On this episode of Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Eddie Stivers, Owner and Dealer Principal of Stivers Automotive and former Chairman of the Ford Dealer Council, for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, policy, profitability, and the future of the retail auto business.
Fresh off six years on the Ford Dealer Council — including overseeing Ford Pro and Model e during one of the most turbulent periods in automotive history — Eddie shares what it was really like negotiating directly with Ford Motor Company through COVID, electrification mandates, supply-chain chaos, and shifting government policy.
In this wide-ranging interview, Eddie breaks down:
Why Ford’s dealer–OEM relationship is fundamentally different from other automakers
What went wrong with forced EV adoption — and why hybrids made more sense
How dealers are tightening operations and staying profitable despite margin pressure
The real risks and realities of Chinese automakers and global supply chains
Why optimism remains a survival trait in the retail car business
This is a candid, experience-driven perspective you don’t often hear — from someone who’s been in the room, made the hard calls, and lived with the consequences.
If you care about the future of auto retail, dealer profitability, OEM strategy, or how policy decisions ripple through the entire industry, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.