JD Field, MBA

What Most People Miss About Dealership Consolidation Automotive dealership M&A is often framed as a valuation story. Multiples. Inventory. Throughput. Market share. But consolidation is rarely just financial. It’s institutional. When a multi-rooftop group acquires a store, the real integration risk isn’t just EBITDA — it’s culture, incentive alignment, and operational clarity. Three structural tensions show up repeatedly: • Founder-led intuition vs. institutional process • Local store identity vs. centralized efficiency • Short-term performance pressure vs. long-term capital discipline History teaches something useful here: Institutions don’t fail because they expand. They fail when structure lags growth. The same dynamic shows up in higher education, nonprofit systems, and founder-led finance companies. Scale stresses clarity. The financials tell you if a deal works on paper. Structure determines whether it works in practice. Curious how operators think about this: When evaluating a dealership acquisition, what integration risk worries you most beyond the numbers?

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DETROIT — General Motors' third-quarter results next week will include a $1.6 billion impact from its all-electric vehicle plans not playing out as anticipated. The Detroit automaker Tuesday morning in a public filing said $1.2 billion of the impact will be non-cash charges as a result of adjustments to its EV capacity. The other $400 million in cash is primarily related to contract cancellation fees and commercial settlements associated with EV-related investments, according to the filing. The automaker said its reassessment of its EV capacity and manufacturing footprint is "ongoing," signaling additional charges could be announced for future quarters.

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Great news for Michigan Automotive-lets get going and growing! Trump’s Positive Outlook for Michigan Automotive The recent comments from President-elect Trump about strengthening the U.S. automotive sector are already creating a sense of optimism across Michigan manufacturing. A renewed focus on domestic production, supply-chain investment, and incentives for U.S.-based operations could mean more stability, more expansion, and ultimately more jobs for Michigan’s automotive and Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers. For those of us working in manufacturing and direct-hire recruiting, this outlook is encouraging. Companies are talking about growth again, talent needs are increasing, and skilled trades, maintenance, quality, and engineering roles continue to trend upward. Michigan has always been the backbone of American manufacturing. With the right support and investment, 2025–2026 could be very strong years for our automotive and industrial workforce. Looking forward to seeing where the industry goes next. — Peter O’Connell O’Connell Executive Recruiting Contact me to review our Services

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Stellantis’ Belvidere reopening may be slipping again. Stellantis could delay the reopening of its Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois until mid-2028, according to a local United Auto Workers leader—adding new uncertainty for workers, the community, and state officials. Matt Frantzen, president of UAW Local 1268, says the automaker’s original plan to restart vehicle production in 2027 now appears to be pushed back by roughly seven months. Stellantis maintains its plans remain intact, but the reported delay raises fresh questions about the pace of its U.S. manufacturing commitments. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eqNtttCW

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Several Detroit automakers are scaling back EV investments, canceling projects, and redirecting production. So, what does this look like for dealers on the... https://ow.ly/7HZ650YrMYx

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