Drive Innovation & Accelerate Growth

The future of automotive retail starts at AUTOVATE 2026.
Scottsdale, AZ | September 30 – October 1, 2026

REVIEW THE 2026 AGENDA

Thank you for making the 10th annual AUTOVATE a success.

AUTOVATE 2026 wrapped on October 1 at the Caesars Republic Hotel in Scottsdale, AZ. Dealer group executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and C-suite leaders from large tech firms spent two days on the deals, capital, and AI strategy shaping automotive retail.

Sessions covered affordability and financing, AI valuations and agents, regulation and trade, M&A, and digital retail. Keynotes came from elite golf coach Sean Foley and AI futurist Kevin Surace. Other speakers included Mary Leigh Phillips of DriveTime & Bridgecrest, Roger W. Holler III of Holler-Classic, Chris Walsh of Reynolds and Reynolds, Gary Watkins of AWS, Jenn Reid of JPMorgan Chase, Evan Baker of Capital One, and Dan Ingber of NADA.

Stay tuned for details on AUTOVATE 2027.

REVIEW THE 2026 AGENDA

AUTOVATE is a first-class experience with high-level content in a relaxed atmosphere built for executives and investors in automotive retail.

AUDIENCE: Exclusive audience of high-net-worth executives, investors & entrepreneurs in the automotive retail industry. Click Here to see the types of companies that have participated in previous AUTOVATE events.
ATMOSPHERE – Unique venues with a distinctive character that nurture networking opportunities and foster engagement.
FORMAT: 15-to-20-minute TED Talk-styled Q&A sessions with the audience participating via text with the moderator, with two or three featured presentations.
CONTENT: Designed to help investors, dealers & vendor executives think about the future of their businesses & the industry.
ACTION: Deals get started at AUTOVATE. Conversations leading to nearly $2 billion in transactions began at AUTOVATE.

2025 Conference Highlights

Testimonials

‌”AUTOVATE brings together people dedicated to improving the car-buying experience. Networking with other attendees alone improves my ability as an advisor in this space.”

Mara McNeil

President, SkyeLynx

“If you have never been to AUTOVATE you are missing one of the best events in our industry. Some of the best content and minds that you are ever going to encounter at a conference.”

James "JT" Taylor

Managing Partner, Accrual Equity Partners

“This has probably been the best conference I’ve ever been to. I feel like I’ve learned more in the last two hours than I have in the last two years.”

Chris Walsh

President, Reynolds and Reynolds