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Industry trends

What is changing in Canadian auto retail, with notes from the shows and conferences we attend.

1. April 24, 2026Speed helps you winThe new competitive advantage isn’t traffic or leads, it’s operational speed. How automotive retail executives can use AI to win the ops battle.
2. August 29, 2025To learn AI, look outside autoYou won’t find the most cutting-edge tech at the next dealer conference. Here are the AI and tech events worth adding to your calendar.
3. August 8, 2025Smarter Digital Strategy for DealershipsLearn how dealerships can improve their digital strategy with mobile-first design, real content, authentic branding, and smarter social media instead of…
4. August 7, 2025Three Industry Shifts Reshaping Dealerships in CanadaIn this article, Leadbox explores how dealers across Canada are navigating three key trends reshaping their metal movement strategies.
5. March 25, 2025Leadership Insights from Ian Cruickshank: Lessons from the Leadbox CEODiscover essential leadership insights from Ian Cruickshank, CEO of Leadbox, on balancing trust and results, fostering cultural fit, and prioritizing team…
6. February 5, 2025What’s going to happen in 2025? Insights from a Conversation with Mathew GrowdenExplore insights from Matt Growden on what's going on in 2025 in the auto industry, EV adoption, Chinese automakers, and how dealers can adapt to thrive…
7. January 31, 2025An NADA Show for the history booksThe NADA Show 2025 is one for the record books. It was disrupted by the most snow of any show in history.
8. January 15, 2025Plan Your Year, Not Your MonthIn this article, we’ll talk about why taking the time to think ahead—even just once a year—can transform your marketing efforts from reactive to proactive…
9. October 8, 2024Mastering AI for Automotive Dealerships: Opportunities and ChallengesArtificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries at a rapid pace, and automotive dealerships are no exception. Find out AI can, cannot do and more…
10. May 13, 2024Why Your “Cheap” Vehicles Could Be A Gold MineYour budget-friendly rides might be worth more than you think! Find out why inflation is causing luxury cars to lose their shine and what cars are your…
11. May 6, 2024Tesla’s Price Cuts: Impact on Canadian Auto DealersSee how Tesla's recent price cuts are shaking up the Canadian auto market and how dealers are adapting to this electric disruption
12. March 26, 2024Has Spring Sprung? 2024 Black Book Insights for DealersGet the latest insights and trends in the automotive industry and stay ahead of the curve as you navigate the dynamic landscape of spring car buying
13. February 27, 2024LEADBOX Recap: CADA Summit and Toronto Auto ShowIan Cruickshank, President and CEO of LEADBOX, attended the CADA Summit and Toronto Auto Show and was happy to share his thoughts and takeaways.
14. February 21, 2024Viva Las Vegas! NADA 2024 RECAP: Top 3 Trends in Auto Retail TechThe Super Bowl wasn’t the only showstopping event held in one of North America’s most exciting cities. From February 1-4, 23,000 industry leaders gathered…
15. January 22, 2024Navigating the Road Ahead: Challenges and Strategies for Canadian Car Dealerships in 2024The Canadian automotive landscape is entering a more turbulent period of economic shifts, fluctuating vehicle inventory, and intensified competition…
16. December 22, 2023Western Canadian Dealers Summit: Leadbox Highlights and TakeawaysThe 2023 Western Canadian Dealers Summit was an experience to remember, with a unique blend of industry insights and cultural encounters. The Western…
17. December 14, 2023Leadbox’s Automotive Predictions for 2024There’s nothing like it—the cleansing fresh start of a brand spanking new year. Let’s face it, 2023 was as weird, messed up and as hard to swallow as your…
18. December 5, 2023Highlights from the 2023 ACE Automotive Conference and ExpoWe came, we saw, we learned, and we schmoozed. The 2023 ACE Automotive Conference and Expo was held October 17-19 at the Fallsview Casino Resort and…
19. December 4, 2023Introducing”Randy Thinks”In the first edition of Randy Thinks, we sat down with Randy, our Head of Sales here at Leadbox and asked him to reflect on his first year at Leadbox and…
20. November 27, 2023Dealers: Understanding the Dip in Electric Vehicle DemandAre electric vehicles still the future of transportation? Explore the challenges behind the declining interest in EVs and what you can do to stay successful.
21. May 15, 2023A Dealers Guide to Thriving in the Used EV MarketNow that EVs are making a large percentage of your used car sales, what do you as a Dealer need to communicate to buyers, and how can you educate your…
22. May 1, 2023How the 2023 Canadian Federal Budget Regarding Clean Energy Concerns DealersOn March 28, 2023, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, tabled the federal budget, which included several…
23. April 11, 2023Dealer Huddle West “The Connected Dealership”Dealer Huddle West II was a VIP automotive event focussing on the future of Canadian automotive trends, marketing and the next generation of employees
24. January 9, 2023Leadbox Dealer Marketing Predictions for 20232022 has been an interesting year for automotive dealers. But what about 2023? What will 2023 bring? Here are things that Leadbox is predicting to happen.
25. March 11, 2022Understanding the Electric Vehicle Buyer: Are they really that different?As more and more electric vehicles make their way into the market, it seems inevitable that the internal combustion engine will be phased out by all…
26. February 4, 2021FrançaisScore d’optimisation Google – Qu’est-ce que c’est et pourquoi est-ce important pour les concessionnairesBien qu'il existe de nombreuses façons de déterminer dans quelle mesure vos campagnes SEM sont optimisées, la plus simple est de consulter votre score…
27. February 4, 2021Google Optimization Score – What is it and why is it important to dealersWhile there are many ways to determine how well your SEM campaigns are optimized, the easiest way is to simply view your Google Adwords Optimization score.
28. January 22, 2021FrançaisDes prévisions audacieuses pour la technologie des concessionnaires automobiles en 2021 (et ce que les concessionnaires peuvent faire à ce sujet)Quelles tendances de marketing numérique offertes aux concessionnaires automobiles resteront, lesquelles disparaîtront, et lesquelles émergeront en 2021?
29. January 22, 2021Bold Predictions for Automotive Dealership Technology in 2021 (and what dealers can do about it)Which trends for Digital Marketing for Automotive Dealerships will stay, which will go, and which will emerge in 2021
30. November 10, 2020FrançaisConseils publicitaires pour les concessionnaires dont l’inventaire de véhicules est faibleEh bien, il n’y a pas vraiment moyen d’éviter le sujet. Cette année a été difficile pour les concessionnaires.
31. November 10, 2020Advertising Tips for Dealers with low vehicle inventoryIf you don’t have vehicles to advertise, then what should you advertise? Let’s go over some alternatives to make sure you keep top-of-mind within your…
32. October 30, 2020Three Main Take-Aways from the 15th Annual Google Think Auto EventGoogle’s Think Auto Event for Canadian Auto Dealerships was slightly different. Instead of a traveling show across the country, it was a singular virtual…
33. October 30, 2020FrançaisTrois points principaux du 15e événement annuel Google Think AutoL'événement Think Auto de Google pour les concessionnaires automobiles canadiens était légèrement différent. Au lieu d'un spectacle itinérant à travers le…
34. April 3, 2020COVID-19 Dealer’s Digital Defense GuideCOVID-19’s impact on dealers took everyone by surprise. Here is a compiled this list of digital recommendations to get through these rough times.
35. January 24, 2020Devriez-vous acheter votre propre nom de concessionnaire comme mot-clé?Pourquoi gaspiller de l’argent en achetant le nom de votre concessionnaire comme mot clé ? Il s’avère qu’il existe d’excellentes raisons de le faire.
36. July 9, 2019Google ‘Think Auto’ 2019 Toronto Recap – Four things you need to knowKick start your automotive dealership marketing with these four main take aways from Google's Think Auto 2019 event in Toronto.
37. May 6, 2019Three signs that your dealership’s digital marketing is getting too comfortableNo offense, but, it happens to everyone – things start to run smoothly and we get comfortable.
38. January 18, 2019Who Do You Trust When it Comes to Your Digital Media Decisions?In April 2017, I was on stage in New York City sharing the most recent research that Speed Shift Media has uncovered using our Data Management Platform…