ICYMI: UAW and automakers spar over AI and robotics as factory automation expands across the U.S. auto industry. Canada’s Unifor launches Detroit Three contract talks with Ford ahead of a Sept. 20 agreement expiration. Dealership buy-sell activity climbs 21% year over year in Q1 2026, per Kerrigan Advisors’ latest Blue Sky Report. CarGurus will require all dealers to disclose all applicable fees on used-vehicle listings starting July 14. Bezos-backed Slate Auto debuts a $24,950 all-electric pickup, one of the cheapest new vehicles in America.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
UAW, automakers clash over AI and robotics as factory automation expands
The increasing use of artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation has become a major point of contention between automakers and organized labor. Both sides argue that this technology could shape the future of the U.S. auto industry. Read More
Canada’s Unifor opens Detroit Three negotiations with Ford
The Canadian Auto Workers (Unifor) began contract negotiations with Ford. The talks open this year’s bargaining with the Detroit Three. The union represents nearly 19,000 members across the three automakers and is pushing for better pay, job security and benefits. Current collective agreements expire Sept. 20. Read More
Dealership buy-sell activity jumps 21% as consolidation hits another record
The dealership buy-sell market accelerated sharply in the first quarter of 2026, extending an unprecedented run of consolidation across automotive retail. According to Kerrigan Advisors’ First Quarter 2026 Blue Sky Report, dealership transactions increased 21% year over year. Read More
CarGurus to require fee disclosure for used vehicle listings
CarGurus has become the latest online automotive marketplace to require dealers to disclose applicable fees on used vehicle listings. Starting July 14, the company will require fee disclosure on all used inventory, expanding its all-in pricing initiative as fee transparency becomes an increasingly important industry standard. Read More
Bezos-backed Slate Auto bets on affordability with $24,950 pickup
Slate Auto announced on Wednesday that its all-electric subcompact pickup will start at $24,950, making it one of the cheapest new vehicles in America. The EV startup, backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is wagering that a low price can help it break through in a crowded truck market. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
RevDojo CEO Kyle Disher reveals where dealers are losing sales opportunities
As dealerships navigate a more competitive sales environment, many continue investing in staffing while searching for ways to improve performance from existing leads. Kyle Disher, founder and CEO of RevDojo, joins us on Inside Automotive to explain why the biggest opportunities may not be in generating more traffic, but in improving how stores engage shoppers after first contact.
Ryan LaFontaine on family, beating cancer, and building Michigan’s largest dealer group
On an upcoming edition of Executive Profile, we sit down with Ryan LaFontaine, CEO of LaFontaine Automotive Group at LaFontaine Buick GMC Highland to discuss the family legacy that shaped him, the trial that tested him, and the vision behind one of Michigan’s most dynamic dealer groups.
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