September 2026
I had an interesting experience recently with a longtime dealer friend who was skeptical about artificial intelligence. He’d never used nor seen it in action.
I pulled out my phone, opened ChatGPT, and started asking questions a customer might ask before buying a vehicle: What should I pay? Should I finance through the dealership? What happens in the back office? Do I really need a service contract? Within minutes, he was amazed by what AI knew.
And it dawned on him then that customers aren’t waiting for us to figure out AI. Before they ever walk into your showroom, they’re using it and other online tools to research vehicles, pricing, financing, warranties, and the sales process. They may arrive knowing far more than we assume. Your employees need to be prepared for that new reality.
At the same time, AI is moving at a breathtaking pace. New tools and companies seem to emerge every week. That makes it difficult for a dealer trying to run a business to separate what is genuinely useful from what is simply the latest shiny object.
That’s where VADA comes in.
Coming soon: Our new VADA AI Academy will help dealers understand and use AI, no matter where they are starting. If you have never opened ChatGPT, we’ll start with the basics. If you’re already using AI in your operations, we’ll help you explore more advanced applications and keep up with what’s changing.
We’ve spent the last couple years talking to retail automotive’s brightest AI minds, and we’re going to share that knowledge with you to help you make informed decisions. The Academy will bring together practical guidance, videos, podcasts, educational programs, industry experts and other resources organized by experience level. We’ll highlight the AI companies driving change in our industry and showcase what our partners are doing in the space. Our goal is to make VADA AI Academy a place dealers can continually turn to for useful, current information about the technology.
VADA 2027 Chairman, Eley Duke
VADA AI Academy comes thanks in part to your new chairman Eley Duke III of Duke Chevrolet in Suffolk. Eley is the first to admit he isn’t an AI user, but understands this technology is going to be critical to success in the future. Eley wants to ensure VADA members remain leaders in AI.
AI is already changing our business. The question isn’t whether dealerships will be affected — but whether you will be ready.