Episode 60: Kevin Tynan, Director of Research at The Presidio Group

In this return appearance on Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Kevin Tynan, Director of Research at The Presidio Group, for a no-nonsense breakdown of what 2026 really looks like for the U.S. auto industry.

This is not a hype cycle conversation.

Kevin explains why the market is hitting a structural tipping point — where chasing volume starts to destroy pricing, margins, and long-term profitability. With inventories creeping higher, incentives looming, EV strategies under pressure, and fixed ops emerging as the real profit engine, this episode is essential listening for dealer principals, OEM executives, and industry operators planning for the next phase.

🔑 Key topics include:
- Why 15.5–16 million units is the profit ceiling — and why going higher hurts
- Inventory discipline vs. volume-at-all-costs thinking
- What 2019 taught dealers about oversupply — and why 2026 rhymes
- The return of used-vehicle supply and what it means for margins
- EV profitability realities and the growing “now what?” problem for OEMs
- Why six-figure EVs don’t work — and what might
- Fixed ops, F&I, and where AI and automation actually deliver ROI
- The biggest strategic mistake dealers must avoid heading into 2026

Kevin also delivers a clear warning: the era of easy gross is over. The winners in 2026 won’t be the dealers who chase volume — they’ll be the ones who tighten operations, control inventory, and find margin in efficiency.

If you’re responsible for profit, planning, or performance in the auto business, this episode is required viewing.

🎧 Subscribe to Full Throttle for unfiltered insights from the people shaping the automotive industry.

3:32 – Why 2026 Is a Tipping Point for the Auto Market
6:13 – The 16 Million Unit Ceiling: Where Pricing Breaks Down
8:40 – Lessons from 2019: Oversupply, Incentives, and Margin Erosion
10:28 – Overcapacity, Incentives, and the Inevitable Reckoning
12:28 – Used Cars Return: Off-Lease Supply and Margin Pressure
14:30 – EV Reality Check: Profitability, Write-Downs, and “Now What?”
19:06 – Fixed Ops, Technicians, and the Real Profit Bottleneck
22:07 – AI, Automation, and Where Dealers Actually See ROI in 2026
24:53 – The #1 Strategic Mistake Dealers Must Avoid in 2026

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