12:19 pm, February 9, 2026
The latest episode of the Car Dealer Podcast – recorded from the floor of the NADA show in Las Vegas – is now available to listen and watch.
Regular podcast hosts James Baggott and Jon Reay spent last week galavanting stateside as they took in everything that the vast trade show had to offer.
The special episode was recorded from the Xpel / GardX stand in the middle of the expo, where they were joined by Xpel’s UK managing director James Leese.
Talk quickly turned to the big topics being discussed at the conference – with AI remaining a key area for debate once again.
‘I do want to touch on AI,’ Baggott said. ‘Because it is a theme that is absolutely running throughout this show.
‘If I had a pound for every time I’d heard AI, I could have made a lot of money on the gambling tables here in Vegas – it is everywhere!
‘It does feel to me – and some of the dealers I’ve spoken to have said the same thing – it is a bit of a gold rush at the moment and there are so many different platforms out there.’
The panel also discussed the large number of British dealers who made the trip over for the show – and what they can get out of attending.
‘There has been a very good contingent turned up,’ said Leese. ‘A lot of the dealers that are here come every year and they come every year for a reason.
‘There is nothing else like this in the world. To get the opportunity to see all of these businesses, to come and see what’s happening in this market is a great opportunity for those dealers.
‘I think what they’re gaining from coming to something like NADA is to see especially the technology. Last year AI was a topic, but this year people are now coming with stories on actually what it’s delivered and a return on investment.
‘It’s a different conversation and dealers get that opportunity to spend time here, understanding the products and seeing what US dealers are doing.’
Car Dealer was reporting from NADA throughout last week, with coverage sponsored by Cox Automotive.
The panel discussed all the stories we wrote from the show, the full list of which an be found below:
- TikTok: Car dealers should encourage everyone to create video content
- Does anyone really know what they’re doing when it comes to using AI?
- Amazon Autos UK launch ‘lined up for 2026’ as web giant to go head to head with Autotrader
- American car dealers want to block Chinese manufacturers from gaining a foothold in the US
- Cargurus AI used car search function could be rolled out to the UK
- Weekly Briefing: A look behind the scenes of two giant American car dealerships
You can listen to all episodes of the Car Dealer Podcast, sponsored by Auto Trader, on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch the show on our YouTube channel.
