Chris Martinez: The Dealer’s Playbook for Growth, AI, and Staying a Student of the Game

This week on Word on the Street, Andrew sits down with Chris Martinez, a 22-year automotive veteran who’s done it all — from managing at CarMax to building and selling dealership software, and now leading the charge in AI-powered follow-up.

Chris shares what it was like growing dealerships from 50 to 500+ used cars a month, spotting white-space opportunities before the industry caught up, and how he’s using AI voice, SMS, and email automation to help dealers stay connected with customers long after the lead goes cold.

They dig into:

• How foundational experience in used cars creates better general managers
• Why social and language-targeted ads were his early growth secret
• Where AI is actually moving the needle for dealers today
• What the next era of lead follow-up and customer retention will look like

Whether you’re a GM, vendor, or entrepreneur in automotive, this episode is a masterclass in curiosity, resilience, and staying a student of the game.

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