Episode 40 aimarketingoperationssalesindustry-data

5 Ways to Use AI to Grow Your Automotive Business in 2026

· 1:19:27
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TL;DR

One year in: the real AI playbook for automotive businesses, a data check on the 2026 aftermarket, and what the World Cup teaches about marketing.

Key takeaways
  • — Five real ways to put AI to work today: spotting trends in your own data, reviewing contracts and pitches, controlling brand voice and tone, running Shopify and Google Analytics through connectors, and writing copy that doesn't sound like AI.
  • — The Midway Plus Wholesale Index shows aftermarket wholesale revenue up 12.3% year-to-date and order volume up 52% through the first half of 2026.
  • — Nearly a third of wholesale transactions (32%) now happen outside normal business hours — always-on, self-service commerce is no longer optional.
  • — AI still needs human judgment: Ford recalled 300+ experienced engineers after automated quality control missed defects only veterans could catch.
  • — The World Cup's biggest marketing wins came from underdog brands — speed, creativity, and cultural relevance beat the biggest check every time.
Full transcript

One year, 39 episodes, and a whole lot learned. In this anniversary episode, Justin and Jamie zoom out on the business of the performance aftermarket: how to actually use AI in your shop or brand, where the industry really stands halfway through 2026, and the marketing lessons hiding inside the world’s biggest sporting event.

In this episode

  • 5 practical ways to use AI (Claude) in an automotive business — trend-spotting in your own invoices and project data, reading contracts and flagging your exposure, locking in brand voice and tone, connecting Shopify and Google Analytics, and writing copy that doesn’t read as “AI slop.”
  • State of the aftermarket, first half of 2026 — real wholesale transaction data from the Midway Plus Wholesale Index, plus anecdotal numbers from operators in the field.
  • What the World Cup teaches the aftermarket about marketing — $10.5B in global ad spend and why the underdog brands won the attention war.
  • A year of Automotive Advantage — the numbers behind year one, the show’s first-ever sponsors, and where it goes from here.

Chapters

  • 0:00 — Cold open: the great AI “slop” debate
  • 0:41 — One year of Automotive Advantage
  • 1:58 — Year one by the numbers
  • 6:50 — First-ever sponsors: Spec Coffee & Midway Plus
  • 10:19 — Taking the podcast live (Cars at the Station, SEMA)
  • 13:02 — State of the industry: first half of 2026
  • 17:26 — Midway Plus Wholesale Index + tribute to Brian Lounsbury
  • 37:56 — 5 ways to use AI — #1 Trend spotting
  • 41:22 — #2 Reading contracts & pitches
  • 46:17 — #3 Brand voice, tone & style guides
  • 50:47 — #4 Connectors: Shopify & Google Analytics
  • 57:37 — #5 Writing copy that doesn’t sound like AI
  • 1:05:53 — AI news: Ford recalls 300+ engineers
  • 1:07:39 — Automotive news: EPA pardons & 7-year car loans
  • 1:10:22 — World Cup marketing lessons for the aftermarket
  • 1:18:42 — Here’s to year two

The numbers (first half of 2026)

From the Midway Plus Wholesale Index — real B2B wholesale transaction data across 24 participating brands:

  • Wholesale revenue up 12.3% year-to-date vs. 2025
  • Wholesale order volume up 52% year-to-date
  • June-over-June sales up roughly 28%
  • 32% of all wholesale transactions occur outside normal business hours

Tools & resources mentioned

  • AI: Claude (trend analysis, contract review, brand-voice control, Shopify & Google Analytics connectors, copywriting)
  • Midway Plus Wholesale Index (request the H2 white paper from Albert Rita at Midway Plus)
  • In memory of Brian Lounsbury, founder and CEO of Midway Plus

Sponsors

This episode marks the show’s first-ever sponsors — welcome Spec Coffee and Midway Plus. Thank you for helping move the industry forward.

Hosts

Hosted by Justin Cesler (Driveline Studios) and Dr. Jamie Meyer (6757 Consulting) — the business side of the performance automotive aftermarket. Grow your business and get smarter in about an hour.

About the show

Automotive Advantage is the business podcast for the automotive aftermarket.

Built for shop owners, operators, builders, and brand leaders who take this industry seriously. Every episode explores growth, leadership, strategy, and what it actually takes to build a lasting automotive business.

Learn more about the show

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