Full Throttle, a Presidio Podcast

What separates a dealership that customers love from one they avoid? According to Ujj Nath, co-founder and CEO of MyKaarma, it comes down to three things: every interaction must be convenient, transparent, and contextual. In this episode, host Jason Stein sits down with one of the sharpest minds in automotive retail to unpack why dealers still miss nearly half their inbound calls, how AI is about...

He started with one Chevy franchise in a cornfield. Now he runs a $14 billion empire and NASCAR's greatest dynasty. Rick Hendrick doesn't talk about culture — he builds it. Fifty years in the car business, 40 years in racing, 304 NASCAR Cup Series wins, and a people-first philosophy that has outlasted oil embargoes, 20% interest rates, a financial crisis, and a global pandemic. This is t...

What does it take to run the most powerful brand portfolio in American automotive history? Duncan Aldred knows. As GM's Senior VP and President of North America, Duncan oversees Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC — and he sat down with Jason Stein to break down exactly where the industry is headed, and how GM plans to lead it. From the real state of EV adoption (the numbers might surprise yo...

Adam Chamberlain came back to Mercedes-Benz at the worst possible moment — and that's exactly why he took the job. After 3.5 years on the retail side at Lithia (the largest dealer group in the US), Adam returned to lead Mercedes-Benz North America on July 1, 2025 — walking into tariffs, Chinese EV pressure, a crowded luxury landscape, and a brand that had slipped to #3 in the US behind BMW an...

The dealership business has changed — and it’s not going back. In this episode of Full Throttle, Jason Stein sits down with George Karolis to break down what’s really happening inside the automotive retail industry. From post-COVID profit normalization to the rise of fixed operations, AI-driven efficiency, and the evolving M&A landscape — this conversation goes beyond headlines and into what d...

The automotive industry is evolving fast—and dealerships are being forced to adapt. In this episode of The Presidio Group’s Podcast “Full Throttle”, host Jason Stein sits down with Scott Gunnell, President of JM&A Group, to break down how AI, data, and shifting consumer behavior are reshaping the dealership model. From rising cost pressures to the growing role of automation, Scott shares how d...

What really happened inside Mercedes-Benz during the last five years of industry upheaval? In this episode of The Presidio Group’s Podcast Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Joseph Agresta Jr., fresh off a rare three-year term leading the Mercedes-Benz National Dealer Board. Agresta shares a candid look at what dealers experienced during one of the most turbulent periods in automotive...

For 25 years, dealership technology has barely changed. Layered apps. Fragmented systems. Limited productivity gains. Now Bill Berman — CEO of Pinewood. AI — says that era is over. In this episode of The Presidio Group’s Podcast “Full Throttle”, host Jason Stein sits down with Berman at NADA in Las Vegas to discuss: • Why Pinewood isn’t “just another DMS” • What an embedded AI operating system act...

On this episode of Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Eddie Stivers, Owner and Dealer Principal of Stivers Automotive and former Chairman of the Ford Dealer Council, for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, policy, profitability, and the future of the retail auto business. Fresh off six years on the Ford Dealer Council — including overseeing Ford Pro and Model e during one of t...

In this episode of Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Tom Castriota, owner of Castriota Chevrolet, Inc., for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces reshaping the auto retail industry. Castriota reflects on his year traveling the country — and the world — listening directly to dealers about their biggest concerns, from direct-to-consumer sales and franchise law threats to affordabili...

In this return appearance on Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Kevin Tynan, Director of Research at The Presidio Group, for a no-nonsense breakdown of what 2026 really looks like for the U.S. auto industry. This is not a hype cycle conversation. Kevin explains why the market is hitting a structural tipping point — where chasing volume starts to destroy pricing, margins, and long-term...

In this episode of Full Throttle , host Jason Stein sits down with Jay Vijayan , Founder & CEO of Tekion , to unpack how AI, data, and platform thinking are reshaping the future of automotive retail. Jay brings a rare perspective—having built enterprise systems at Tesla, invested in dozens of technology companies, and now leading one of the fastest-scaling automotive software platforms in the...

In Episode 58 of Full Throttle, Jason Stein sits down in Atlanta with Presidio Group President George Karolis for a deep-dive into one of the hottest dealership M&A markets we’ve ever seen. With 16 transactions closed in the first 10 months of 2025, The Presidio Group has a front-row seat to the momentum, the deals, and the shifting strategies shaping automotive retail. George breaks down why...

Amazon is changing the way cars are bought and sold. In this episode of Full Throttle, Jason Stein sits down with Fan Jin, Global Director of Amazon Autos, to talk about how Amazon is building a dealer-centric marketplace that aims to make car buying more transparent, flexible, and convenient than ever before. Fan explains why Amazon entered the automotive space, how the Hyundai pilot shaped the l...

What happens when hard work, humility, and a love of cars collide? Toyota Motor North America’s Senior VP of Automotive Operations, Andrew Gilleland, joins Jason Stein to share his remarkable rise from teaching skiing in Colorado to becoming one of Toyota’s top leaders. In this episode of Full Throttle, Andrew reveals how a random encounter on a chairlift launched his career — and why the mindset...

From a five-year Subaru project to cutting-edge AI in auto retail — Vince Sheehy is steering Sheehy Auto Stores into the future. In this episode of Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Vince Sheehy, President of Sheehy Auto Stores, one of the largest privately held dealership groups in the Mid-Atlantic. Vince shares an insider’s look at what it takes to expand a 30-rooftop business while...

Ryan shares how he balances rapid expansion with family values, why 95% of his promotions come from within, and what it really takes to preserve a people-first culture while scaling across brands and markets. He also dives into: 🚗 Betting on brands like Mitsubishi & Infiniti for long-term growth⚡ The EV transition, tax incentives, and what consumers really want🤖 The role of AI & tech in...

In this episode of Full Throttle, Jason Stein sits down with Kasi Edwards, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Reynolds and Reynolds, to discuss the future of automotive retail. From the challenges of fragmented technology systems to the opportunities of AI, robotics, and data-driven growth, Kasi shares how Reynolds is working to make dealerships more efficient, profitable, and future-ready. The...

Asbury Automotive Group President & CEO David Hult joins Jason Stein on Full Throttle , presented by The Presidio Group, to discuss one of the year’s biggest automotive retail stories — the $1.4 billion acquisition of Herb Chambers Companies . In this candid conversation, David shares what it took to close the deal after four years of discussions, how it fits into Asbury’s luxury growth strate...

In this episode of Full Throttle , host Jason Stein sits down with Kevin Tynan, Director of Research at The Presidio Group, for a revealing look under the hood of the automotive industry's most pressing shifts. Kevin breaks down the latest dealership performance benchmarks and uncovers the real drivers of profit in today’s post-inventory-reset landscape. From shrinking margins in new vehicle...

🎉 Full Throttle Episode 50 | Inside the Auto Industry with Matt Bowers of Matt Bowers Auto Group In this milestone 50th episode of Full Throttle, we sit down with Matt Bowers—President, Founder & Chairman of Matt Bowers Auto Group—for an unfiltered conversation on today’s auto retail landscape. We dive into: 📈 Matt’s take on the 2025 market so far 🧠 His viral “Market Observations” on Linked...

In this powerful episode of Full Throttle, Presidio Managing Director and host Jason Stein sits down with Jeff Brown, President of Hendrick Automotive Group, to explore the personal journey, strategic vision, and people-first leadership that now drive the nation’s largest privately held automotive retail organization. After a successful tenure as CEO of Ally Financial, Jeff took “the call he’d alw...

For our 48th episode of Full Throttle, we are joined by Matt Nuffort, Director at Amazon Autos. Topics of discussion include why Amazon is getting into the automotive retail space, partnering with dealers and the benefits coming from that, their plans for expanding and enhancing operations for the future, and much more! 0:00 Intro 2:55 - What drew Amazon to the automotive retail space 5:01 - Gaini...

For our 47th episode of Full Throttle, we are joined by Jimmy Douglas, Founder & CEO of Plug. Topics of discussion include what Plug is and what they do for the used EV market, his background at Tesla and working with Elon Musk, why dealers should be working with his company, and much more! 0:00 Intro 2:46 - How uncertainty & volatility in EV market is affecting Plug 4:45 - Plug’s business...

In Episode 46 of Full Throttle, we sit down with Roger Penske, Chairman of Penske Corporation. In this conversation, Roger shares stories about the influence of his father, Jay Penske, how he acquired his first dealership, the current landscape of auto retail, and—of course—his legendary involvement in racing. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to stay up to date with future episodes! Ti...