On June 16, 2026, CBT News spoke at the Automotive Leadership Summit with Mike Gilson, CEO of Conversica, to discuss how dealers can turn the Federal Trade Commission‘s (FTC) shift in pricing policy into an opportunity to build greater transparency with customers.
"I think it's a really great moment for auto dealers to build transparency and really build a relationship with their customers." – Mike Gilson
Key takeaways:
- Gilson said the current regulatory environment presents a moment for dealers to strengthen customer relationships rather than view compliance as a burden. He said customers value honesty and transparency throughout the sales process, and dealers who lean into that shift now stand to benefit in the long term.
- Technology partners, Gilson said, will play a critical role in helping dealers adapt. He noted that the industry has access to tools that can help dealerships get ahead of compliance violations and avoid the struggles many are currently facing.
- Gilson highlighted that data unification is fundamental to Conversica’s strategy. The company reviews dealership data from advertising, email, texting, and various customer interactions to detect compliance issues on a large scale. It then provides actionable coaching insights for dealers. During his summit panel, Gilson stressed the importance of integrating compliance into dealership culture and using partner networks to discover best practices for future compliance solutions.
To check out more interviews and event coverage of the CBT News Automotive Leadership Summit, click here.
