Leapfrog or Lose: Lessons from the Nationaal Automotive Congres 2025
Yesterday we attended the Nationaal Automotive Congres in Nieuwegein. This wasn’t just another industry event. It was a clear signal: transformation isn’t coming — it’s already here. From electrification and Chinese innovation to the rise of AI and the urgency to act, the day brought one central question into focus:
❝ Are we ready to leap, or will we be left behind? ❞
Below are our reflections, takeaways, and some raw footage from a day that made one thing certain: standing still is no longer an option.
📉 Uncertainty paralyses transformation
One theme surfaced across nearly every keynote: uncertainty kills progress. Whether it’s political turbulence — like Trump’s unpredictable tariffs — or local confusion around EV subsidies, regulation and tax schemes, the result is the same:
Consumers hesitate. Businesses delay. Markets stall.
In the Netherlands, the government collapsed the day before the congress. But even before that, policies around electric driving were too inconsistent to inspire confidence. In an age that requires bold decisions, indecision is proving costly.
🔁 Why do we keep ignoring our most valuable customers?
PowerKraut asked a simple but confronting question:
If it’s 5 to 7 times cheaper to sell to an existing customer than to acquire a new one, why are we spending all our time and money chasing strangers?
Their answer lies in data orchestration. Build a Customer Data Platform. Integrate every known detail about your current customers. Then personalise communications based on real context.
And yes — AI can do that at scale.
❝ Retention isn’t a tactic. It’s your best margin. ❞
🧠 Jonathan Turpin (AIM, UK): from Copilot to Full Replacement
Jonathan Turpin, CEO of AIM, came over from the UK with a clear message: the way we run dealerships is about to change — structurally and irreversibly.
- The cost per unit sold must drop
- Operations must be redesigned
- Digital tools must go deeper
- AI is moving from Copilot to Full Replacement in many areas
He explained the shift in clear terms:
Tasks that will remain human:
- Test drives
- Trade-in inspections
- Vehicle preparation
- Servicing and repairs
- Complaints handling
- In-person soft selling
Everything else?
- Lead handling
- Finance workflows
- Inventory management
- Customer query support
→ These are all moving to AI.
❝ This isn’t digital transformation. It’s operational re-engineering. ❞
⚡ Ajay Bhatia (CEO, Mobile.de): AI is not optional — it’s urgent
Ajay Bhatia took the main stage with data that spoke volumes:
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The average dealer response time is 2.5x slower than what customers expect
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The first dealer to respond wins 75% of the time
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EV listings with battery health certificates get 20% more clicks
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EV shoppers spend 2.5x more time researching, due to uncertainty
His point:
❝ Why should customers wait hours for a basic answer — when AI can respond instantly, 24/7, with full accuracy? ❞
This isn’t just about operational efficiency. It’s about meeting the customer in their moment of intent — and never missing that window again.
❝ AI is not a tool. It’s your first responder. ❞
He also addressed how customer search is changing:
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From filters and dropdowns…
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To lifestyle-based, conversational search — something Novaco already enables via AI Car Search
And perhaps most importantly, he urged every dealer in the room to find a local AI provider who understands the automotive space and can help act fast.
❝ Don’t wait. Find someone local who can help you embrace AI today. ❞
(We’re happy to raise our hand for that role.)
🇨🇳 China: Not the future, but the present
Perhaps the most thought-provoking session came from John Lin, a Dutch-born Chinese entrepreneur with family roots in mainland China. His reflection was both personal and confronting.
❝ Every time I come back to the Netherlands from China, it feels like returning to a museum. ❞
He explained:
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In China, his grandmother pays for everything with her smartphone
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Shanghai’s air is now as clean as in the Netherlands — thanks to mass EV adoption
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Plates are issued to people, not cars. Want a plate for an ICE vehicle? 10-year wait. For an EV? Instant.
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EVs are not even called EVs. They’re New Energy Cars. ICE = Old Energy.
He described how Chinese brands skip steps entirely — no hybrids, no facelifts every 5 years. Just total reinvention, continuously.
❝ Leapfrogging isn’t the exception. It’s the default. ❞
The most powerful example?
Xiaomi, known for smartphones, launched an EV.
Result: 90,000 units sold within one hour. No test drives. No showrooms.
Great product video’s — and complete trust in the brand.
🧭 Our 4 key takeaways
Let’s summarise what we walked away with:
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Leapfrog or lose.
Stop iterating. Jump forward. -
Only China’s winners reach Europe.
Behind every brand here are hundreds that failed. -
They still want our help.
Chinese OEMs are hiring European design, tech, and operations talent. -
AI should shrink your margin gap.
Focus AI on the space between gross and net — that’s where it pays off.
How Novaco fits into this picture
At Novaco, everything we do is built for this new reality.
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AutoChat handles website visitors 24/7 with zero human touch
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Nova Companion gives your team an AI colleague that helps, writes, and acts
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Nova Messaging responds to WhatsApp leads in seconds, not hours
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Nova Voice will soon support inbound voice interactions with AI precision
We don’t believe in adding more tools.
We believe in a virtual workforce that never forgets, never sleeps, and never keep your customer waiting.
📩 Want to leap forward together?
We’re already helping dealers across Europe become faster, leaner, and more responsive through the power of AI. Curious how that could look for your group?
We’re just a message away.