Tariff Refund Applications Open as Dealers and Importers Seek Relief Under CAPE Program
A newly opened tariff refund process under the CAPE program is allowing automotive businesses to recover costs tied to recent trade policies, potentially easing financial pressure across the industry. According to CBT News, the program allows eligible importers to apply for refunds of certain tariffs previously paid, following ongoing legal and policy challenges to their enforcement. Applications officially opened this week, with businesses required to submit documentation demonstrating eligibility and the extent of tariff impact. For automotive retailers and suppliers, the development could provide a meaningful boost to cash flow. Tariffs in recent years have contributed to rising costs of imported vehicles and parts, placing additional strain on margins already pressured from fluctuating demand and higher operating expenses.Industry stakeholders have pushed for relief as trade policies disrupted supply chains and increased pricing volatility. The CAPE refund process represents a response to those concerns, offering a pathway for businesses to recoup some of those losses.The financial implications could extend beyond immediate reimbursement. Dealers and importers may use the recovered funds to reinvest in inventory, offset higher acquisition costs, or stabilize pricing strategies. Click here for the full story.
Nissan Pushes for Relief from ‘Unfair’ 25% Tariff on Imports from Mexico
Nissan Motor Co. has studied moving production of its Sentra sedan and Kicks crossover from Mexico to the U.S. to avoid a 25 percent tariff, but the economics don’t add up, senior executives said. “These two products are sourced from Mexico because of the affordability requirements of the segment,” CEO Ivan Espinosa told Automotive News at a media event here.“At the moment, it’s not feasible to move them to the U.S.,” he said. “We need to continue working on the cost competitiveness.”Nissan is aggressively cutting internal costs, optimizing its lineup and increasing U.S. content in its Mexico-built vehicles to improve affordability in the cutthroat sub-$30,000 segment.The Trump administration’s 25 percent tariff on imports from Mexico is “unfair,” particularly compared with the 15 percent charged on vehicles from Europe and South Korea, Nissan Americas Chairman Christian Meunier said.“A 10 to 15 percent tariff is manageable, but 25 percent is not sustainable long term,” Meunier said. The Kicks and Sentra are critical models, representing nearly 30 percent of the Nissan brand’s U.S. sales last year and anchoring its presence in the entry-level market. Click here for the full story.
Top 150 Dealership Groups Prove Adding Stores Isn’t Only Path to New-Vehicle Sales Growth
More than half of the Automotive News top 150 dealership groups that grew sales in 2025 did so without adding a single location, challenging the assumption that scale is the only path to survival in auto retail. That finding could signal a potential shift in how dealership groups pursue profits. And it could influence how midsize groups approach investment decisions in an era of mounting consolidation pressure.Seventy-seven of the top 150 groups held their dealership counts steady, 47 added dealerships, and 26 shrank their footprints, according to the Automotive News Research & Data Center, which compiles the annual list of U.S.-based groups ranked by new-vehicle sales.While 101 of the 150 groups increased their new retail sales volume in 2025, only 39 of the 101 added stores. Fifty-two of the 101 grew sales while holding their dealership count steady, and 10 others increased sales despite losing locations. Dealership ownership is consolidating, though, the top 150 lists show. In 2021, the top 150 groups owned 4,136 dealerships, or 22.7 percent of the industry’s locations. In 2025, the top 150 spanned 4,806 stores, or 26.3 percent of the industry. Click here for the full story.
How Titus-Will Automotive Group Built a Photo Department from Scratch
A dealership’s digital inventory is its first showroom. Many buyers only look at that before deciding to visit a dealership. And that makes good photography a must for the bottom line. Three years ago, Titus-Will Automotive Group didn’t have a photo department or even a process. And now they do, thanks to Jacob Rose, the group’s photo department manager. Rose came from the auction world, bringing a decade’s worth of experience inspecting cars, photographing cars, and building relationships with dealer groups across the region. Then, Titus-Will Automotive reached out. “My job was to build a photo department that was non-existent,” Rose told Daily Dealer Live host Sam D’Arc. Now, Rose runs a team of six photographers, not including himself, who shoot all new and used inventory across the group’s eight locations. Buyers scan fast, and a digital lot where every listing looks different forces the brain to reprocess with every click, Rose said. So, having uniform photography removes that friction, and a buyer without friction moves faster toward a decision. “Getting any photos online at all, even if it’s just the four pre-recon photos — you’re getting leads in,” Rose said. Click here for the full story.
Why Cybersecurity Is Now Crucial for Revenue, Market Access
Automakers without robust cybersecurity systems risk losing more than customer data — they face being locked out of major markets and forfeiting billions in software revenue throughout a vehicle’s lifetime. What began as a safety compliance issue has evolved into a business-critical imperative that determines market access in Europe and the ability to monetize connected features, reports Automotive News.The automotive cybersecurity market will grow to $17.4 billion by 2034, up from $7.1 billion in 2025, according to market research firm Fortune Business Insights.That represents a compound annual growth rate of nearly 10 percent, fueled by the rapid adoption of connected vehicles, autonomous driving technologies and strict regulatory compliance requirements. The transition from reactive to predictive cybersecurity is essential as software-defined vehicles (SDVs) become “data centers on wheels,” with larger attack surfaces, according to a March 2026 S&P Global report. Traditional security approaches patch known vulnerabilities after incidents. Predictive models use AI and machine learning to anticipate and neutralize threats before they occur, S&P Global said. This growing digital footprint brings convenience and efficiency, but it also opens multiple entry points for cyberattacks — from vehicle control systems to driver data theft. Click here for the full story.
CARFAX Named Top Workplace by USA Today and Best Places to Work in Virginia
CARFAX is excited to announce it has been recognized as a Top Workplace, earning both national and state honors for its workplace culture. CARFAX earned the distinction of Top Workplace by USA Today for a fifth consecutive year and Best Places to Work in Virginia for the 13th time. “This is one of the most exciting times in CARFAX history, and our continued growth is driven by our teams,” said Scott Fredericks, President of CARFAX. “We’re proud to invest in Team CARFAX.” These awards are based entirely on anonymous employee feedback and evaluate key aspects of the workplace experience, including leadership, culture, and overall employee satisfaction. “Working at CARFAX has been unlike any other job I’ve held,” said Valerie O’Neill, Senior Product Marketing Manager at CARFAX. “CARFAX has exceeded my wildest “work-life-balance” dreams.” As the leader in ownership, service, and damage history, CARFAX continues to raise the bar in helping millions of people make more informed decisions when buying, selling, and owning a vehicle. Looking ahead, the company is preparing to move its headquarters to a new, state-of-the-art space in Reston, VA, an exciting next chapter designed to inspire collaboration, fuel innovation, and further strengthen its position as an industry leader. Click here for the full story.
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