A New Era of Dealer-Led Innovation: Tekion’s Automotive Partner Cloud 2.0 Sees 40x Growth, Redefining Connectivity in Auto Retail
Tekion, the pioneering force behind the first cloud-native platform built for the full spectrum of automotive retail, has ushered in a new chapter in dealership technology with the rollout of Automotive Partner Cloud (APC) 2.0. Since its formal debut at NADA 2024 in Las Vegas by Tekion Founder and CEO Jay Vijayan, the upgraded platform has rapidly gained momentum across the industry—achieving a 40-fold increase in dealer app installations and growing its professional user base 20 times over since launching in June 2024.
This explosive adoption marks a paradigm shift in how dealerships and technology partners interact, signaling a new standard in operational agility, secure data exchange, and seamless integrations within the auto retail ecosystem.
Breaking Down Barriers: The Original Vision of APC
First launched in 2021, Automotive Partner Cloud was designed to address one of the industry’s most persistent problems: fragmented systems and data silos. The goal was ambitious yet simple—make data sharing and integration between dealerships, OEMs, and third-party vendors intuitive, secure, and instantaneous.
With the release of APC 2.0, that vision has not only matured but taken on new dimensions. The updated platform features a suite of enhancements aimed at empowering dealerships with full control over their digital ecosystem while giving partners more scalable and transparent pathways to connect.
The Integration Hub: Centralizing Power in Dealers’ Hands
At the heart of APC 2.0 lies the new Integration Hub—a centralized, dealer-facing command center where technology integrations can be reviewed, authorized, and managed with ease. No more manual forms, no more ticketing systems—just a clean, intuitive interface that enables real-time decisions and configurations.
This enhancement significantly reduces the time and friction historically involved in onboarding new vendor tools or managing third-party applications. Dealers can now initiate and terminate integrations at will, adjust data-sharing permissions, and monitor how their information is accessed and used—all from a single dashboard.
“With APC 2.0, we’re solving one of the industry’s biggest challenges—technology fragmentation,” said Jay Vijayan, Tekion’s founder and CEO. “By delivering a unified platform that enables seamless integrations and real-time data exchange, we’re giving dealers and technology partners the flexibility they need to innovate and scale.
Key Features of APC 2.0: Empowering Dealerships and Tech Partners
Tekion’s APC 2.0 is more than an update—it’s a foundational shift toward open, secure, and scalable integrations. Here are some of the platform’s most impactful capabilities:
- Integration Hub Module: Provides a single point for managing all vendor relationships, allowing dealers to authorize, modify, or terminate integrations at any time.
- Advanced Data Transparency: Offers visibility into who is accessing dealership data and what is being shared, with precise control over permissions and data flow.
- Multi-Level User Management: Enables partner companies to add and manage users with customizable access rights, allowing for collaborative work across various roles and departments.
- Multi-App Publishing: Lets technology partners deploy multiple applications—each with unique credentials and functions—under one account, streamlining workflows and enabling differentiated service offerings.
- Self-Service Partner Dashboard: Gives tech vendors real-time insight into dealer interactions, such as onboarding requests and account activity, without relying on Tekion’s support team.
Industry Voices: Real-World Impact of APC 2.0
The value of APC 2.0 isn’t theoretical—it’s already transforming workflows across dealerships and vendor networks nationwide.
Charlie Agrinsoni, VP of Development & Innovation at Asbury Automotive Group, praised the platform’s streamlined experience:
“Tekion’s new APC platform made the technical onboarding of our pilot stores a simple and efficient process. Being in the unique position as both a dealer and a builder of tools using Tekion’s APIs allowed us to see both sides of the platform, and our team was impressed.”
From a dealership operations perspective, Alex Bowsher, Dealer Manager at Carl Black Automotive Group, highlighted how the Integration Hub has improved vendor relationships and internal clarity:
“Tekion’s Integration Hub has transformed how we discover and manage vendor partnerships, providing instant clarity on which vendors integrate with Tekion. It’s saved us significant time and improved the experience for our teams and customers alike.”
On the vendor side, Aaron Baldwin, CEO of automotiveMastermind, emphasized the importance of collaboration:
“We appreciate the collaborative approach Tekion has taken with APC 2.0. The transparency and flexibility built into the platform offer a solid foundation for our future work together.”
Rapid Growth, Measurable Results
Since its June 2024 relaunch, APC 2.0 has posted remarkable performance metrics:
- Nearly 50% month-over-month growth in transaction volume
- Over 40x increase in dealer app installations
- 20x expansion in the professional user base
These numbers point to a growing confidence in Tekion’s ability to unify and simplify technology across the dealership landscape. More importantly, they highlight a shift in how dealerships expect to interact with their digital ecosystems—placing a premium on speed, security, autonomy, and transparency.
A Call to Action: For Dealers and Partners Alike
Tekion’s APC 2.0 is not just a tool—it’s a gateway to a more efficient, responsive, and open auto retail ecosystem.
- For technology providers: APC 2.0 offers a robust platform to expand reach, integrate faster, and offer services at scale. From publishing multiple apps to managing data access and onboarding requests in real-time, partners now have greater autonomy and support.
- For Tekion dealers: The platform dramatically reduces time-to-value when integrating new solutions. Dealers can explore a curated ecosystem of certified partners, activate services with a few clicks, and maintain full control over data sharing.
- For non-Tekion dealers: APC 2.0 provides a glimpse into how a unified, cloud-native platform can transform dealership operations from the ground up—eliminating silos, reducing integration complexity, and enabling continuous innovation.
The Future: A More Unified, Agile Auto Retail Ecosystem
As the automotive industry faces increasing pressure to modernize, streamline operations, and deliver a superior customer experience, tools like Automotive Partner Cloud 2.0 are becoming critical differentiators. By giving dealers the ability to manage their digital ecosystem with the same control they exercise over inventory or finance, Tekion is helping redefine what it means to operate a modern dealership.
“Technology should empower—not complicate—the way we work,” said Vijayan. “With APC 2.0, we’re putting the power back in the hands of those who know their business best: the dealers.”
For more information:
- Technology partners can apply to join the APC ecosystem at tekion.com/partners
- Dealers can explore and activate new integrations via the Tekion platform.
- Non-Tekion users can schedule a demo to see what APC 2.0 can bring to their operations.
Automotive Partner Cloud 2.0 isn’t just a product—it’s a turning point in the evolution of automotive retail technology
