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Sticks and carrots: Why furor over facilities won't go away

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
Martin NeSmith personifies the boiling point over manufacturer facility programs. NeSmith just built a Chevrolet-Buick-GMC store in Jesup, Ga., spending an extra $500,000 to comply with General Motors' Essential Brand Elements program. But with hefty volume-based payouts for complying and a shrinking dealer margin, he figures he had little choice.... Read More »
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Caught in campaign crossfire

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
Last week an unlikely 81-year-old emerged from the shadows into the glare of political controversy. Clint Eastwood sauntered out of a dark-toned Chrysler Group Super Bowl spot to growl out a tribute to the revival of domestic automakers. The next day the political fireworks began -- a likely harbinger of things to come.... Read More »
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HYUNDAI HALO ZONE?

Company weighs new luxury subbrand for its showrooms

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
Hyundai is looking at selling its rear-wheel-drive premium vehicles such as the Equus, Genesis sedan and Genesis Coupe under a new subbrand called Genesis. Already rejected, though, are expensive new showrooms and rooftops for the brand, says Dave Zuchowski, executive vice president of sales for Hyundai Motor America.... Read More »
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Saab dealers urge GM to pay warranty costs

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
A group of Saab dealers is asking General Motors to cover warranty repairs for 2010 and 2011 models. GM says it will only honor warranties through the 2009 model year, before its own bankruptcy and disposal of Saab.... Read More »
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Nissan nudges its dealers to join regional ad groups

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
To bring more dealers into its new regional dealer advertising associations, Nissan Division will trim the amount of money it is giving nonmembers. For the past year, Nissan has been giving dealers $150 per vehicle sold to use for local advertising, whether or not the retailer participates in the ad groups.... Read More »
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NEWS ANALYSIS: Super or not?

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
Last year automotive advertisers emerged from their recession bunkers and flocked back to the Super Bowl. This year, automakers unleashed another flood of commercials -- and another bold effort from Chrysler stood out. But the abundance of automotive spots has become a challenge in itself to marketers.... Read More »
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2012 GENEVA AUTO SHOW

Cruze wagon may boost Chevy fleet sales in Europe

8:36 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9 2012
Chevrolet will unveil a Cruze station wagon at next month's Geneva auto show. The car may help to boost the brand's fleet sales in Europe where a wagon is a typical company car.... Read More »
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NADA MAKE MEETINGS

Nissan goal for 2012: 1.1 million

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Nissan was the only major Japanese automaker whose U.S. sales were not hurt significantly by the March 11 earthquake. Now it is looking to add to its 2011 momentum with a 16 percent increase to 1.1 million units for the brand this year, executives told dealers at the make meeting. Nissan Division last broke the million-unit mark in 2006.... Read More »
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FINANCE & INSURANCE

Is credit life dead? Not for one F&I chief

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Dealership Finance Director Loe Hornbuckle sells an F&I product that many stores won't touch. And he's getting impressive results. Last year, Hornbuckle and four other F&I officers at Holmes Motors in Shreveport, La., sold 185 credit life and disability polices with total premiums of $134,478.... Read More »
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MarketingMore »

Marchionne: Industry can hit 54.5-mpg goal

9:50 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 4 2012
Chrysler-Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne said Saturday that the auto industry will need to meet proposed 54.5 mpg standards by 2025, and can do so despite NADA's opposition to the proposal.... Read More »
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RemarketingMore »

Manheim report sees positive trends in leasing

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6 2012
In 2011, 20 percent of the 10.6 million new vehicles counted as sold in the United States at retail, excluding sales to fleets, were leased, one percentage point higher than in 2010, says the Manheim 2012 Used Car Market Report. More important than the percentage gain, the report concludes, is that the industry got leasing right last year, at least "for the most part."... Read More »
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FIXED OPERATIONS

Dealer uses service clinics to build loyalty

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 6 2012
Dealer Bob Rountree says that about 70 percent of his new- and used-vehicle buyers at his two Ford Motor Co. stores are repeat customers. Rountree credits much of his success to an epiphany he had 10 years ago: He would offer a service clinic once each quarter to his buyers of both new and used vehicles.... Read More »
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NADA MAKE MEETINGS

Lincoln's product show won't snub small stores

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Lincoln will invite all its dealers to a Lincoln product show in Detroit in November, executives told dealers at the make meeting. That will be in sharp contrast to a meeting last month, to which only the owners of the roughly 325 Lincoln dealerships in the top 130 luxury markets were invited.... Read More »
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Final AssemblyMore »
FINAL ASSEMBLY

Chrysler's illuminati spar over lighting up the Dart's derriere

12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Call it the battle of the backside: There's a big debate within Chrysler about whether a snazzy full-width panel of LEDs should be standard on all Dodge Darts or just high-end models. Production of the compact -- new car, resurrected name -- begins in the second quarter, so it's almost decision time.... Read More »
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