What AI can do and what dealers are using it for today remain very far apart, Mountsier said. Most dealers adopted conversational tools like phone or chat early, while only a small percentage are rethinking operations at a foundational level, he said.
Chinese vehicles driven in Kazakhstan last year left the co-founders weighing the issue through a consumer lens during an affordability crisis, Daly said. The pitch is an affordable new car, around $20,000, with added features, and national security, job security and a level playing field remain open concerns.
ASOTU CON West is a fly-in, fly-out version of the event for dealers who cannot spend days crossing the country, with programming running 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Daly said. The three hand-picked topics are mobile service, AI across dealership operations, and selling EVs more used EVs accelerate into the market, Mountsier said.
ASOTU CON East returns in May, the week after Mother’s Day, in Hanover, Maryland, with the agenda typically released about 12 weeks out, Daly said. Tickets go half price during an annual Black Friday sale.
