Even with the looming threat of an autoworkers strike, rising interest rates and a shaky economy that might or might not be on the verge of a recession, car dealers should come out OK the rest of this year.

That’s the reassuring message sent by Cox Automotive senior economist Charlie Chesbrough in “Charlie's Real-Time Quarterly Market Update,” a webinar presented last week by the American International Automobile Dealers Association.

Experts are split on whether there will be a significant economic downturn, but, Chesbrough said ...