At the CBT News Automotive Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., Marco Schnabl, Founder and Executive Chairman of RockEd, spoke with reporter Jason Becknell about the Federal Trade Commission‘s (FTC) pricing policy, its impacts on the industry, and what vendors, like RockEd, are doing to help keep dealers compliant.
"I think it's a bit messy right now. There's a lot going on, and we're all going to learn as we go along. But it is a time in this industry's life that we all have to work closely together." - Marco Schnabl
Key takeaways:
- Schnabl says he sees the FTC’s pricing and compliance push as a challenge the industry can absorb together. He compared it to the chip shortage and COVID, two disruptions dealers managed without collapsing. The pressure, he says, pulls dealers and vendor partners closer together. Ultimately, he says the demand for transparency and training will improve the customer experience.
- Schnabl framed compliance as a frontline issue. Tech vendors automate much of the regulatory work but employees still talk to customers and close deals. Those conversations also have to stay compliant, which is why Schnabl says consistent training is essential. RockEd consolidates OEM, dealership, and vendor training into one mobile platform so employees learn why compliance matters and how it serves their roles.
- The message has to reach the showroom floor to work, Schnabl said. Dealer principals and general managers understand the stakes, but the priority has to travel down to frontline staff. He says leaders need to grasp why compliance matters and explain it clearly to their teams.
To check out more interviews and event coverage of the CBT News Automotive Leadership Summit, click here.
