The results are in, and they tell a clear story about where automotive retail is heading.
Automotive News just released its 2026 Best Dealerships to Work For list, recognizing 150 rooftops that build exceptional workplaces for their teams. Here’s what caught our attention: nearly half of those award-winning dealerships partner with Impel.
Let’s be clear. These dealerships didn’t make the list because of their tech stack. They earned it through workplace culture, employee satisfaction, and leadership. But the connection isn’t a coincidence. The most forward-thinking dealerships in the industry are choosing AI to support their people.
From grinding work to meaningful work
Talk to any BDC rep, service advisor, or sales consultant about their day, and you’ll hear the same thing: endless manual follow-ups, jumping between disconnected systems, repetitive data entry, and chasing down customer information that should be at their fingertips.
These aren’t just annoyances. They’re drag. They wear down your best people and push talent out of the industry. When skilled teams spend hours on low-value work, something gives. Usually it’s morale. Often it’s retention.
That’s where these dealerships have figured something out. When you invest in AI that clears the repetitive volume, something shifts. Teams get free to do what they do best: build relationships, solve hard problems, and deliver one-to-one customer experiences. As a result, the job gets more human, not less.
AI that amplifies your team’s effort
Here’s the part that matters. This isn’t about doing more with fewer people.
Impel works alongside your team, no added headcount required. The AI handles the monotonous at scale, and it hands off the moments that need a human touch. So your people get the bandwidth to engage more deeply with customers, train new hires, and manage their time more effectively.
The future of automotive retail isn’t about replacing human expertise. It’s about amplifying it. The dealerships leading the way understand that people and technology aren’t competing forces. They’re complementary ones.
The bottom line
The 67 winning dealerships that run on Impel span different markets, sizes, and brands. What they share is a commitment to building places where people thrive. They’re part of a network of 8,000+ retailers and OEMs putting AI to work across the customer lifecycle.
Congratulations to all 150 dealerships recognized by Automotive News. You’re not just building better workplaces. You’re showing the industry what’s possible.
Ready to see how AI can support your team? See It in Action.