High Octane

About High Octane

VADA LIVE is the official podcast powered by the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, offering rich insights and information about the automotive industry in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Join VADA staff, members, and partners for behind-the-scenes accounts of our efforts in the legislature, regulatory, and industry worlds, and stay equipped with everything you need to know to be a successful and competitive automotive dealer in Virginia.

Publisher

Virginia Automobile Dealers Association

Category

business · leisure

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Dec 2019

Latest episode

24 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

102 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Sept 2026

   VADA Live S2:E26 | AI, China EV Pressure & Dealer Resilience (Steve Greenfield)

   Despite front-end gross compression, tariff uncertainty, and macroeconomic headwinds, automotive dealers continue to prove remarkably resilient across every other department. In this episode of VADA Live, Steve Greenfield, General Partner at Automotive Ventures and author of The Future of Mobility, breaks down the state of retail automotive. Steve explores why the traditional BDC model could become obsolete within five years due to voice AI, how dealers can capture revenue from older vehicles in operation amid a K-shaped economy, and what global competition from Chinese OEMs means for long-term dealership strategy. In this episode: Dealer Resilience & Margin Shifts — How dealerships are offsetting front-end gross compression with strong performance in back-end F&I and Fixed Ops. The K-Shaped Economy — Navigating high-end luxury demand alongside mass-market affordability challenges and credit tightness. Fixed Ops Capture Rates — Strategies to retain customer loyalty after vehicle warranties expire and capture older vehicles in operation. China EV & Global Competition — How tariffs, joint ventures, and Chinese manufacturing efficiency require long-term scenario planning. Reimagining the BDC with Voice AI — Why 24/7 AI voice assistants will transform first-line phone response and render traditional BDC setups archaic. Vetting AI Software — Why technology investments are shifting toward Fixed Ops innovation and capturing unanswered inbound calls. Resources & Links: Stream more episodes and access dealer resources: https://vada.com/live Learn more about Automotive Ventures: https://www.automotiveventures.com/ (https://www.automotiveventures.com/?utm_source=gemini) About Steve Greenfield: Steve Greenfield is General Partner at Automotive Ventures, a venture capital firm investing in technology startups across automotive and mobility. A veteran industry executive and former Manheim leader, Steve is also the author of The Future of Mobility. Enjoying VADA Live? Please leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

2. 

   14 Sept 2026

   VADA Live S2:E25 | Auto Market Outlook, Hybrids & Retail Margins (Brian Finkelmeyer)

   Despite rising interest rates, gas price volatility, and macroeconomic headwinds, the U.S. auto industry continues to show remarkable resilience . In this episode of VADA Live, Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of Enterprise Insights & Advisory at Cox Automotive, breaks down why the auto market is pacing over 16 million new vehicle sales while generating a record-setting $780 billion in overall revenue . Brian explores the massive consumer shift toward hybrids, the reality behind auto affordability, looming negative equity risks on dealer lots, and why F&I and Fixed Ops continue to drive dealer profitability . In this episode: Market Resilience & 16M Sales Pace — Why macroeconomic headwinds haven't halted demand and how total auto retail revenue hit $780B despite lower unit volume than 2019 . The Hybrid Surge — How gas prices and OEM line-ups have pushed compact SUV hybrid adoption from 25% to over 35% . Deconstructing Affordability — Why affluent households earning $200k+ now represent over 30% of all new vehicle buyers . Looming Negative Equity — How extended 72- and 84-month loan terms and reduced factory cash incentives are creating trade-in hurdles . Fixed Ops & F&I Profitability — Why dealerships are doubling down on service operations and capitalizing on high-yield F&I margins . AI Concierges & Global Competition — Measuring true ROI on AI in dealership operations, plus the impact of Chinese EV expansion on global OEMs . Resources & Links: Stream more episodes and access dealer resources: https://vada.com/live Learn more about Cox Automotive: https://www.coxautoinc.com/ (https://www.coxautoinc.com/) About Brian Finkelmeyer: Brian Finkelmeyer serves as Senior Director of Enterprise Insights & Advisory at Cox Automotive . With decades of retail automotive experience across OEM and software sectors, Brian advises dealership leadership and executive boards on market trends, inventory strategies, and industry shifts . Enjoying VADA Live? Please leave us a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

3. 

   31 Aug 2026

   VADA Live S2:E24 | Legal Compliance, Pay Plans & Risk Management (Lisa Olivieri)

   Navigating over 150 local, state, and federal regulations while handling FTC advertising scrutiny, pay plan disputes, and rising dealership fraud requires more than standard legal advice — it requires real operational insight. In this episode of VADA Live Lisa Olivieri, Attorney and Chief Operating Officer at Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny, shares how dealers can strengthen compliance and protect their bottom line. Drawing on her background managing legal strategy and operations for one of the nation's top automotive groups, Lisa breaks down practical ways to structure transparent pay plans, prevent consumer protection disputes, and manage technology vendor risks. In this episode: The Regulatory Reality — Why managing 150+ laws governing sales and service requires deep operational understanding rather than traditional legal theory. FTC Scrutiny & Online Sales — How interstate commerce and third-party digital channels create legal exposure under legacy advertising laws. Eliminating Pay Plan Lawsuits — Why employee confusion over DMS cost calculations and pack fees drives litigation, and how back-office transparency fixes it. Consumer Protection & Risk Reduction — How standardized, clear buying processes prevent customer disputes before they escalate. Fraud & Theft Prevention — Practical ID verification techniques, paystub audits, and why local police relationships are vital when recovering stolen inventory. Tech & Vendor Security — Why GLBA privacy compliance makes vendor contract scrutiny a top priority for modern dealerships. 🎙️ ABOUT VADA LIVE VADA Live is the official video podcast of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association. Each episode features candid conversations with industry leaders, analysts, and legal experts on the trends, regulatory changes, and strategies shaping automotive retail. Subscribe for new episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@VADALive 👤 ABOUT LISA OLIVIERI Lisa Olivieri is the Chief Operating Officer and Attorney at Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny LLC. A seasoned executive and legal strategist, Lisa brings decades of high-level experience navigating complex operations, enterprise-wide transformations, and deal transactions across highly regulated spaces. Prior to joining the firm, Lisa spent nearly a decade in executive leadership in the retail automotive sector, serving as Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer for MileOne Autogroup — one of the Mid-Atlantic's largest dealership networks. In that role, she led major M&A transactions, corporate governance, risk management, and operational modernization initiatives. 🏢 ABOUT DAVIS, AGNOR, RAPAPORT & SKALNY Davis, Agnor, Rapaport & Skalny LLC is a premier, full-service law firm based in Columbia, Maryland, dedicated to serving businesses, entrepreneurs, and families throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. They deliver sophisticated legal counsel wrapped in a high-touch, client-centric service model. With a deep understanding of corporate growth, commercial real estate, labor and employment, estate planning, and complex litigation, the firm serves as a trusted advisory partner for companies navigating crucial transition points, scaling operations, or protecting their hard-earned enterprise value.

Who has been a guest on High Octane

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Virgil Thornton Sr
• John Dedon
• Steve Greenfield

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

77

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact High Octane

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.