NADA finalist reveals Power AI Search solution as dealerships scramble to rank in AI-driven search results

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• DAS Technology named NADA 2026 finalist for Power AI Search, helping dealers rank in AI-driven results
• Platform serves 9,300+ dealerships (37% of U.S. market) with 270+ integrations
• Traditional SEO alone no longer works; AI search optimization is now essential
• 40+ AI-focused exhibitors at NADA 2026 signal massive industry transformation

Your dealership just became invisible. That’s the cold reality hitting automotive retailers who haven’t adapted to AI-powered search. While you optimized for Google’s traditional algorithm, consumers quietly shifted to ChatGPT, Gemini, and AI Overviews to research their next vehicle purchase.

The good news? There’s a solution that 9,300 dealerships already figured out.

At NADA 2026 in Las Vegas, DAS Technology announced its selection as a finalist in the Best New Product Pitch Competition for Power AI Search, a breakthrough tool designed to help dealers rank higher in AI-driven and generative search results. This marks the second consecutive year DAS Technology earned finalist recognition, having won the 2024 competition for their CDXP innovation.

Here’s why this matters to every dealer watching their lead count drop while wondering what went wrong.

The AI Search Problem Dealers Can’t Ignore

Let’s get uncomfortable for a second. According to the Fullpath Auto Intelligence Index, large language models have become a major referral source for car shoppers. Translation: consumers are asking AI where to buy their next car, and if your dealership isn’t optimized for that conversation, you’re not even in the running.

Traditional SEO focused on keywords. AI search focuses on trust signals, sentiment, and entity relationships. That’s a fundamentally different game.

Think about it this way: when someone asks ChatGPT for the best Honda dealer near them, the AI doesn’t just scan your website. It evaluates reviews, social sentiment, response patterns, and whether your content demonstrates actual expertise. Miss any of these signals, and you’re algorithmically erased.

The question isn’t whether AI will change how customers find dealerships. It’s whether you’ll adapt before your competitors do.

What Exactly Is DAS Technology’s AI-Native CX Platform?

Strip away the marketing jargon, and here’s what you get: a Customer Data & Experience Platform (CDXP) that unifies everything from lead management to reputation monitoring into one AI-powered system.

The numbers tell the story:

• 16+ years of automotive industry experience
• 9,300+ dealerships served globally
• 270+ integrations with automotive and marketing platforms
• 37% of U.S. dealerships supported

But here’s what makes their approach different from the 40+ other AI vendors crowding NADA 2026: they built the system to think like AI search engines think. Instead of bolting AI features onto legacy software, they engineered the platform to generate the exact signals AI systems look for when recommending businesses.

That’s not a subtle distinction. It’s the difference between playing checkers and playing chess.

Power AI Search: The Breakthrough Tool Dealers Are Talking About

Power AI Search earned DAS Technology their NADA 2026 finalist spot for good reason. The tool addresses a problem most dealers don’t even know they have: invisibility in AI-generated recommendations.

What Power AI Search Actually Does:

1. Optimizes for AI search ranking: Adds search-friendly consumer content to dealer websites that AI systems can easily parse and cite
2. Improves review performance: Uses sentiment analysis to identify at-risk customers before they leave negative reviews
3. Dynamic AI video generation: Creates personalized video content using consumer review sentiment
4. Boosts star ratings: Systematic approach to improving overall dealer ratings across Google, Facebook, and automotive review sites

The direct correlation between AI visibility and lead generation is no longer theoretical. Dealers using AI-optimized platforms report measurable improvements in both organic traffic and conversion rates. When AI recommends you first, customers trust that recommendation.

ACTIONABLE TIP

Ask your current technology vendor this question: “How does your platform optimize our dealership for AI-generated search recommendations?” If they can’t give a specific answer, you’ve identified your problem.

NADA 2026: The AI Arms Race Is Officially On

Walk the NADA 2026 show floor, and the theme is impossible to miss: AI everywhere. Over 40 exhibitors positioned AI as their core offering, from Cox Automotive’s agentic workflows to Impel’s engagement platform to Fullpath’s customer data solutions.

This isn’t a trend. It’s a market correction.

For years, dealership technology focused on digitizing existing processes. Now, the winning platforms are those that fundamentally reimagine how dealers connect with customers in an AI-mediated marketplace.

The Competitive Landscape:

• Cox Automotive: Building agentic AI workflows into their dealer solutions
• Impel: AI-powered customer engagement and communication
• Fullpath: Customer data platform with AI recommendation engine
• Numa: AI voice and communication solutions

DAS Technology’s dual recognition (2024 winner, 2026 finalist) positions them uniquely in this crowded field. But the real winner is any dealer smart enough to adopt AI-native solutions before their competitors figure out what’s happening.

AI Platform Comparison: Top Solutions at NADA 2026

What This Means for Your Dealership (The ROI Reality)

Skip the hype. Here’s what AI-native customer experience platforms actually deliver:

Visibility That Compounds: When AI search engines recommend your dealership, that recommendation influences other AI systems. Positive signals create a virtuous cycle. Negative signals (or no signals) create the opposite.

24/7 Lead Response Without Hiring: DAS Technology’s platform delivers automated multi-vehicle quotes around the clock. Your competition sleeps. Your AI doesn’t.

Unified Customer Intelligence: The platform covers 32 of 37 customer touchpoints from shopping to ownership. That’s not just convenience; it’s the data foundation AI needs to make smart recommendations.

Co-op Eligible: Most DAS Technology solutions are IMR-approved, meaning your OEM may reimburse implementation costs. Suddenly, the ROI conversation gets very different.

The dealers who move first capture market share that’s increasingly difficult to reclaim. AI search rankings have momentum; they favor established authority over newcomers.

Frequently Asked Questions About AI Automotive Customer Experience

Q: What is CDXP and why should dealers care?

A: CDXP (Customer Data & Experience Platform) is the evolution of traditional CRM. While CRMs store customer data, CDXPs use AI to automatically analyze patterns, predict behavior, and trigger personalized actions across all customer touchpoints. The difference: CRMs require staff to act on data; CDXPs act autonomously.

Q: How does AI search differ from traditional SEO?

A: Traditional SEO optimizes for keyword matching and backlinks. AI search evaluates entity relationships, sentiment patterns, review authenticity, and demonstrated expertise. A dealership could rank well in Google but be invisible to ChatGPT if their content lacks the trust signals AI systems prioritize.

Q: How many dealerships currently use DAS Technology?

A: Over 9,300 dealerships, retailers, partners, and OEMs worldwide. The platform supports approximately 37% of U.S. dealerships and integrates with more than 270 automotive and marketing platforms.

Q: Are AI dealership solutions worth the investment?

A: The question is whether you can afford not to invest. With AI increasingly mediating how consumers discover and choose dealerships, visibility in AI recommendations directly correlates with lead volume. Most DAS Technology solutions are IMR-approved and co-op eligible, reducing actual out-of-pocket costs.

Q: What makes Power AI Search different from other solutions?

A: Power AI Search specifically targets AI-driven search visibility, not just traditional search rankings. It combines search-friendly content generation, review sentiment analysis, dynamic AI video creation, and systematic reputation improvement into a single solution designed for how AI systems evaluate and recommend businesses.

5-Step Implementation Roadmap for AI Customer Experience

Ready to move? Here’s the strategic path forward:

1. Audit Your Current AI Visibility: Ask ChatGPT and Gemini to recommend dealerships in your market. If you’re not mentioned, you’ve confirmed the problem.
2. Assess Review Sentiment: AI systems heavily weight review authenticity and patterns. Identify where your reputation needs strengthening.
3. Evaluate Platform Integration: Any AI solution must integrate with your existing DMS, CRM, and marketing stack. DAS Technology’s 270+ integrations provide a benchmark.
4. Start With High-Impact Features: Automated lead response and AI search optimization deliver fastest ROI. Begin there.
5. Measure and Iterate: Use tools like DAS Technology’s Blue Sky Dashboards to track AI visibility improvements over time.

What AI Customer Experience Platforms Get Wrong (The Honest Truth)

No technology is perfect. Here’s where AI automotive solutions still struggle:

• Complex negotiations: AI handles initial engagement well but can’t replace skilled salespeople for nuanced deal-making
• Emotional intelligence limits: AI detects sentiment but doesn’t truly understand customer frustration or excitement
• Integration complexity: Even with 270+ integrations, legacy DMS systems can create friction
• Training requirements: Staff adoption remains a real barrier at many dealerships

The most successful implementations pair AI efficiency with human expertise. Technology handles scale; people handle relationships.

The Future of AI in Automotive Retail: What’s Next

NADA 2026 gave us a preview of where this industry is heading:

Agentic AI: Systems that don’t just respond but proactively manage customer relationships, schedule service, and identify sales opportunities without human prompting.

Hyper-personalization: Every customer interaction tailored based on behavioral patterns, purchase history, and predicted needs.

Unified AI Operating Systems: The shift from individual AI tools to comprehensive AI platforms that manage entire dealership operations.

Dealers who view AI as a “nice to have” are already behind. Those treating it as operational infrastructure are positioned for the decade ahead.

Notable: DAS Technology announced a celebrity endorsement program with Daymond John from Shark Tank at NADA 2026, signaling their intent to expand brand awareness beyond traditional automotive marketing channels.

The Bottom Line: Act Now or Watch Your Competitors Disappear You

The AI automotive customer experience transformation isn’t coming. It’s here. DAS Technology’s back-to-back NADA recognition validates what forward-thinking dealers already know: AI-native platforms deliver measurable competitive advantage.

The uncomfortable truth? Every day you wait is a day your AI-optimized competitors capture customers who would have found you first.

Your move.

NEXT STEPS

Learn more at NADA Booth #1311W or visit the DAS Technology website to schedule a demo. Challenge: Before your next team meeting, ask ChatGPT to recommend dealerships in your area. Share what you discover in the comments below.

Reader Challenge

Test your AI visibility right now: Open ChatGPT or Google’s AI Overview and ask for the best [your brand] dealership in [your city]. Are you mentioned? Share your results and what surprised you most. Let’s discuss what these AI recommendations reveal about the changing landscape of automotive retail.