Catalyst IQ today announced its Tier 3 certification with FordDirect’s AdVantage digital advertising solution.
This certification gives individual Ford and Lincoln dealers direct access to the market intelligence and prescriptive approach Catalyst IQ employs in Ford’s National and Regional marketing initiatives. This approach combines FordDirect’s AdVantage proprietary Ford Motor Company data with Catalyst IQ’s MarketAI® platform, delivering market intelligence and inventory insights. Dealers can now identify opportunities sooner, improve targeting and connect advertising investments to measurable sales results.
The certification also builds on years of experience serving Ford dealers through Adpearance, Fox Dealer, Search Optics and ZeroSum, the four companies united as Catalyst IQ in January 2026.
“Ford and Lincoln mark Catalyst IQ’s 25th OEM program certification,” said Andy Lobred, CEO of Catalyst IQ. “More importantly, earning FordDirect certification means Catalyst IQ now supports marketing across national, regional and dealer tiers. This cohesive approach gives dealers the intelligence and expert guidance to identify opportunities, make faster decisions, and invest advertising dollars where they can move vehicles more profitably.”
Rather than relying on only historical performance or static market assumptions, Catalyst IQ’s Dealer Success Managers use MarketAI®, their proprietary real-time data platform, to identify emerging opportunities and shifts in demand as they occur. Those insights inform where advertising investment should be deployed, which vehicles and audiences should be prioritized and how strategies can be nimble as local and national market dynamics continue to change.
“Catalyst IQ gives Ford and Lincoln dealers another proven way to turn advertising into vehicle sales. Its MarketAI® technology connects real-time market and inventory data to campaigns before a dollar is spent. Paired with AdVantage’s first-party Ford Motor Company data and sales and repair order attribution, dealers can identify the right shoppers with smarter targeting and proof of results,“ said Tracy Fred, FordDirect COO.
Each Ford and Lincoln dealer works with a dedicated Dealer Success Manager and a team of automotive experts who turn MarketAI® insights into recommendations on inventory, pricing, audience targeting, media investment and campaign strategy. Catalyst IQ then activates those recommendations through paid search on Google and Bing, Google Vehicle Ads, Performance Max, paid social on Meta, Amazon advertising, retargeting display and streaming TV advertising (OTT/CTV). VIN-level campaigns adjust as inventory and market conditions change.
Ford and Lincoln dealers can learn more through the FordDirect Dealer Center or schedule a twenty-minute demonstration to see where opportunity exists in their inventory and local market in real time.
About Catalyst IQ
Catalyst IQ is an automotive data and analytics company and full-service marketing agency that delivers data-driven intelligence and high-efficiency advertising solutions for OEMs, regional associations and dealerships. Launched in January 2026, Catalyst IQ unites the strengths of Adpearance, Fox Dealer, Search Optics and ZeroSum.
Catalyst IQ supports more than 1,300 dealerships and serves as a certified digital marketing provider for 25 Tier 3 OEM programs, giving the company a deep footprint across the automotive retail ecosystem.
At the center of Catalyst IQ’s offerings is MarketAI®, the company’s proprietary automotive intelligence engine. MarketAI® monitors nearly 20,000 franchise dealers and 99% of independent dealerships nationwide, delivering real-time visibility into market conditions and shopper behavior. This intelligence powers Catalyst IQ’s marketing and advertising solutions across Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3, helping automotive brands act faster, target smarter and achieve stronger results at lower cost.
Catalyst IQ is part of the Advance Automotive portfolio, owned and operated by Advance Local, a key unit of Advance, a privately held company founded in 1922. Catalyst IQ is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with team members located across the United States. Learn more at CatalystIQ.com.
About FordDirect
FordDirect, headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., connects data, analytics, and technology to provide best-in-class digital marketing solutions exclusively for Ford and Lincoln Dealers. FordDirect is a joint venture between Ford Motor Company and its franchised dealers. Learn more at www.FordDirect.com.
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