Cars Commerce

📢This is a must-listen for anyone navigating the shifting tides of automotive retail. #autotariffs

🤔 Are you wasting ad dollars on shoppers who aren’t ready to buy? With rising costs and shrinking targeting data, every dollar needs to work smarter. The Cars Commerce Media Network leverages Cars.com’s exclusive first-party data to put your ads in front of real, in-market shoppers wherever they go online. Here’s what that means for your dealership: ✅ Reach car shoppers who are actively looking for their next vehicle ✅ Engage them on the channels they trust most ✅ Convert interest into action with measurable results Meet Ashley Griswold (VP, Marketing Services), and discover how the Cars Commerce Media Network helps you reach real car buyers, while they’re shopping, at scale. 👉 https://lnkd.in/evfjAJYm

🏆 The 2025 Cars.com Dealer of the Year Awards are officially in the books! This year marked one of the most competitive award seasons in the past 15 years. Congratulations to our outstanding winners — and thank you to every dealer who proves that the best way to buy, sell, and service cars is by providing a five star review-worthy experience.💜 See all the winners here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gUikwhbK

Potential big changes ahead - a proposed 25% tariff on car and car part imports. Hear our take on what this could mean for you and consumers.

🔎🚗 Want more used cars? You don’t have to look far. You’re surrounded by your most valuable source of inventory — your customers. With AccuTrade, you can appraise vehicles instantly — whether in the showroom, service lane, or even at a customer’s home. Turn every interaction into an acquisition opportunity and make it easy for customers to sell their car to you. Watch the video to see how it works. 🚙 https://lnkd.in/es44z6cN

Our latest Industry Insights Report is out. Here are the key trends were watching: 🚗 Tariff impacts: Imports from Mexico are rapidly declining. 📉 Used car market: Prices have dipped, but so has inventory levels. 🔌 EV landscape: With 69 models now available, competition is increasing. Get the full report for deeper insights on these trends and more. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eHppQRmy

🔑 The key to selling more cars? Acquiring the right ones for your lot. A recent Cars Commerce client survey reveals a 20% increase in dealerships citing affordable used car acquisition as a top challenge for 2025 vs. 2024. 🤕 To stay ahead, store processes must evolve. 💪 🍿 Watch Jarrod Kilway, VP of Digital Operations at Casa Auto Group, share how service drive acquisition is transforming their strategy—and why it could be a game-changer in 2025. 📺 Don’t miss it! 👉 https://lnkd.in/eMgyX-iG

🚘 The undecided shopper = the ultimate opportunity. As shoppers enter the market on Cars.com, their consideration set expands—exploring more brands and models than they originally planned 🎯. 🔑 That means dealers and OEMs have a critical window to reach them with the right message at key moments in their journey. 📢 Watch Lindsay Eckert (Sr. Director, B2B Marketing) and Jenya Shklyar-Curvéy (VP, Consumer Marketing) break down what today’s car buyers really think—and how to influence them at the right time. 📺 Don’t miss it! 👉 https://lnkd.in/erXuhim6

❓Is your website helping you convert shoppers — or slowing them down? Find out with Dealer Inspire’s new Website Health Report, giving you a snapshot of your site’s performance with: 🔍 Core Web Vitals Insights – Get a clear view of your site’s speed & stability. 💡 Lighthouse Scores – Measure user experience & accessibility for better engagement. ⚙️ Third-Party Impact – Identify how scripts affect load times & shopper interactions. See how your site stacks up & uncover opportunities to improve. 👉 Learn more & see your report: https://lnkd.in/eCjwsxYJ

Tariffs, Fear, and a 9% Spike in Online Car Searches? Between February 16 and February 22, searches on Cars.com jumped 9%. That’s a massive shift—seemingly out of nowhere. But what’s even more interesting? Many dealers are reporting a significant increase in sales this month, despite no major changes in incentives, interest rates, or credit availability. What in the world is going on? Uncertainty. Just not the kind many dealerships expected. As tariff threats escalated, consumers stopped waiting and started acting—rushing to buy before potential price hikes. What’s even more fascinating? People are buying vehicles regardless of where they’re manufactured. In February 2025, 52% of new vehicles had their final assembly in the U.S. and you'd think that would be the ones that are seeing all the growth. But searches and sales of vehicles made in the U.S., Japan and elsewhere which have no tariff threats—still are surging. Fear is a powerful motivator, and we’re seeing its effects play out in real time. Everyone has been so focused on the NEGATIVE aspects of tariffs. We forget that there might be some POSITIVES, too. And here’s where having the right partner makes all the difference. While most of the industry has been locked in speculation, dealers working with Cars.com partners had access to data showing consumer interest was actually rising—not falling. That kind of insight is invaluable. The ability to operate based on where the business is going, rather than just reacting to today, gives dealers a massive advantage.  This is the result of Alex Vetter's relentless commitment to focus primarily on helping dealers make money rather than them selling their innovative platform.  But here’s the thing… This moment is temporary. It could end this month, next month, or 🤷🏼♂️. What you do TODAY determines whether you benefit from the current circumstances—or watch as they pass you by. Dealers who recognize the moment, leverage industry leading data and lean in will be the ones who will win. Again.