year. – Hybrid loans had the lowest average monthly payment at $646, compared with $692 for EVs and $721 for gasoline vehicles. – Hybrid leases averaged $566 per month, also below gas vehicles at $602 and EVs at $641. – The expiration of the federal EV tax credit and continued gas-price pressure are helping make hybrids more attractive to shoppers. – The average new-vehicle loan amount increased $1,715 year over year to $43,610, while the average payment climbed $16 to $765. – Despite higher vehicle costs, the average new-vehicle interest rate fell to 6.35% from 6.79% a year earlier. – Refinancing also gained momentum, with consumers saving an average of $83 per month by refinancing their auto loans. – Credit unions delivered the largest average refinance savings at $102 per month. The financing data reinforces a broader shift in the market: consumers aren’t necessarily abandoning electrification—they’re increasingly choosing the lower-cost middle ground of hybrids. For dealers, hybrids can offer an attractive combination of fuel savings, lower payments and familiar ownership compared with fully electric vehicles.

It's Friday! Join CBT Live today at Noon ET! On deck: Bradley Hoffman, Chairman of Hoffman Auto Group, and John Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of @ForceMarketing. (@JWFitzForce) (@HoffmanAutoGrp) Noon ET. Live everywhere. Be there.

Toyota’s global sales & production fall in July on China, Middle East weakness Toyota’s global sales and production declined in July as sharp drops in China and the Middle East outweighed stronger results in Japan. – Global sales fell 4.8% year over year to 856,125 vehicles, marking another monthly decline. – China sales plunged 24.3%, the sixth consecutive monthly decline in the market. – U.S. sales, Toyota’s largest market, slipped 0.8%. – Middle East sales dropped a significant 44.5%. – Japan provided a bright spot, with sales rising 11% and production increasing 12.4%. – Global production declined 2.1%, with output falling 32.7% in China and 4% in the U.S. – Japanese exports rose 10.2% to more than 196,000 vehicles, marking their third consecutive month of growth. – Toyota said higher gasoline prices in China have weakened demand for both hybrid and traditional combustion vehicles. The results highlight how uneven Toyota’s global performance has become. While Japan and exports are providing momentum, continued weakness in China and the Middle East, combined with softer U.S. sales, is weighing on overall volume as Toyota navigates shifting consumer demand across its major markets.