NADA
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 » Comments [0] | Recommendations [0]
NADA MAKE MEETINGS
Buick: Loaners boost sales
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
General Motors wants Buick-GMC dealers to offer courtesy loaner vehicles and is considering new advertising standards as ways to move the brands up the premium scale, executives told dealers at the make meeting. GM is gunning for about 15 percent sales growth this year for both Buick and GMC, according to several dealers who attended the make meeting.... Read More »NADA MAKE MEETINGS
Ford to help dealers renovate
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
Ford brand unveiled its Facilities of the Future program to dealers at the make meeting. Ford will offer dealers financial help to improve their stores in line with Ford's Trustmark Design standard. Ford was to have sent letters to dealers last week with details.... Read More »NADA MAKE MEETINGS
Toyota refilling dealer stocks
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
After months of inventory shortages triggered by last year's earthquake, Toyota dealers should return to full volumes within a few weeks. Carl Swope, chairman of the Toyota National Dealer Advisory Council, said competitors have "misread" Toyota capacity levels stemming from parts shortages.... Read More »NADA MAKE MEETINGS
Chevrolet targets 13% sales gain
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
General Motors, seeking to gain market share this year, is gunning for a 13 percent U.S. sales increase for Chevrolet. GM expects Chevrolet to increase its market share in 2012, executives told dealers at the make meeting. Last year Chevrolet's U.S. sales rose 14 percent.... Read More »Acura aims for 180,000 sales in '12
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13, 2012
After a year in which their sales were limited by a devastating earthquake in Japan, Acura dealers were told here that production of Acura vehicles is back to normal and the distribution pipeline should be full by March. But Acura has ambitious goals for sales and customer satisfaction in the coming year that will require dealers' involvement.... Read More »Convention
- Sticks and carrots: Why furor over facilities won't go away »
- Nobody has clout like NADA's »
- NADA chief: Fuel rules will shrink market »
- Marchionne thanks dealers, demands more from them »
- Buick: Loaners boost sales »
- Ford to help dealers renovate »
- Toyota refilling dealer stocks »
- Chevrolet targets 13% sales gain »
- Acura aims for 180,000 sales in '12 »
- Mercedes aims for 6% rise in sales »
Make Meetings
- Buick: Loaners boost sales »
- Ford to help dealers renovate »
- Toyota refilling dealer stocks »
- Chevrolet targets 13% sales gain »
- Acura aims for 180,000 sales in '12 »
- Mercedes aims for 6% rise in sales »
- Cadillac sees retail sales rising, less fleet business »
- Kia dealers expect 100,000 more units »
- Mazda will boost marketing 25% »
- Nissan goal for 2012: 1.1 million »
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SalesMore »
Fleet sales power Jan. sales growth
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 13 2012
Most Januarys, fleet is a welcome supplement to weather-battered retail sales. This January, fleet volume turned a fair month into a strong one. For the seven largest auto companies selling vehicles in the United States, fleet volume provided slightly more than half of January's growth. The overall U.S. market rose 11 percent in January.... Read More »
DealersMore »
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 »
Finance & InsuranceMore »
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 »
MarketingMore »
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 »
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 »
Service & PartsMore »
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 »
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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