Cars Commerce and Del Grande Dealer Group Unveil New Solution for Dealers Built on Salesforce's Agentforce Automotive CRM

Rhea-AI Summary

Cars Commerce (NYSE: CARS) announced a collaboration with Del Grande Dealer Group and Salesforce to launch DealerCloud LLC, one of the first CRMs built on Agentforce Automotive. Initial tests across DGDG's 15 dealerships showed a 30%-40% shorter sales cycle, a 30% lift in internet lead close rate, and 38% more sales for new hires. Cars Commerce will pilot the solution with select dealers and expand at the NADA Show (Feb 4-6, 2026).

The platform emphasizes unified data, AI automation, streamlined onboarding, and integration with existing dealer operations to improve sales efficiency and attribution.

Positive

• Sales cycle reduced by 30%-40% in DGDG pilot across 15 dealerships
• Internet lead close rate improved by 30% in initial tests
• New-hire sales increased by 38% during pilot onboarding

Negative

• None.

Key Figures

Dealerships in test: 15 dealerships Sales cycle reduction: 30%-40% shorter Internet lead close lift: 30% lift +3 more

6 metrics

Dealerships in test 15 dealerships Initial DealerCloud LLC software tests across DGDG locations

Sales cycle reduction 30%-40% shorter Average sales cycle change in DGDG DealerCloud LLC testing

Internet lead close lift 30% lift Change in close rate for internet leads in initial tests

New-hire sales impact 38% more sales Sales impact for new hires using DealerCloud LLC in testing

NADA show dates Feb. 4–6, 2026 Timing of NADA 2026 expansion and presentations

NADA booth #3723W Cars Commerce booth location for DealerCloud pilot information

Market Reality Check

Vol: Volume 782,952 vs 20-day ...

normal vol

Volume Volume 782,952 vs 20-day average 609,155 gives relative volume of 1.29, indicating elevated trading interest ahead of this news. normal

Technical Shares at $11.14 were trading below the $11.89 200-day MA and sat 38.21% under the 52-week high, but 16.53% above the 52-week low before this announcement.

Peers on Argus

CARS was down 3.6% while several peers also traded lower (EVER -4.71%, MAX -2.08...

CARS was down 3.6% while several peers also traded lower (EVER -4.71%, MAX -2.08%, FVRR -1.8%), with GRPN slightly positive and GETY flat. The mixed moves and a lack of momentum flags suggest this reaction was more stock-specific than a clean sector rotation.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 02 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 02	Product launch	Positive	+0.3%	Launch of AccuTrade IMS inventory and appraisal solution at NADA 2026.
Jan 29	Product launch	Positive	+0.0%	Announcement of new AI and commerce solutions aimed at dealer profitability.
Dec 23	Equity awards	Neutral	-1.9%	Inducement PSUs and RSUs granted to CEO-designate under equity plan.
Dec 18	CEO transition	Positive	+0.9%	Announcement of Tobias Hartmann as incoming CEO with defined transition.
Dec 04	Executive hire	Positive	-2.0%	Appointment of Cormac Twomey as CTO to advance AI and platform scale.

Pattern Detected

Product and AI launches have produced modest or flat next-day moves, while leadership and governance items have seen mixed reactions, with some positive response to CEO succession but occasional selloffs following executive- or equity-related news.

Recent Company History

Over the last few months, Cars Commerce has focused on AI-driven dealer tools and leadership transition. In Q4 2025, the company named a new CEO effective Jan 15, 2026 and added a seasoned CTO to drive AI and platform-scale initiatives. Recent NADA-related launches, such as AccuTrade IMS on Feb 2, 2026 and new AI solutions on Jan 29, 2026, highlight a push toward unified, data-driven dealer products. Today’s Agentforce-based CRM collaboration fits that ongoing strategy of deepening its dealer technology stack.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Cars Commerce’s push into deeper, AI-enabled dealer workflows through a...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Cars Commerce’s push into deeper, AI-enabled dealer workflows through a CRM built on Salesforce’s Agentforce Automotive. Reported benefits such as a 30%-40% shorter sales cycle, a 30% lift in internet lead close rates, and 38% more sales for new hires at 15 DGDG dealerships illustrate the intended impact. In context of recent AI product launches and leadership changes, investors may watch NADA 2026 traction and future disclosures tying these solutions to revenue and customer metrics.

Key Terms

crm, ai, oems, isvs

4 terms

crm technical

"a new collaboration with the Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) and Salesforce on a new automotive CRM."

Customer relationship management (CRM) is the set of tools, practices and software companies use to track and manage interactions with customers and potential customers, like an organized digital address book combined with a sales coach. It matters to investors because effective CRM systems can boost sales, improve customer retention and lower marketing costs, which directly affects revenue growth and profit margins — key drivers of a company’s value.

ai technical

"DealerCloud LLC Delivers Powerful AI and Unified Data to Drive Efficiencies"

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables machines to mimic human thinking and learning, allowing them to analyze information, recognize patterns, and make decisions. For investors, AI matters because it can improve how businesses operate, create new products, or identify opportunities faster and more accurately than humans alone, potentially impacting company success and market trends.

oems technical

"unifying OEMs, retailers and buyers to deliver modern, intelligent sales experiences"

OEMs, or Original Equipment Manufacturers, are companies that produce the main components or products that other companies use to build finished goods. For investors, OEMs are important because their performance can influence the supply chain, manufacturing costs, and overall market trends in industries like technology, automotive, and electronics. Their success often reflects broader economic health and consumer demand.

isvs technical

"exemplifies how Salesforce empowers ISVs to build industry-defining solutions"

Independent software vendors are companies that build and sell software products that run on other companies’ platforms or devices, like accessory makers who design add-ons that fit a popular phone. Investors watch them because their sales and growth often depend on platform partners, recurring customer subscriptions, and ease of distribution, which affect revenue stability, margin potential, and the value of any partnerships or acquisitions.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

DealerCloud LLC Delivers Powerful AI and Unified Data to Drive Efficiencies in a Secure and Scalable System for Dealers

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) (d/b/a "Cars Commerce Inc."), an audience-driven technology company empowering the automotive industry, today shared details of a new collaboration with the Del Grande Dealer Group (DGDG) and Salesforce on a new automotive CRM. DealerCloud LLC is one of the first CRMs built on Agentforce Automotive, which provides industry-specific tools for automotive retailers and is powered by Agentforce 360 with established infrastructure, data models, AI and security in place. DealerCloud LLC, developed and incubated by DGDG, was designed to address the long-standing inefficiencies and limitations of current auto retail CRMs.

DealerCloud LLC offers a modern, intuitive and highly effective solution that results in stronger sales performance: Initial tests of the software across DGDG's 15 dealerships resulted in a 30%-40% shorter sales cycle on average and a 30% lift in close rate for internet leads. Cars Commerce will launch a pilot program with select dealers and expand at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Show in Las Vegas (Feb. 4-6, 2026).  

"We are excited to partner with DGDG and Salesforce to solve the core industry issues of customer data integrity, system fragmentation and marketing attribution. Establishing connective tissue between our offerings and DealerCloud LLC can move our industry forward in a meaningful way," said Julien Schneider, chief strategy officer, Cars Commerce. "This aligns with our mission to simplify everything about buying and selling cars and delivering solutions that provide clear, undisputable value while helping to reduce overall complexity for dealers and the auto industry."

"With Agentforce Automotive at its core, DealerCloud LLC is enabling dealerships to operate as true agentic enterprises — unifying OEMs, retailers and buyers to deliver modern, intelligent sales experiences while their people, data and systems are connected with AI agents to streamline operations and unlock new revenue opportunities, all from a single platform," said Achyut Jajoo, SVP and GM of Automotive, Manufacturing and Consumer Goods at Salesforce.

"At DGDG, we've always been known in the industry for driving modernization through technology," said Jeremy Beaver, CEO at Del Grande Dealer Group. "Partnering with Cars Commerce and Salesforce unlocks a new level of technical and operational excellence for all dealerships — finally giving our industry access to the same enterprise-grade tools that have scaled businesses across other sectors for years. This partnership enables us to modernize operations while driving performance and efficiency through proven technology."

DealerCloud LLC offers a modern communication tech stack with unified data, creating a single, complete view of the customer from all touch points. This empowers dealers with actionable insights to speed operations through AI and automation, drive revenue and deliver an unmatched customer experience. Smart, intuitive and easy to use, DealerCloud LLC makes onboarding and implementation seamless. Initial testing resulted in less manual sales steps for dealership staff and streamlined new-hire onboarding, with 38% more sales for new hires.

"This partnership marks a turning point for automotive retail and exemplifies how Salesforce empowers ISVs to build industry-defining solutions on a foundation of trust and scale. By building DealerCloud LLC on Agentforce Automotive, DGDG is leveraging the full power of Salesforce's global infrastructure, unified data models and agentic AI to deliver a truly modern experience for the automotive industry," said Brian Landsman, CEO of AppExchange and Global Partnerships at Salesforce.

Join Julien Schneider, Cars Commerce chief strategy officer, Jeremy Beaver, CEO of DGDG, and Connor Marsden, president of sales for Salesforce, at NADA 2026 to learn more about how DealerCloud LLC, built on Agentforce Automotive, delivers the agentic enterprise to automotive dealerships.

More Information
For those interested in participating in the pilot and for more information about DealerCloud LLC, please visit the Cars Commerce NADA booth #3723W or visit www.dealercloud.com.

About Cars Commerce
Cars Commerce is an audience-driven technology company empowering the automotive industry. The Company simplifies everything about car buying and selling with powerful products, solutions and AI-driven technologies that span pretail, retail and post-sale activities — enabling more efficient and profitable retail operations. The Cars Commerce platform is organized around industry-leading brands: the flagship automotive marketplace and review site Cars.com, digital retail technology and marketing services from Dealer Inspire, essential trade-in and appraisal technology from AccuTrade, a reputation-based dealer-to-dealer wholesale auction from DealerClub and exclusive in-market media solutions from the Cars Commerce Media Network. Learn more at www.carscommerce.inc.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cars-commerce-and-del-grande-dealer-group-unveil-new-solution-for-dealers-built-on-salesforces-agentforce-automotive-crm-302679133.html

SOURCE Cars.com Inc.

FAQ

What pilot results did Cars Commerce (CARS) report for DealerCloud LLC on Feb 4, 2026?

The pilot reported a 30%-40% shorter sales cycle and a 30% lift in close rate. According to the company, these results came from initial tests across DGDG's 15 dealerships and reflect early operational improvements.

How will DealerCloud LLC built on Agentforce Automotive affect dealers using CARS products?

DealerCloud LLC aims to unify dealer data and automate workflows to speed sales and improve attribution. According to the company, the platform uses Agentforce 360 infrastructure and AI to connect OEMs, retailers and buyers on a single system.

When and where will Cars Commerce (CARS) expand the DealerCloud pilot to dealers?

Cars Commerce will expand the pilot at the NADA Show in Las Vegas, Feb 4-6, 2026. According to the company, select dealers will be invited to participate and learn more at booth #3723W.

What measurable onboarding benefits did DealerCloud report for new hires in the pilot?

New hires achieved 38% more sales during initial testing, reflecting faster onboarding and fewer manual sales steps. According to the company, streamlined implementation and AI-driven workflows reduced training friction for staff.

Does DealerCloud LLC integrate Salesforce technology and what does that mean for CARS shareholders?

DealerCloud LLC is built on Agentforce Automotive and leverages Salesforce infrastructure, data models and AI. According to the company, this partnership offers enterprise-grade security and scalability that may enable broader dealer adoption over time.