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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’s automotive world. 

In this episode we dive into what it really takes to build a career in the automotive world while keeping pace with how fast the industry is changing.

Derek shares his journey, from selling cars as a teenager, to working in the high-pressure world of GT3 and Lamborghini racing, to now leading Auto Telex’s expansion into Belgium. Along the way, we talk about the challenges dealer groups face with consolidation, how culture and regulation differ between Belgium and the Netherlands, and why speed and flexibility matter so much when it comes to car data and digital tools.

You’ll hear why passion still plays such a big role in this business, how AI and automation are changing the way dealers work, and what Derek believes will set the most successful groups apart in the years ahead.

This conversation blends story, strategy, and straight talk about the realities of automotive retail today. If you want to see where the market’s heading, and how passion and adaptability can shape a career, you’ll want to press play.