A question lingers about Tekion as it pursues market share for its cloud-based dealership management system: What happens next?
Automotive News recently told you how the DMS startup bought two auto dealerships and used them as laboratories for its Automotive Retail Cloud system. The system welds artificial intelligence and big data to streamline the retail sales process and interactions between automakers, retailers and consumers.
After three years, Tekion is putting those dealerships up for sale as the California company focuses on growing the commercial presence of its signature product.
It's not an easy task. As a venture-backed company, Tekion must deal with venture capitalists who eventually want a return on their investment.
Tekion, launched in 2016 by former Tesla Chief Information Officer Jay Vijayan, employs roughly 3,000 people and has raised $451 million in venture capital.
Previously, companies of its size and equivalence in mon…