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 industry. From simplifying fragmented dealer systems to deploying AI with measurable ROI, Jay explains why technology only matters if it delivers real value.

The conversation dives into:

• Why automotive retail has accumulated decades of complexity—and how to unwind it
• How Tekion approaches AI differently, with ROI dashboards and real-world impact
• The biggest challenge in scaling dealer technology: change management, not software
• Lessons from onboarding thousands of rooftops and working with major dealer groups
• Data ownership, security, and responsible AI in a post-CDK world
• Why productivity—not headcount—is the real promise of AI in auto retail
• Jay’s vision for the next 10 years of automotive software and dealer operations

Jay also draws a powerful parallel between today’s AI moment and Netflix’s transition from DVDs to streaming—explaining how dealers will gradually shift from traditional UI-driven systems to AI agents that work in natural language.

This is a must-watch conversation for:

• Dealer principals and operators
• Automotive technology founders and investors
• Anyone thinking seriously about AI beyond the hype

📌 Full Throttle brings you unfiltered conversations with the leaders shaping the future of mobility, retail, and technology.

0:00 – Why automotive retail became so complex (and why simplification matters)
7:09 – Tech founder and investor: how Jay evaluates technology, teams, and ROI
9:18 – Scaling Tekion: thousands of rooftops, real growth, and onboarding challenges
10:04 – The hardest part of scaling dealer tech: change management, not software
14:53 – How Tekion uses AI internally—plus why ChatGPT is restricted inside the company
18:10 – Data ownership, security, and responsible AI in automotive retail
27:40 – Why AI can finally improve dealer productivity without increasing costs