From Tesla Exec To The Auction Block: How One Startup Is Turning A Dealer Pain Point Into A Profit Center | Jimmy Douglas, CEO of Plug

May 8, 2025

53:26

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Today I’m joined by Jimmy Douglas, CEO of Plug. We dive into why over half of dealers are missing an entire used segment, how two months on the lot is the tipping point for EV valuations, why dealers are shipping EVs an average of 800 miles — and much more.

This episode is brought to you by:

1. Copart – Are you looking to expand your dealership’s wholesale inventory? Finding front-line ready vehicles from finance, fleet, and rental consignors is now easier than ever. Copart Select gives you transparency that drives profitability and the assurance you need. Register as a Member to Get Started @ www.copart.com/doRegistration

2. Podium - With Podium’s AI BDC, dealerships are seeing an 80% increase in after-hours appointments by handling leads 24/7. Instantly respond to inquiries, book test drives, and let your team focus on what matters: closing deals. Learn how Podium can help you sell more cars @ http://www.podium.com/car-dealership-guy

3. Plug – The only wholesale auction built for EV’s, making used EV buying fast, transparent, and profitable. If your dealership is taking EV trade-ins you need to check out https://plug.vin/

Need help finding top automotive talent? Get started here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.cdgrecruiting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in advertising with Car Dealership Guy? Drop us a line here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://cdgpartner.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Interested in being considered as a guest on the podcast? Add your name here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/3Suismu⁠

Topics:

00:15 Why are EV trade-ins important?

03:09 How did you transition to Tesla?

04:45 Key lessons from Elon Musk?

08:33 Biggest secondary EV market challenges?

10:32 How charging networks impact value?

22:39 How does Trade Desk work?

26:53 What EV trends excite dealers?

32:11 Where is EV charging headed?