AutoManager vs CDK Drive
Head-to-head comparison for car dealers evaluating Core Systems. Both vendors are in the same subcategory, so the comparison is apples-to-apples.
AutoManager
DeskManager DMS and WebManager
Founded—
HQLos Angeles CA
SegmentINDEPENDENT
PricingTiered
OwnershipPRIVATE
ParentIndependent
Employees—
Websitewww.automanager.com
CDK Drive
Enterprise DMS for franchise dealers.
Founded1972
HQHoffman Estates, IL
SegmentFRANCHISE
PricingSaaS + per-user
OwnershipPUBLIC
ParentBrookfield
Employees1000+
Websitecdkglobal.com
What each vendor does
AutoManager
AutoManager provides DeskManager DMS, website tools and inventory marketing for independent dealers nationwide.
CDK Drive
Long-standing DMS with deep third-party integrations.
Notable customers
AutoManager
None listed
CDK Drive
15000+ rooftops
Integration matrix
| Integration kind | AutoManager | CDK Drive | Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| dms | — | Self | None |
Only AutoManager (0)
—
Shared integrations (0)
—
Only CDK Drive (1)
Self
Feature checklist
| Feature | AutoManager | CDK Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app | ● Yes | ● Yes |
| Open API / webhooks | ● Yes | ● Yes |
| SSO / SAML | ● Yes | ● Yes |
| Native AI tools | ○ — | ● Yes |
| Third-party marketplace | ○ — | ● Yes |
| Two-way texting | ○ — | ○ — |
| Video messaging | ○ — | ○ — |
| Digital retail workflow | ○ — | ○ — |
| Desking & payments | ○ — | ● Yes |
| Credit prequal / soft pull | ○ — | ○ — |
| Inventory syndication | ○ — | ○ — |
| Custom reporting dashboards | ● Yes | ● Yes |
| Call tracking & recording | ○ — | ○ — |
| Spanish-language support | ○ — | ● Yes |
| Multi-rooftop management | ● Yes | ● Yes |
Compare more than two?
Build a 2–4 vendor side-by-side and share the URL.
Choose AutoManager vs CDK Drive
Choose AutoManager if…
- ▸You run independent rooftops — this product is designed specifically for that segment.
- ▸You prefer a privately held company with direct access to leadership.
- ▸Your budget process aligns better with Tiered pricing.
- ▸You want the longer track record in the dealer tech category.
Choose CDK Drive if…
- ▸You run franchise rooftops — this product is designed specifically for that segment.
- ▸You value the stability and disclosure of a publicly traded vendor.
- ▸Your budget process aligns better with SaaS + per-user pricing.
- ▸You want the longer track record in the dealer tech category.
- ▸You need broad DMS connectivity — this vendor lists 1 DMS integration.
- ▸You want more reference proof points from named dealer groups.
Quick facts scorecard
| Dimension | AutoManager | CDK Drive | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track record | — | 1972 | B |
| Scale | — | 1000+ | — |
| Segment breadth | INDEPENDENT | FRANCHISE | — |
| Integrations listed | 0 | 1 | B |
| DMS connectivity | 0 DMSes | 1 DMS | B |