Inside NADA 2026: F1, AI and the Energy on the Show Floor

NADA 2026 was not subtle.

From the F1-themed opening night in Las Vegas to packed halls and nonstop energy, this show felt different from the moment we walked in.In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer break down their experience on the ground. For Phillip, it was his first NADA. For Danielle, it was a return to Vegas at full capacity. For both, it was clear the industry showed up ready to talk about what is really happening.

We recap:
• Why the F1 opening set the tone for the entire week
• What stood out at the Women in Automotive Retail event, especially the conversation around trust
• How AI moved from buzzword to real strategy discussion
• Dealer reactions to OEM pivots, including EV direction and product shifts
• The networking moments that mattered just as much as the booths

What surprised us most? Dealers were not just talking about dealership problems. They were talking about the real world, buyer behavior and how those shifts are influencing every deal.Whether you were in Las Vegas or watching from afar, this episode captures what it felt like to be there and what dealers should be thinking about next.

Stay tuned. More conversations from the floor are coming.