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Car Dealership Podcast

Author: Maarten Bekkers

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Welcome to the Car Dealership Podcast, your go-to source for all things AI and innovation in the retail automotive industry. Supported by AutoChat.ai, this show brings you insightful interviews with industry leaders, cutting-edge discussions about emerging technology, and real-world strategies for driving dealership success. If you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve and harness the power of AI to elevate your automotive business, then you’re in the right place. Tune in and discover how to adapt, innovate, and thrive in the fast-paced world of car sales.

13 Episodes
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Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Derek Verpooten from Autotelex Belgium. Derek Verpooten is a father of three with a lifelong passion for cars, motorsport, and cycling. With more than 25 years in the automotive industry, and the last decade focused on digitalization, he now works as a business developer helping dealers tackle the challenges of fast-changing processes. Derek believes the right mix of well-trained people and smart digital tools is what drives lasting success in today...
Send us a text In this episode my guest is Jacqui Barker, Global OEM Strategy Director at Keyloop. Jacqui’s career path has taken her from the early days of car magazines, through AutoTrader’s shift from print to digital, and now into helping OEMs and retailers adapt to the fast-changing world of tech and customer experience. We talk about the big lessons she learned at AutoTrader that still apply today, how OEM strategy connects (or sometimes disconnects) with the reality of the showroom flo...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Paul de Vries, founder of DCDW (Digital Car Dealer Workshop) and a familiar face in the European automotive industry. Paul has worn just about every hat in the business—from pumping gas at a Volkswagen station, to running a dealership, to building and selling the first online new car platform in Europe to eBay. We get into some powerful lessons about what it really takes to win with online leads. Paul shares why speed is everything, what happens whe...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Johan Verbois, founder of MA5, a used vehicle consulting, an international consulting firm specializing in used vehicle operations, remarketing, and residual value management. Johan’s journey into automotive started with a surprising detour from physiotherapy to dealership life—and turned into a 35+ year career shaping used car operations at some of the biggest names in the business, including Toyota, Opel, Peugeot, and Mercedes. We get into a lot d...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is John Lin, a renowned speaker, China expert, and platform evangelist, known for his unique ability to bridge Eastern innovation with Western business practice. As a regular columnist for Twinkle Magazine and a former Lead Ecosystem Business Developer at bol.com, John has spent his career exploring the intersection of Chinese tech trends and local market application. Through thought-provoking keynotes he inspires organisations to rethink innovation, p...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Steven van Belleghem, a globally recognised expert in customer experience and the impact of technology on business. He’s the author of several bestsellers, including When Digital Becomes Human, Customers the Day After Tomorrow, and The Offer You Can’t Refuse. Through his work with Nexxworks, Steven helps leading brands figure out how to stay relevant in a world that’s changing faster than most can keep up. We get into the real story behind AI’s impa...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Martijn Bovee, Marketing Director at Louwman Dealer Group—one of the largest dealer groups in the Netherlands. With prior experience as General Manager at Auto.nl, a pioneer in online car retail, Martijn combines deep industry knowledge with a pragmatic vision for the future. In this episode we talk about what actually happens when you introduce AI into a dealership group with over 1,700 employees and 50+ locations. Spoiler: It’s not about replacing...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Johan Sundstrand, CEO and co-founder of Phyron, a company that’s helping car dealers turn their inventory data into high-quality videos at scale. We talk about how Johan went from running Sweden’s largest golf shop at 18 to building a tech company that now serves over 4,000 dealers in more than 35 countries. But more importantly, we get into the how and why behind Phyron’s growth—and what dealers can actually do with the tools they already have. Her...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Stephen Whitton, founder of MenAble, a UK-based initiative focused on improving mental health in the automotive industry. We talk about what mental health really looks like behind the scenes in dealerships, and why Stephen prefers to call it mental wealth. Stephen doesn't just bring insights — he brings lived experience. From his own breakdown during the pandemic to helping businesses build cultures where people thrive, Stephen delivers ...
Send us a text In this episode, my guest is Joost Nieuwlaar, a digital consultant at Datamotive, Joost has been active in the digital automotive world for more than seven years. He helps dealer holding companies and car companies optimise their digital strategy, from lead generation to conversion. Joost stood at the cradle of Datamotive, inspired by recurring questions from the market. His mission: to help car companies stay ahead digitally. We talk about what makes a dealer website actually ...
Send us a text In this episode I sit down with Alex Gaspar, founder of AutoDialog, to unpack a seriously inspiring transformation—from being pulled out of school to save his family’s dealership, to building one of Belgium’s most respected automotive groups, and ultimately, launching a tech platform that’s revolutionising after-sales for dealers across Europe. But this isn't your typical founder story. Alex didn’t set out to be a tech innovator. He just couldn't stand the inefficiencies in h...
Send us a text In this episode, I sit down with Miguel Michiels, COO of AutoChat, to explore how AI is transforming the car business from the inside out. Miguel has spent over a decade in automotive retail, helping dealerships and leasing companies rethink their strategies. From running pricing at LeasePlan to leading the omnichannel revolution at Carnext, he knows exactly what it takes to sell cars in today’s digital world. Now, at AutoChat, he's building AI-powered solutions that make deale...
Send us a text Welcome to the First Episode of The Car Dealership Podcast! In this episode we’re diving deep into how AI and digital communication are reshaping the automotive industry. No overhyped buzzwords—just real conversations about what’s actually working in dealerships today. To kick things off, I’m joined by Michiel Borst, Chief Commercial Officer at UnameIT, a company that’s been revolutionizing how dealerships manage customer interactions and sales. With over 17 years in the ...
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