Lithia & Driveway has appointed Scott Cooke, former President and CEO of Toyota Financial Services, as Operations President to lead Southeastern and South Central store operations, Driveway Finance Corporation, and Finance & Insurance. Cooke previously oversaw more than US$150 billion in managed assets at Toyota Financial Services. This hire deepens Lithia's leadership bench as captive finance expansion and regional operational performance are central to its long-term growth plans. The appointment is seen as incrementally positive for the short-term focus on Driveway Finance Corporation, but it does not change the key near-term catalyst around improving store-level performance or the core risk that acquisitions remain less accretive than expected. Lithia's Q2 2026 earnings showed revenue of US$9,791.3 million and net income of US$260.0 million, with first-half profit and margins trending lower year over year. Analysts have modeled revenue near US$49.0 billion and about US$1.1 billion in earnings by 2029, and Cooke's arrival could reinforce or challenge that bullish view given how much now hinges on DFC scaling without amplifying acquisition and leverage risks.
Lithia Motors IncAppointment of ex-Toyota finance chief to lead Driveway Finance is seen as incrementally positive for short-term focus on DFC.
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