In this episode of Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Jay Vijayan, Founder & CEO of Tekion, to unpack how AI, data, and platform thinking are reshaping the future of automotive retail.
Jay brings a rare perspective—having built enterprise systems at Tesla, invested in dozens of technology companies, and now leading one of the fastest-scaling automotive software platforms in the industry. From simplifying fragmented dealer systems to deploying AI with measurable ROI, Jay explains why technology only matters if it delivers real value.
The conversation dives into:
Why automotive retail has accumulated decades of complexity—and how to unwind it
How Tekion approaches AI differently, with ROI dashboards and real-world impact
The biggest challenge in scaling dealer technology: change management, not software
Lessons from onboarding thousands of rooftops and working with major dealer groups
Data ownership, security, and responsible AI in a post-CDK world
Why productivity—not headcount—is the real promise of AI in auto retail
Jay’s vision for the next 10 years of automotive software and dealer operations
Jay also draws a powerful parallel between today’s AI moment and Netflix’s transition from DVDs to streaming—explaining how dealers will gradually shift from traditional UI-driven systems to AI agents that work in natural language.
This is a must-watch conversation for:
Dealer principals and operators
Automotive technology founders and investors
Anyone thinking seriously about AI beyond the hype