Dave Cantin Group

Dave Cantin Group Dave Cantin Group is an M&A Advisory Company focused on the automotive sector.

The highest offer is not always the best path forward.Financing conditions, contingencies, and OEM approval requirements...
09/24/2026

The highest offer is not always the best path forward.

Financing conditions, contingencies, and OEM approval requirements can materially affect whether a dealership transaction reaches closing. A slightly lower offer with committed capital and fewer conditions may provide greater certainty than a higher offer with unresolved requirements.

That distinction was central to a recent CBT News discussion hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick with Dave Cantin, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Dave Cantin Group (DCG), and Seth Dobbs, Chair of the Automotive Practice at Fox Rothschild.

The conversation also explored why dealership count alone does not guarantee OEM approval. Manufacturers may assess financial strength, operating performance, brand experience, and market compatibility. Understanding those expectations early is essential to setting realistic terms and timelines.

Thank you to CBT News, Jim Fitzpatrick, and Seth Dobbs for bringing these issues into focus. For DCG, a strong outcome starts with understanding the client’s goals and evaluating the full opportunity, not just the headline price.

🔗 Explore the full discussion: https://davecantingroup.pulse.ly/lb03fjwf4o

The best dealership opportunities won't always wait for you. Demand remains strong, but buyers are more strategic about ...
09/24/2026

The best dealership opportunities won't always wait for you.

Demand remains strong, but buyers are more strategic about the brands, markets, and opportunities they pursue.

Dave Cantin, Group President, Brian Gordon, spoke with Forbes about changes in dealership M&A (and what they mean for buyers and sellers).

Read the article here:
https://na2.hubs.ly/H07_52S0

The vehicle offering has expanded. So has the knowledge required to support it.Electrified vehicles accounted for approx...
09/23/2026

The vehicle offering has expanded. So has the knowledge required to support it.

Electrified vehicles accounted for approximately 20% of U.S. sales in 2024, split between roughly 8% battery-electric and 12% hybrid or plug-in hybrid. Meanwhile, trim offerings expanded from approximately 3 to 5 historically to 6 to 9 or more per model.

For customers, those options introduce more decisions about price, capability, and ownership needs. For dealers, they require teams that can explain the differences clearly, recommend the right fit, and support the vehicle long after delivery.

Driver-assistance systems, connectivity, and software updates add another layer. Product expertise is no longer confined to the sales conversation; it connects inventory decisions, employee training, and service readiness.

In “The Platform Era,” Dave Cantin Group (DCG), in collaboration with Automotive News Content Studio, explores how a focused brand strategy can help dealers develop that depth of expertise and align investment with the customers they serve.

🔗 Read “The Platform Era”: https://autonews.pulse.ly/k6owy7qmsk

Your objectives should shape the opportunity, not the other way around.Dealership leaders have several paths to a strong...
09/22/2026

Your objectives should shape the opportunity, not the other way around.

Dealership leaders have several paths to a stronger business: investing in current operations, reallocating capital across brands or markets, expanding selectively, or refining the portfolio. The right choice depends on what the owner wants to achieve.

This graphic connects those choices with practical priorities. Geographic concentration can strengthen a local presence. Better customer retention can capture more sales and service business. Integrated fixed operations can help stores make better use of shared resources.

M&A can support these objectives, but it is not a prerequisite for progress.

In “The Platform Era,” Dave Cantin Group (DCG), in collaboration with Automotive News Content Studio, explores why strategy begins with an owner’s personal and professional aspirations. Understanding those ambitions comes before deciding which actions to take.

🔗 Explore a more intentional approach in “The Platform Era”: https://autonews.pulse.ly/2qelwzn74b

The top 150 dealership groups have expanded more than their footprint.Between 2011 and 2025, their combined vehicle sale...
09/21/2026

The top 150 dealership groups have expanded more than their footprint.

Between 2011 and 2025, their combined vehicle sales rose from approximately 2.3 million to 4.4 million. Their share of U.S. industry sales increased from roughly 18% to 27%, while their share of dealership locations grew from about 14% to 26%.

Those measures tell related but distinct stories. More locations broaden a group’s presence. A larger sales share shows its growing role in the customer market. Together, they illustrate how substantially the top 150 groups’ position has changed over time.

For dealership leaders, the question is how to strengthen their own position within that evolving landscape. Where does the business have an advantage, and how can its stores, people, and resources reinforce it?

Dave Cantin Group (DCG) explores these questions in “The Platform Era,” developed in collaboration with Automotive News Content Studio, connecting industry shifts with the decisions shaping each dealer’s future.

🔗 Read “The Platform Era”: https://autonews.pulse.ly/cijwuhj5dw

Please join us in welcoming Morgan Early to the Dave Cantin Group as Senior Director of Marketing!Morgan brings extensiv...
09/21/2026

Please join us in welcoming Morgan Early to the Dave Cantin Group as Senior Director of Marketing!

Morgan brings extensive experience in integrated marketing strategy, thought leadership, brand positioning, demand generation, and go-to-market strategy. Prior to joining DCG, Morgan held roles at Full Circle Insights, Searchspring, the Minnesota Lottery, and Cuneo Advertising.

Morgan holds a Master of Mass Communications from South Dakota State University and a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Morgan joins the marketing team to help strengthen DCG’s brand, drive integrated marketing initiatives, and support DCG’s continued growth. Please join us in welcoming Morgan to the team!

Consumer affordability pressures extend beyond the showroom.Speaking at Morgan Stanley’s 14th Annual Laguna Conference, ...
09/18/2026

Consumer affordability pressures extend beyond the showroom.

Speaking at Morgan Stanley’s 14th Annual Laguna Conference, AutoNation's CFO Thomas Szlosek outlined a softer operating outlook for the remainder of 2026.

AutoNation Management flagged moderating parts-and-service growth, with third-quarter growth expected to be more modest than in prior periods. Affordability remains a constraint on both major purchases and routine maintenance decisions.

Affordability pressures raise important questions about customer needs, operational priorities, and long-term planning. Dave Cantin Group (DCG) helps you make informed decisions about what comes next.

🔗 Contact us to start a conversation today: https://davecantingroup.pulse.ly/lruqkgrf30

Platform thinking is not reserved for the largest dealer groups.The NADA data shown here highlights a shift: those with ...
09/18/2026

Platform thinking is not reserved for the largest dealer groups.

The NADA data shown here highlights a shift: those with 6 to 10 stores increased their share from 3.5% in 2015 to 5.8% in 2025, while the share with 11 to 25 stores rose from 1.5% to 2.8%. This shift puts smaller multistore businesses at the center of the platform conversation.

In “The Platform Era,” Dave Cantin Group (DCG) and Automotive News Content Studio explore the practical advantages of local scale, from a shared body shop or mobile service team to concentrated marketing that builds recognition across a region. Geographic focus, brand expertise, and shared resources can help smaller and mid-sized groups build more coordinated businesses.

The starting point is not a target store count. It is a clear understanding of your long-term objectives. DCG helps you assess how your operations and investments can support the future you want to build.

🔗 Read “The Platform Era”: https://autonews.pulse.ly/wix5lfrysn

Automotive M&A is changing. So is the process to get there.Dave Cantin Group’s (DCG) 2026 Market Outlook Report (MOR) ex...
09/17/2026

Automotive M&A is changing. So is the process to get there.

Dave Cantin Group’s (DCG) 2026 Market Outlook Report (MOR) examines three forces shaping dealership M&A activity: generational family-business transitions, acquisitions as a primary growth strategy, and a more deliberate approach to managing dealership platforms.

The implications extend beyond transactions. Brand mix, geographic fit, and operational strength are increasingly important to understanding a dealer group’s value and long-term potential.

The starting point is a conversation about your objectives. DCG helps you connect industry developments with the realities of your business, so your next decision supports your future.

➡️ Read MOR: https://davecantingroup.pulse.ly/nasna4mslt

The cost of buying a vehicle has changed. So have the challenges in running a dealership.New-vehicle transaction prices ...
09/17/2026

The cost of buying a vehicle has changed. So have the challenges in running a dealership.

New-vehicle transaction prices have increased approximately 50% from 2013 to 2025. Alongside that shift, the M&A data shows sustained activity across multiple years, with roughly 200 transactions recorded through July 2026.

Your leadership challenge: maintaining operational excellence in a tough environment while thinking carefully about your dealership’s future.

In “The Platform Era,” Dave Cantin Group (DCG), in collaboration with Automotive News Content Studio, examines why a dealership strategy includes new-car sales, fixed operations, customer retention, and a balanced portfolio to ensure a more resilient business.

The starting point is a discussion about your priorities. DCG helps you plan your future.

🔗 Discover “The Platform Era”: https://autonews.pulse.ly/jsqfdecid7

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