AI in Automotive Retail Is Getting Real

“Stop being afraid of AI and start using it as a collaborative tool.” - Todd Smith, CEO of QuoreAI

CURRENT EVENTS

QoreAI CEO: Start Small With AI

Most dealers assume AI means a big system change. Todd Smith says start with the basics. Use it for emails, resume screening, and customer outreach. These smaller wins build confidence and free up your team for higher value work.

Takeaway: Train managers and staff to use AI for simple workflows right now. Adoption at the individual level makes it easier to expand across the store later.

VIN Specific Imagery Drives More Sales

Seventy five percent of dealer site traffic goes straight to vehicle detail pages. Matt Van Dyke from Shift Digital says generic stock photos are losing dealers business. VIN specific images taken in house or created with photorealistic CGI increase trust and engagement.

Takeaway: Show customers the exact trim and features they are shopping for. Precise imagery on VDPs drives conversions.

Cox Automotive Expands AI in Operations and Marketing

Cox rolled out two important updates this week:

• UVeye + vAuto: AI powered inspections now flow into vAuto. Dealers get faster and more accurate appraisals with defect detection baked in.

• Dealer.com CDP Upgrade: A unified AI powered customer data platform now connects Dealer.com, Autotrader, and Kelley Blue Book. Dealers using it are seeing 2.7 times more visits, 3 times more VDP views, and double the leads.

Takeaway: AI is proving its value both in the lane and online. The dealers who adopt these tools early are already seeing results.

EVENTS AND CONFERENCES

Digital Dealer 2025 Is All About AI

Digital Dealer returns to Las Vegas October 14 and 15. This year the event has a sharper focus on AI. Show Director Jaymie Nielsen says the sessions will center on real world dealer use cases and lessons from early adopters.

Takeaway: This will be the most practical Digital Dealer yet. If you want to see how AI is being applied on the ground this is the show to attend.

INDUSTRY UPDATES

Dealers are moving past the hype. Instead of buying broad AI systems they are targeting specific problems. Training and gradual rollout are what separates success from frustration. AI is not replacing people. It is helping them work smarter.

Takeaway: The winners are the stores that introduce AI carefully, train their people well, and measure results.

Thanks for reading. Hit me up and let me know what you think I should cover next week!

— Adam