Ep. 659 - Expanding Your Dealership’s Revenue Stream, with Shahin Alizadeh

The Dealer Playbook

In this episode, my guest is Shahin Alizadeh, President and CEO of Downtown Auto Group – a powerhouse in the automotive and real estate industries. Shahin has redefined what a dealership can be, transforming a small, struggling lot to then developing a leading edge Auto Complex

But this isn’t just another dealership success story. Shahin dives deep into how he leveraged prime real estate to create a hybrid model that generates revenue from car sales, fixed operations, and real estate development – a strategy that’s turning heads across the industry.

We explore the bold moves that took him from washing cars to managing multiple brands under one roof, the challenges of convincing OEMs to embrace a non-traditional model, and why he believes every dealer should think like a developer.

Plus, we get into the rise of Chinese auto brands, the impact of skyrocketing land values on the dealership model, and the future of automotive retail in urban markets.

If you’re looking for practical ways to elevate your dealership and tap into new revenue streams, Shahin’s story is the blueprint you need.

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This Episode's Sponsor
FlexDealer Need Better Quality Leads? FLX helps car dealers generate better quality leads through localized organic search and highly-targeted digital ads that convert. Not only that, they work tirelessly to ensure car dealers integrate marketing and operations for a robust and functional growth strategy.

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Chapters

1. Introduction to Shaheen Alizadeh (00:00:00)

2. Early Career in Auto Industry (00:01:56)

3. Downtown Auto Group Vision (00:04:57)

4. Innovative Urban Dealership Model (00:08:36)

5. Chinese Automakers and Market Concerns (00:15:05)

6. Tariffs and Political Landscape (00:17:27)

7. Dealer-OEM Partnerships (00:20:15)

8. Future of Auto Retail (00:24:40)