Automotive Marketing in 2026: Channels, Tactics, and What’s Working for Dealers
Every marketing dollar should help your dealership sell cars. But with more ways than ever to reach shoppers, deciding where your money will...

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Catalyst IQ has named Michael Lein Senior Vice President, Tier 3 Sales. In this role, Lein will lead Catalyst IQ's Business Development and Dealer Success teams, helping automotive retailers turn live market data into actionable insights and highly targeted marketing campaigns.
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“Michael Lein is a proven leader in the automotive retail technology world, bringing consultative selling expertise to help our clients make smarter decisions at market speed,” said Andy Lobred, CEO of Catalyst IQ. “In addition, Michael is adept at building high-performing sales organizations and developing world-class talent, which will ultimately help improve our client marketing results.”
Prior to joining Catalyst IQ, Lein led sales initiatives for C-4 Analytics, a digital marketing company focused on automotive retailing. He has also held executive sales positions with Affinitiv, Inc., and Higher Gear CRM, where he led sales, forecasting and software training for a variety of automotive clients. He is a graduate of State University of New York – Albany.
“Joining Catalyst IQ is an incredible opportunity, as the company’s people-first philosophy aligns with my own goals and values,” Lein said. “This is an amazing team of marketing professionals with access to some of the most compelling data, analytic tools and advertising services available in the automotive retailing world today. I look forward to helping our clients drive industry-leading results, while creating professional growth opportunities for our team.”
We're so glad to have Michael as a member of our leadership team. Reach out to connect with Michael and learn more about MarketAI and our suite of solutions for automotive dealers.
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About Catalyst IQ
Catalyst IQ is an integrated automotive marketing platform that helps dealerships make smarter decisions and sell more cars using real-time data, AI-powered insights, and expert human support. From digital advertising and web presence to SEO/AEO and engagement, every solution works together to drive measurable growth.
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