Used Car Dealer Podcast

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach sits down with Jeff Martin, CEO of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), to preview the upcoming NIADA Convention & Expo in Denver and discuss the biggest issues facing independent dealers today. Jeff shares what makes this year’s Denver event unique, from NIADA’s education-focused breakout sessions and networking...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach Klempf talks with Dan Ingle, President & COO of UsedCars.com, to discuss how affordability pressures are fueling a major shift from new to used vehicles and what dealers need to do to stay ahead in a tight inventory market.  Drawing from his extensive automotive background, including leadership roles at Kelley Blue Book and AutoWeb, Dan shar...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Monik Pamecha, co-founder of Toma , about how AI is reshaping dealership operations, from lead handling to customer communication and overall efficiency.  Monik shares how Toma started by solving a simple but critical problem—missed calls and slow response times—and how that expanded into a broader opportunity to reduce friction acros...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Sanjay Varnwal, co-founder and CEO of Spyne AI, to unpack how AI-powered merchandising is helping dealers move inventory faster by getting vehicles live online sooner and with more premium visuals. Sanjay explains why “time-to-live” is one of the most overlooked profit levers in used cars, how holding cost compounds every day a vehicl...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Amit Chandarana, CEO of Curbee , to unpack how mobile service is reshaping dealership retention—and why fixed ops is increasingly becoming a front-and-center growth engine.  Amit shares lessons from his career at Toyota, Edmunds, and Roadster, and how those experiences influence the way Curbee helps dealers operationalize mobile servi...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Paulo da Silva, who leads the digital commerce business at Cox Automotive—including e-commerce, CRM, marketing automation, and deal structuring—to unpack how transparency, omnichannel retail, and AI are redefining the car-buying experience for both dealers and consumers.  Paulo shares his journey from strategy and M&A into buildin...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Derek Hansen, Vice President of Inventory Management Solutions at Cox Automotive and head of vAuto, to dig into how data, AI, and disciplined process are reshaping used-vehicle inventory strategy. Derek shares his non-traditional path from Intel and Bain & Company into automotive, and why he sees dealers as some of the most resili...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Cole Reiken, Managing Director of Blue Driver, to unpack how smarter diagnostics and data-driven tools are reshaping dealership profitability and customer trust. Cole shares lessons from his career at Impel. AI, Open Lane, and Canadian Black Book, and how those experiences inform his leadership at Blue Driver. He dives into the balanc...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast , Zach sits down with Aaron Kleinhandler, CEO of Better Car People , to discuss how AI-powered technology and live agents are transforming dealership engagement. Aaron shares lessons from his private-equity journey leading Spectrio, insights from scaling Better Car People through acquisitions like Proactive Dealer Solutions, and his philosophy on bala...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast , Zach Klempf is joined by Ross Tinkham, Go-To-Market Leader at Podium , and Alex Lawrence, CEO of EV Auto , a leading EV-only independent dealership and Podium customer. Fresh off the buzz of post-NIADA conversations around AI, Zach explores how artificial intelligence is transforming communication, sales, and service in the independent dealer space....

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach Klempf welcomes back Jeff Martin, CEO of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association ( NIADA ), to discuss the upcoming 2025 NIADA Convention, major changes in the used car market, and how independent dealers can thrive amid uncertainty. Jeff shares what to expect at this year’s convention—from new “Dealer Rounds” networking sessions...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast , Zach talks with Kevin Roberts, Director of Economic & Market Intelligence at CarGurus, to decode today’s whiplash market—from March’s tariff shock to the spring surge in used-car supply. marries first-party shopper data with macro-economics, why dealers shifted from clearing aged units to stocking up, and what rising interest rates and affordabi...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast , Zach talks with Tim Zierden, Chief Operating Officer at TradePending , to unpack how the company’s trade-in, payment, video, and retention tools are “making automotive simple” for more than 5,000 dealerships. Tim shares what drew him to the role after two decades at Cox Automotive, KAR Global, and Dealertrack, the biggest milestones powering TradePe...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Mike Hanna, CEO of TrueSpot , an innovative company transforming fixed ops with real-time vehicle and key tracking technology. They discuss how TrueSpot’s solutions minimize wasted time, cut costs, and ultimately enhance the customer experience. From initial challenges and triumphs to upcoming features and the future of location intel...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with John Traver, the founder of Traver Technologies and TraverConnect, to explore the evolution of the BDC concept. John shares insights on launching TraverConnect, transforming service-lane interactions into revenue opportunities, and balancing people with technology to deliver an exceptional customer experience. This conversation dives...

In this episode of the podcast, Zach sits down with Randy Kobat, President and CEO of Repair On Demand , a provider of innovative reconditioning solutions for dealerships. They discuss how reconditioning has become a critical factor in dealership success, the common inefficiencies that slow down the recon process, and how technology can help dealers cut turnaround time and maximize profitability....

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Mark Allen, President of AutoAp , a leading provider of recall management services for dealerships, fleets, and various automotive partners. They discuss how AutoAp’s technology resolves the frequent discrepancies in safety recall data, the complexities behind VIN checks, and why automated, timely recall information is crucial for pro...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach engages in an insightful conversation with Ryan Maher, CEO of BizzyCar. They discuss the broken recall management system, how BizzyCar’s AI-powered platform is transforming the process for OEMs, dealers, and consumers, and what this means for safety and compliance.  Some of the questions asked were: Q) Ryan, can you share your journey in the aut...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach dives into an engaging conversation with Brian Kramer, GM of AccuTrade . They discuss the current shifts in the used car market, the innovative appraisal tools offered by Accu-Trade, and how these tools help dealers make smarter decisions while enhancing the customer experience. Brian shares insights on navigating misconceptions in vehicle appra...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach interviews Mike Goodwin, Founder and President of EverLogic , a leading Dealer Management System (DMS) company in the RV and trailer space. Mike began his journey in the industry helping an RV dealership with accounting integrations and has been running EverLogic for over 20 years. He shares his expertise on a range of topics relevant to RV, tra...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach interviews two special guests from Cox Automotive: Jade Terreberry (Sr. Director, Strategic Planning & Business Development) and Micah Tindor (Sr. Dir. Strategic Planning Kelley Blue Book ICO). They cover a range of topics relevant to today’s used car market, from digital advertising strategies to inventory management and customer retention....

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach interviews Dave Sutton, Vice President of Business Development and Industry Relations at  Montway . The discussion covers vehicle reconditioning, condition report writing, and the current state of the recovery industry. Dave also shares insights on how technology is shaping these areas and what the future holds for the industry. Some of the ques...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach interviews Todd Smith, founder of QoreAI , a startup focused on identity verification and transactional fraud prevention in the automotive space. They discuss the recent CDK DMS hack, the prevalence of transactional fraud, and the future of secure document management in the automotive industry. The conversation also delves into how technology im...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach interviews Andrew Rostami, Chief Product Officer and CMO at Credit Acceptance . They discuss Credit Acceptance’s strategies for dealer growth and support for the subprime ecosystem. The conversation also highlights the latest financing tech innovations and upcoming initiatives from Credit Acceptance. Some of the questions asked on the podcast in...

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach interviews Mary Bartlett, Vice President of Business Development at Montway Auto Transport. They discuss Mary’s journey into the transportation space from automotive retail, the current state of automotive transport and logistics, and what makes Montway Auto Transport a leader in the industry. They also cover Montway's M.A.P. system and its...