The showroom may still look familiar. But the operating model behind it is changing fast. US dealers are already grappling with higher borrowing costs, squeezed margins and tariff uncertainty. Beyond those immediate pressures, AI is accelerating a more fundamental shift, and many are asking whether their current model can support where the industry is going.

Buyers increasingly arrive at showrooms having used AI to compare models, check pricing, explore finance options and narrow their choices. This is changing the sales conversation. Behind the scenes, AI is helping dealerships identify faults, manage workshop capacity, speed up used-vehicle turnaround, optimize stock and focus staff time. However, fragmented systems and data make it harder to turn these gains into business‑wide performance improvements.

This Financial Times event, in partnership with Pinewood.AI brings together senior leaders from major US dealer groups for a commercially grounded, practical discussion about what the future dealership looks like. Where can AI improve productivity, customer experience and profitability? What data, systems and skills need to be in place first? Where does human judgement still matter? And where does the promise outstrip the proof?

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How AI is transforming the dealership operating model and redefining the customer journey

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With the leaders, innovators and peers navigating the next era of automotive retail

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Real-world applications of AI that are delivering measurable business value across the dealership