Auto Collabs
Collaboration through connection.
Hosted by Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo, Auto Collabs is your connect point to the human side of the retail automotive industry: what motivates its leaders, how they navigate change, and what keeps them pushing forward. It’s beyond-the-business-card conversations with real people powering dealerships, technology platforms, and everything in between.
From the team behind the More Than Cars movement, this podcast is built on one big belief: thriving people create thriving businesses. With candid conversations, industry insight, and just enough unfiltered banter to keep things interesting, Auto Collabs delivers authentic stories that inspire real collaboration.
// Auto Collabs is produced by Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
Auto Collabs
The Industry Needed Answers On Pricing Transparency. So He Built The Room
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The rules around pricing transparency are changing fast, and the industry is scrambling to keep up.
Jim Fitzpatrick, Founder and CEO of CBT News, joins Auto Collabs to discuss why he's bringing the industry back together for a live event focused on one of the biggest challenges facing dealers today: compliance, pricing transparency, and the growing impact of FTC enforcement. As confusion spreads around pricing disclosures, advertising standards, and third-party marketplace responsibilities, Jim shares why now is the time for dealers to get informed and involved.
The conversation explores the ripple effects of the FTC's recent actions, the challenges vendors and lead providers face in adapting to new expectations, and why collaboration between dealers, legislators, regulators, and industry partners is critical. Jim also reflects on the return of CBT's live events, the evolving role of automotive media, and why bringing the right people into the same room may be the fastest path to clarity.
Timestamped Takeaways
0:00 Why Spending Time Together Still Creates Better Industry Conversations
1:24 The Compliance Questions Dealers Won’t Stop Asking
2:19 What Inspired CBT News to Launch a Washington Summit Right Now
3:05 The FTC’s 97 Letters Created Industry-Wide Anxiety
4:01 How a Single Social Media Post Could Create Compliance Risk
5:24 Why Third-Party Lead Providers Are At The Center Of This Debate
6:15 The Competitive Pricing Problem Nobody Has Solved Yet
7:19 The FTC’s Push For Dealer Reporting Changed The Conversation
8:00 What Dealers Should Expect To Learn From The Summit
9:31 Why Dealer Feedback Matters More Than Ever In Washington
10:40 The Real Opportunity Dealers Have To Influence Policy
12:58 Media’s Responsibility Isn’t Just Reporting—It’s Creating Accountability
14:22 How CBT News Reinvented Itself For The Next Generation Of Dealers
15:34 The Industry Needs More Conversations—Not More Commentary
Connect with Jim Fitzpatrick at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-fitzpatrick-2977b325/
Learn more about CBT News at https://www.cbtnews.com/
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