What really happened inside Mercedes-Benz during the last five years of industry upheaval?
In this episode of The Presidio Group’s Podcast Full Throttle, host Jason Stein sits down with Joseph Agresta Jr., fresh off a rare three-year term leading the Mercedes-Benz National Dealer Board.
Agresta shares a candid look at what dealers experienced during one of the most turbulent periods in automotive history — from COVID supply chain disruption and EV strategy shifts to margin negotiations, facility investments, and dealer-OEM alignment.
He also weighs in on where the industry is headed next, including electric vehicles vs. hybrids, direct-to-consumer sales models, and how Mercedes plans to regain market share.
In this conversation:
Why Mercedes may have missed a major growth opportunity
The reality of the EV transition and Tesla competition
How dealer profitability has changed since COVID
Why direct-to-consumer sales may not work for automakers
The importance of dealer-OEM alignment in today’s market
What’s next for Mercedes-Benz dealers and luxury auto retail
Agresta also reflects on his family’s 100-year legacy in the automotive business and why he remains bullish on the industry despite rapid change.
If you want an inside look at the relationship between automakers and dealers — and the future of luxury automotive retail — this conversation is a must-listen.