AutoTrust Dealer Alliance is rapidly expanding its footprint across franchised dealerships as operators seek new ways to strengthen purchasing power, reduce costs, and maintain independence amid industry consolidation. Founder and CEO David Mondragon joins us on the latest episode of Driving Solutions to discuss the platforms designed to help dealers “level the playing field” by leveraging collective scale across multiple business functions, including finance and insurance, lending, and general purchasing.
Since its appearance at NADA, AutoTrust has grown from 10 dealer rooftops to 125 committed rooftops on its platform. The company also reports that approximately 300 additional dealers are currently under consideration, with more than half of those moving into active participation. Mondragon said the pace of growth reflects strong demand among dealers for alternatives to traditional operating models.
The platform is structured as a low-barrier membership model, with dealers able to join for a one-time $100 fee. Members receive a stake in the business while maintaining full ownership and control of their dealerships. AutoTrust emphasizes a partnership approach that avoids requiring operational changes at the store level. Upon joining, dealers retain autonomy in how they run their operations. The company focuses on identifying efficiency opportunities rather than mandating changes, allowing dealers to choose where they participate across its three core platforms. These include finance and insurance programs, lending optimization, and consolidated general purchasing.
A key component of the lending strategy centers on consolidating non-OEM financing relationships into a smaller group of preferred partners. The goal is to improve terms, increase lender performance, and enhance dealer returns while preserving OEM relationships and incentives. The company continues to emphasize alignment with manufacturers and maintains that OEM programs remain a priority channel for dealer contracts.
Beyond financial services, AutoTrust is building a general purchasing network to aggregate dealer demand across categories such as equipment, supplies, technology, software, and lead-generation services. By consolidating buying power across hundreds of rooftops, the platform seeks to reduce everyday operational costs.
The company also draws on advisors and investors with backgrounds in large retail organizations, including major consumer brands, to provide strategic insight on pricing efficiency, customer experience, and operational scale. Those partnerships are intended to help dealers navigate shifting economic conditions and evolving consumer expectations.
Mondragon said the initiative is also designed to address the competitive pressure on smaller dealership groups as public retailers continue to expand through acquisitions. By aggregating purchasing volume, AutoTrust aims to give independently owned dealerships access to similar scale advantages without requiring consolidation or loss of ownership.
Despite the centralized structure for purchasing and vendor relationships, dealers retain full control over their operations. Participation in each platform is optional, and AutoTrust does not require uniform adoption across all service areas. The model is intended to enhance profitability while preserving entrepreneurial decision-making at the store level.
Industry leaders say the platform is gaining traction at a time when dealers face flattening sales, rising costs, and mounting pressure on margins. AutoTrust positions itself as a tool to help operators improve efficiency and strengthen financial performance amid economic uncertainty.
The company is also seeing growing interest from vendors, including insurers, lenders, software providers, and parts suppliers, seeking access to a larger, aggregated dealer base. AutoTrust plans to limit the number of partners in each category to maintain efficiency and maximize value for participating dealers.
Looking ahead, AutoTrust aims to reach 1,000 participating rooftops. Mondragon said achieving that scale would place the alliance in a position to rival or exceed the negotiating power and market leverage of major public dealership groups.
The company’s long-term goal is to provide independent dealers with sustained purchasing advantages, improved cost structures, and greater resilience as industry consolidation continues.
