- The Dealers Edge
- Posts
- March Madness: EV Showdowns, Price Wars, and a Tariff Timebomb
March Madness: EV Showdowns, Price Wars, and a Tariff Timebomb
The Dealer's Edge is the unfair advantage newsletter of high performing dealerships - consumed in 15 minutes, delivered monthly and powered by Autocorp.ai
It takes just a few seconds to scan headlines. But those headlines come from months of strategy, factory shifts, surprise tariff drops, and EV rivalries hotter than your showroom deals.
If March didn’t feel like your breakout moment, maybe it was just the warm-up before Q2’s big chorus.
This month’s edition: sales spikes, EV takeovers, tariff panic, dealership cyber threats, and new tools from Autocorp.ai to help you win more deals.
📌 TL;DR – What You Need to Know
✅ March sales soared in both the U.S. and Canada – new car demand is alive and well
✅ EVs are outpacing the market – legacy OEMs gain ground as Tesla cools off
✅ 25% import tariffs hit the U.S. – causing a consumer rush and future pricing pressure
✅ Used inventory still tight – prices holding steady with some upward wholesale pressure
✅ Dealership sites hit by malware – cyber hygiene is no longer optional
✅ NEW: Autocorp.ai launches AVA™ MatchBook + drops a free Facebook Ads Guide
📈 Sales Snapshot: March Madness, But for Dealers
U.S. March new-vehicle sales hit 1.59 million – up 10.7% YoY, with a 17.8M SAAR, the highest in 4 years. Canada crushed it too, with 185,000 units sold, the country’s best March since 2018.
Light trucks are still dominating: 82% of U.S. new sales were trucks/SUVs. Meanwhile, used supply is tight, with wholesale prices inching up even as retail holds steady.
🔎 Tip: Make EV info part of your first-touch email. “Here’s your EV payment, range, and rebate.” Easy wins.
⚡️ EVs Stay Charged: March Was Another Big Win
U.S. EV sales jumped 19.2% YoY in Q1, far outpacing the market (+4.8%). Tesla slipped for the first time in a long time, but GM, Hyundai, Ford, and Kia stepped up. Hyundai alone hit a +10% Q1 gain, thanks to its Ioniq lineup.
Canada’s EV market saw a small recovery after a brutal February, and with Quebec’s rebates back in April, dealers are expecting a stronger Q2.
🔎 Tip: Make EV info part of your first-touch email. “Here’s your EV payment, range, and rebate.” Easy wins.
💸 Tariffs Are Here – And Shoppers Rushed to Beat Them
On March 27, the U.S. announced a 25% tariff on all imported vehicles, triggering a retail panic. Hyundai, Toyota, BMW, and many others saw a weekend sales spike as buyers rushed to lock in pre-tariff prices.
Early estimates suggest prices could rise by $5,000 or more for many imports. Dealers saw the busiest March close in years.
🔎 Tip: Use this moment. Reassure customers, clarify what’s affected, and highlight tariff-free units. Kentucky-built RAV4? Golden.
🔐 Cyber Threat Alert: The ClickFix Scam
100+ dealership websites were compromised in March by “ClickFix” – a malware scam via a third-party plugin. Customers were hit with fake browser alerts that installed remote-access malware.
It didn’t target DMS systems, but it shook consumer trust. Reminder: your website isn’t “set it and forget it.”
🔎 Checklist: Audit your plugins. Ask your website vendor what security protocols are in place. If they mumble, that’s a red flag.
🧠 Tips of the Month
🔹 Talk tariffs without panic: “Lock in today’s rate” is persuasive. “Prices are exploding!”? Not helpful.
🔹 Update your EV cheat sheet: Make a quick one-pager for staff: range, rebates, incentives, and trade-in eligibility.
🔹 Re-scan your site for shady scripts: Especially if you use video/chat widgets. Trust but verify.
🎁 Free Resource Of The Month
The Ultimate Facebook Ad Guide for Dealerships
Supercharge your dealership’s marketing with The Ultimate Facebook Ad Guide for Dealerships. This practical playbook shows automotive professionals how to launch winning ad campaigns that drive leads, fill your CRM, and boost ROI using Facebook’s powerful tools.
🔧 Product Spotlight – Meet AVA™ MatchBook
AVA™ MatchBook instantly pairs lender approvals with in-stock vehicles that meet all the bank’s conditions – LTV, year/mileage limits, max financed, and more. Dealers using MatchBook are seeing:
✅ More subprime approvals converted
✅ Faster deals, fewer errors in F&I
✅ Happier customers who leave with a car
Built with Canadian Black Book™ data, AVA™ MatchBook automates deal-matching across your inventory so your team spends less time scrambling and more time closing.
🏁 Final Lap: Your March Wrap-Up
Thanks for cruising through this month’s newsletter! If you’ve got questions, feedback, or just want to share your favourite meme, just hit the button below—we’d love to hear from you.
Until next time,
The Dealers Edge and Autocorp.ai Team
P.S. Share this with your team—insights are better when shared! 🚗✨