While fears persist that AI will take over jobs in the retail automotive space, Michael Wood, General Manager of Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen at Checkered Flag Auto Group, offers a more grounded and optimistic view. On today’s episode of Inside Automotive, Wood argued that AI isn’t here to replace people, but to eliminate the dullest parts of their work and enhance overall dealership performance.
Wood believes that AI is currently best understood as a tool that automates repetitive tasks, not a threat to human employment. “I think AI replaces tasks…it doesn’t replace jobs,” he said. By automating time-consuming and low-impact tasks, such as writing vehicle descriptions or scheduling calls, AI enables dealership staff to focus on higher-value activities, including training, lead nurturing, and customer engagement.
One of the clearest use cases Wood shared is the use of AI to generate compelling vehicle listings. By feeding the AI a VIN and a targeted prompt, such as writing a 500-word, British English-style marketing description, the system can produce a polished listing in just 10–15 seconds. “We are naive to think that’s not a benefit,” he added, noting that this kind of efficiency boosts productivity for inventory and sales managers.
Wood also sees major opportunities in call center automation and lead management. Tools like Toma, Pan AI, and others are already being tested to handle inbound calls and late-stage leads more effectively. “My team does a phenomenal job in the first four days. But after day four, it’s depressing,” he admitted. Outsourcing days five through 60 to AI could keep human staff focused where they’re most effective: early engagement.
“People are already using it. Embrace it. Let them use it.”
He also touched on a recent study that highlights employees are bored roughly 10 hours per week. “Imagine if you got 25% or more of your employees back because you got rid of those mundane tasks,” Wood said, noting that AI could meaningfully increase engagement across departments.
Still, he acknowledged that AI can “hallucinate” by producing incorrect responses with confidence. That’s why human oversight remains critical. “AI is only as good as its training,” Wood emphasized, urging leaders to embrace the tool without blindly trusting it.
When asked about current market conditions, Wood said Checkered Flag is prioritizing used vehicle operations to hedge against uncertainties like tariffs. “I can’t control what’s happening between the executive branch and other countries, but I can control our used car strategy,” he said.
Ultimately, Wood believes the industry’s success lies in using AI to empower, not replace, its workforce.
