How Hyundai Dealership Grew Sales 15% in Down Market

When a dealer group sees results at one store, bringing a second store on board is an easier decision. This dealer group moved their Hyundai dealership to Catalyst IQ after a strong first month at their Stellantis store. While their competitors saw a 4% sales drop, this dealership grew sales +15% and increased their turn rate by +9% in their first month working with us.

The Opportunity: Expand What's Working

Their Dealer Success Manager (DSM) already knew the dealer group well. But a new store meant starting fresh on the details—a different OEM, a different competitive set, and a market with its own quirks. Before building anything, they needed to understand what was specific to this store.

• What’s happening in their market right now?
• Which models have the most room to grow?
• Where is the competition gaining ground?
• What does the Hyundai customer in this area look like?

Hyundai doesn't give dealers the same pricing flexibility as other OEMs, so the strategy would have to work harder in other ways.

The Strategy: A Multi-Channel Approach Built on MarketAI Data

MarketAI, Catalyst IQ’s real-time automotive intelligence engine, showed the DSM exactly where this store could win. Tucson, Elantra, Palisade, and Kona had the most room to gain market share, so they built the campaigns around those models across two channels:

• Paid Search: Text-based ads that appear when shoppers are actively searching for a specific vehicle, capturing buyers the moment they are ready to act
• PMax: A Google campaign type that runs across all of Google's channels simultaneously, using machine learning to find the right buyers at the right time

They also launched a third campaign type, Google Vehicle Ads, running all models on the dealer’s lot and let the platform optimize traffic on its own.

The geotargeting for this store looked different from their Stellantis location. With fewer competing Hyundai dealers in the area, the DSM was able to target a wider radius from the start, reaching more in-market shoppers without spreading the budget too thin.

One adjustment came mid-month. The Google Vehicle ads campaign wasn't gaining traction with its initial geotargeting, so she expanded it. The broader targeting gave the campaign the reach it needed to perform.

The Results: Strong First Month in a Down Market

It was a tough month for Hyundai dealers in this DMA. Sales across the competitive set dropped -4% and the broader market was flat with 0% sales MoM. Despite this, the dealership finished the month ahead. 

Why Did These Strategies Work?

Having already worked with another store in this dealer group, the DSM knew their sales goals and how they measured success. That context meant the strategy came together faster than it would have with a new relationship. Rather than spending the first month getting up to speed, they could focus entirely on what the data was showing and where the opportunities were.

MarketAI identified which models had the most room to gain market share, and the budget followed. When the Google Vehicle ads needed a geotargeting adjustment mid-month, it was a quick decision, and the campaign was better for it.

For this dealer, having visibility into their own market data through MarketAI gave them an added edge. They used it to make pricing and inventory decisions that kept them competitive throughout the month—and that kind of engagement, when a dealer chooses to lean in, can amplify the results even further.

See What Catalyst IQ Can Do for Your Store 

When your advertising agency already knows your business, scaling results to a second store is a natural next step. This dealer group did it in their first month with Catalyst IQ. If you're managing multiple rooftops and want a partner who can move as fast as your business does, let us show you what that looks like for your market.

Schedule a free 15-minute demo to see real-time inventory, turn rate, and competitive market data across your stores.