Inside Automotive with Jim Fitzpatrick, powered by CBT News

John Fitzpatrick on Force Marketing’s GM Canada Win and Dealer Retention

Jim Fitzpatrick Season 1 Episode 63

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0:00 | 25:07

General Motors Canada has selected Force Marketing to support after-sales marketing for its dealer network, marking a significant expansion of Force’s OEM-certified footprint. On this episode of Inside Automotive, John Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Force Marketing, joins the show to unpack what the partnership means for Canadian GM dealers and where retention strategies are headed in 2026.

Fitzpatrick explains how Force Marketing’s inclusion in GM Canada’s CSSR choice program reflects a broader industry shift toward fixed ops performance, cleaner data, and more integrated customer communication. As affordability pressures push consumers to keep vehicles longer, dealers are increasingly focused on retention, lifecycle marketing, and execution across every customer touchpoint. The conversation also explores how data hygiene, operational handoffs, and OEM alignment can either strengthen or undermine long-term dealer profitability.

Key discussion points include:

  • Why GM Canada selected Force Marketing from a competitive OEM RFP process
  • The role of retention and fixed ops in dealer profitability entering 2026
  • How Audience IQ supports personalized, lifecycle-based customer communication
  • The importance of data hygiene within DMS and CRM systems
  • Execution challenges across marketing, BDCs, and frontline teams
  • What retention-first strategies mean for dealers navigating longer ownership cycles

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