Alliance Creative Group has added a new, automated marketing and customer engagement solution that uses AI characters to assist dealership website visitors. +

Carvana has purchased Sacramento (Calif.) Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, continuing a Stellantis dealership buying spree that started nearly a year ago, likely in an attempt to secure an in-house inventory channel. +

Dealerslink has launched its 2026 AI Suite, adding six new AI-powered tools dedicated to multiple facets of automotive sales and marketing, including inventory, pricing and vehicle description pages. +

DealNow’s Brad Parker urges dealers to focus on private party and service lane acquisition as traditionally reliable channels grow increasingly competitive. +

AI expert Devin Daly believes the fractured nature of dealership operations means “generic” solutions like ChatGPT may be helpful but can’t create the “control layer” dealers need. +

Lotlinx analysts say new vehicle sales and supplies improved in a third quarter marked by a run on new EVs while a growing need to clear out 2025 units could produce an incentive-rich Q4. +

CarGurus dealers now have access to PriceVantage, a new tool designed to use machine learning to deliver pricing recommendations based in part on shopper behavior and inventory datasets. +

Edmunds reports the average transaction price for a U.S.-sold pre-owned vehicle increased by 5% to $31,067 in the third quarter, accompanied by a four-day uptick in lot times. +

Lotlinx has launched LotGPT, a new AI chatbot designed to serve as a personal dealer advisor, backed by historic VIN-level and shopper data and billed as an industry first. +

NADA analysts say waning demand and affordability issues are depressing sales team earnings, Nevada leads the nation in average payroll and bigger dealers continue to gain market share. +