What did Capital Automotive Group acquire in the Carolinas?

Capital Automotive Group closed on six dealerships and a collision center from retiring dealer Larry Cloninger, with five dealerships in North Carolina and one in South Carolina. The deal closed on September 29.

How many Lincoln dealerships will remain by the end of 2027?

Lincoln will have fewer than 300 dealerships by the end of 2027, a network reduction Ford set in motion some time back.

Who did AutoNation add to its board?

AutoNation added the Goodyear chief executive and a former Stellantis North American operating chief to its board.

What step did Stellantis workers take toward a strike?

Stellantis workers moved from a strike vote to formal authorization to strike, with talks still stalled.

What did the FlexPath DXP study find about subprime and super-prime buyers?

The study found that subprime and super-prime buyers are now asking the same questions at the finance desk, suggesting credit pressure looks less like a subprime-only story.

Episode · Tuesday, October 20, 2026 · 3:42

Carolinas Dealer Group Changes Hands

Larry Cloninger is out, Capital Automotive Group is in, and seven locations across two states now answer to new ownership. CBT News and Auto Remarketing both file group-sale stories the same day, one in the Carolinas, one running from North Carolina to Nebraska. Elsewhere on the wire: Lincoln's dealer count keeps shrinking toward a number Ford already set for twenty twenty-seven, AutoNation adds two outside executives to its board, and a Toyota store's decade-long zombie ad campaign finally wraps, per Automotive News. The FTC's personalized pricing proposal gets a fresh look from Digital Dealer. Stellantis workers move a step closer to a strike, and Volvo's answer to the Tesla Model Y hits a delay on its way to US buyers.

In this episode

Capital Automotive buys six Cloninger stores in CarolinasCBT News
Inventory strategy & more from 2026 CPO Dealer of the YearAuto Remarketing
Auto dealer group M&A from NC to NebraskaAuto Remarketing
Lincoln Will Have Fewer Than 300 Dealerships By The End Of 2027 - Motor1.comAutomotive News (GN)
AutoNation adds Goodyear CEO, ex-Stellantis North American COO to boardAuto Remarketing
Latest two moves by US Bank have dealers & OEMs in mindAuto Remarketing
Octane hires VP of sales and partnerships to sustain strong momentum captive-as-a-service programAuto Remarketing
Toyota dealership’s zombie commercials conclude after 10-year run - Automotive NewsUS auto industry (GN)
FlexPath DXP study: Subprime & super-prime consumers asking similar auto-finance questions nowadaysAuto Remarketing
What the FTC’s Personalized Pricing Proposal Means for Dealer Pricing and DiscountsDigital Dealer