Auto Collabs
Collaboration through connection.
Hosted by Paul J Daly, Kyle Mountsier, and Michael Cirillo, Auto Collabs is your connect point to the human side of the retail automotive industry: what motivates its leaders, how they navigate change, and what keeps them pushing forward. It’s beyond-the-business-card conversations with real people powering dealerships, technology platforms, and everything in between.
From the team behind the More Than Cars movement, this podcast is built on one big belief: thriving people create thriving businesses. With candid conversations, industry insight, and just enough unfiltered banter to keep things interesting, Auto Collabs delivers authentic stories that inspire real collaboration.
// Auto Collabs is produced by Automotive State of the Union (ASOTU). Learn more at https://www.asotu.com
Auto Collabs
The #1 Thing Dealers Want from Vendors: Communication, Not More Tech with Tina Cuatto
In an industry chasing the next big thing, Tina Cuatto says the real game changer is simple: better vendor communication.
AI, vibe coding, and endless vendor promises—dealers are being told the future is already here. But is it? Tina Cuatto from DealerOn joins the Auto Collabs crew to cut through the noise and get real about where the industry is headed. From her front-row seat leading teams through the Synchro acquisition, she shares why flashy tech isn’t enough—and why clear, consistent vendor communication might be the real innovation dealers are craving.
In this conversation, Tina tackles the pressure AI is putting on product teams, the hidden dangers of moving too fast without guardrails, and how DealerOn’s Marketplace is giving dealers more control in a world where vendor alignment often feels impossible. Plus, you’ll hear Michael’s hilarious story about a DealerOn after-party that perfectly sums up the industry’s “all in—or watching from the sidelines” approach to new ideas.
Takeaways
00:00 – Why Dealers Can’t Afford to Take Summers Off Anymore
02:21 – Inside the Synchro Acquisition: What It Really Takes to Merge Teams
04:51 – AI Is Moving Fast—But Are Dealers Ready for It?
07:25 – Why AI Needs to Be More Than Just Chatbots in Auto
09:22 – The Tug-of-War Between Excitement and Fear Around AI
10:49 – The Security Risks Nobody’s Talking About With AI in Dealerships
12:10 – Michael’s DealerOn After-Party Story That Explains the Industry Perfectly
14:11 – How to Get Rural Dealers to Actually Adopt New Tech
15:53 – DealerOn’s Marketplace: Why Collaboration Beats Building Walls
17:57 – The Hidden Problem Tanking Dealer Websites (and How to Fix It)
18:36 – The #1 Thing Dealers Want From Vendors—And It’s Not More Tech
20:34 – The One Question Every Dealer Should Ask Before Choosing a Vendor
Connect with Tina Cuatto at https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-cuatto-5b567587/
Learn more about DealerOn at https://www.dealeron.com
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