AutoKnerd Podcast

The EV1 was not just early, it was dangerous.

Not to drivers, but to an entire industry built on fuel revenue, service schedules, and old school thinking.

In this episode, we dig into one of the most infamous automotive conspiracies of all time.

Why did GM create one of the best electric cars ever made, then recall and crush almost every single one

We unpack the story behind:

• Big Oil pressure

• Battery patent wars

• Internal GM politics

• Lobbying behind closed doors

• EV fear and mistrust

• The scar customers still carry today

Most importantly, we connect this history to the conversations happening in dealerships right now.

Why customers hesitate.

Why EV myths spread so fast.

Why trust matters more than torque or technology.

If you sell cars, service cars, or lead a team in the dealership world, this episode gives you a fast, clear, human explanation of why EV conversations feel so emotional and how to handle them with confidence and empathy.

This week’s AutoShop tool is The EV Trust Decoder, your shortcut to turning EV fear into clarity your customers can feel.

Get the Tool! —> https://autoknerd.com/p/ep66

When customers start to drift emotionally, they rarely tell you — they just disappear. In this episode, Andrew Sardone breaks down how to spot doubt before it becomes disaster. You’ll get data, scripts, and a new tool that trains emotional radar across every department.

Timestamps: 00:00 – Hook: Silence means drift 02:00 – The three signals of doubt 06:00 – The 43:57 talk-listen rule 09:00 – Scripts that rebuild trust 13:00 – Department breakdown: BDC → F&I 19:00 – Manager Challenge: Log one Confidence Save 22:00 – Wrap-Up and Tools

Download the full EP65 Toolkit (Free to Dealer) at AutoKnerd.com

In this 30-minute episode, Andrew Sardone breaks down why the test drive is the emotional pivot of the sale and how great consultants create ownership moments through silence, observation, and timing.

You’ll learn:

🚗 The two Emotion Windows that decide most sales

🤫 Why confident silence builds trust faster than specs

🧠 The science behind emotional timing in customer decisions

📋 How managers can coach drives that close themselves

Nerd Stats inside:

• 78% of buyers say the test drive sold them the car (CDK Global)

• 69% call it the most crucial part of the buying journey (DealershipGuy)

• 80% say no online experience replaces a real drive (Urban Science)

Free Tool:

Download this week’s AutoShop Test Drive Passport — the step-by-step checklist for creating test drives that move metal.

👉 autoknerd.com

When a customer finishes the test drive, you’re standing in one of the most important trust moments in sales. What you say next determines whether they buy — or keep shopping.

In this episode, Andrew shares how clarity, empathy, and pacing create confidence without pressure. You’ll also hear how this mindset connects to the new AutoShop Elite tool for multi-department coaching.

💡 Key Topics

• Turning excitement into confidence

• Reading customer tone and hesitation

• Why the best consultants pause before talking

• Teaching your team to earn commitment, not chase it

🧠 Want the matching training tools?

Download the Free & Pro AutoShop versions at https://autoknerd.com/p/63

AutoKnerd: Where Car Sales Grow Up.

Customers don’t buy specs. They buy feelings.

In this week’s AutoKnerd episode, Andrew Sardone reveals why flooding your walkaround with 20 features kills connection — and how limiting your presentation to 5–7 emotionally relevant moments boosts trust, memory, and sales.

You’ll learn:

• Why 95% of decisions are made emotionally (Harvard Business Review)

• The psychology of working memory and the 7±2 rule

• How to structure your walkaround for impact — not overload

🎯 Get your free companion tool:

AutoKnerd Tool 062 – The Rule of 7 Walkaround Planner

→ https://www.autoknerd.com/tools

💌 Join the AutoKnerd newsletter for weekly tools, insights, and coaching resources. www.AutoKnerd.com

Every Thursday: one new episode, one new skill, one new reason to love the car business again.

In Episode 61 of The AutoKnerd Podcast, host Andrew Sardone shares how to transform customer discovery notesinto a powerful, emotionally intelligent vehicle presentation.

Building on the discovery framework from EP60, this session helps sales consultants learn how to:

✅ Match customer needs, wants, and fears directly to vehicle features

✅ Replace feature-dumping with emotional storytelling and validation

✅ Build trust, improve CSI scores, and close more deals — all through empathy-driven communication

Listeners will gain a clear, data-backed method for creating personalized presentations that connect emotionally and convert confidently.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• How empathy and proof turn discovery into persuasion

• Framing presentations around emotion, not just logic

• The “Matchmaker” mindset that top-performing consultants use

• Real-world examples that drive higher CSI and customer loyalty

FREE TOOL -- 'The Matchmakers Playbook'

Tune in now to discover how to make every walkaround feel like a perfect match — for your customer and your sales goals.

Last week, we explored the art of asking better questions.

This week, we’re tackling the other half of discovery — what you do with the answers.

Too many consultants ask great questions, then default back to their pitch. In this episode, Andrew Sardone breaks down how to use what customers tell you to build trust, tailor recommendations, and close more deals — without pressure or gimmicks.

You’ll learn:

✅ How reflective listening (echoing) builds trust

✅ Why sorting answers into Needs, Wants, and Fears changes everything

✅ How emotional validation improves customer comfort and buying confidence

✅ Real-world scripts that connect discovery to direction

✅ Coaching cues for managers who want consistency on the floor

OFFICE HOURS!! Ready to get your own person game plan set up. Ready to level up the way you should be. Schedule some time: https://calendly.com/andrew-autoknerd

📘 Download the Free Tool: EP60 – The Discovery Mapper (Lite Edition)

Your 1-page worksheet for turning customer answers into guided action.

💡 Pro & Elite versions available inside the AutoKnerd subscription tiers.

🔔 Subscribe to The AutoKnerd Podcast for new episodes every Thursday.

Every week we drop real-world tools, tested frameworks, and customer-first strategies that make you the consultant customers trust.

Are you asking questions that push customers away instead of pulling them in?

In this episode, Andrew breaks down Discovery Pathways that help auto sales consultants uncover true customer needs, avoid sales “traps,” and build long-term trust.

You’ll learn:

• Why some questions shut buyers down instantly

• The psychology of better discovery (inspired by FBI tactics)

• How to create loyalty & referrals through smarter conversations

📌 Links & Resources:

• Book 1:1 Personal Training: [CLICK HERE]

• Sign up for the free tools / Newsletter: [CLICK HERE]

• Sign up for the Elite Beta tools: [CLICK HERE]