2026 Pub. 13 Issue 2

The automotive retail landscape continues to evolve, and so does one of the industry’s longest-standing consumer engagement platforms: the auto show.

On Oct. 1, the California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act became operative, bringing significant changes to the way California dealers advertise, sell, finance and lease vehicles. By now, dealers have received considerable information about what the new law requires. Policies have been updated. Forms have changed. Sales and finance personnel have been trained. Dealerships

California’s proposed SB 1130 raises a practical question for businesses:

California dealerships will soon face new privacy compliance obligations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

Real estate is expensive, labor costs are high, and competition is intense. Yet sophisticated buyers continue to pursue the state.

On Sept. 15, after canvassing the halls of both the House and Senate office buildings and educating their elected representatives on the major policy issues of the day,

Auto dealers continue to face substantial exposure under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) as they increasingly rely on digital marketing, customer relationship management (CRM) automation, lead-generation vendors and AI-enabled customer engagement tools.

For about a century, franchised dealerships enjoyed a built-in advantage in service. They sold the vehicle, knew its history, employed factory-trained technicians, used only factory parts and had direct access to the manufacturer.

Dealerships lose useful operational insight when employees believe candid answers can be traced back to them.

The Los Angeles Auto Outlook offers comprehensive information on the local new vehicle market. This report covers the third quarter of 2026, and includes information about forecasts for light vehicle registrations, the top-selling brands in key segments, top-selling models in state and U.S. markets, and more.