NADA Convention
The giddy sales forecast: Full speed ahead!
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
All that giddy optimism in the air at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention was remarkable and appeared genuine. That's because, one by one, automakers have followed up their bold talk with big sales projections for 2013.... Read More » Comments [0] | Recommendations [0]
Cheap, easy credit gives lift to leases
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Encouraged by cheap and easily available credit, several mass market brands will get more aggressive with leasing this year to boost sales and customer loyalty.... Read More »| Related topics: | NADA | NADA Make Meetings | Dealer Issues | Best Practices | Used Cars | Dealer Speaks | Fixed Operations | U.S. Monthly Sales | New Product | Dealer Groups and Dealerships |
NADA CONVENTION
Dealers brace for health care sticker shock
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Two years of hoping the national health care law would go away have left many auto dealers unprepared for changes that take effect Jan. 1. Dealers have 10 months left to re-evaluate and restructure their employee health care benefits under the Affordable Care Act.... Read More »KEITH CRAIN
Orlando was the place to be
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
During the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Orlando this month, there was buzzing. Last year was a good one. Everyone was upbeat and looking forward, with some caution, to the rest of the year. It was a pleasant change from the past few years Keith Crain is editor-in-chief of Automotive News.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- MITSUBISHI
Mitsubishi tells dealers it's staying in U.S.
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Mitsubishi Motors North America executives told a standing-room-only make meeting that the Japanese brand is committed to the United States and will double its marketing budget this year.... Read More »NADA CONVENTION
Telematics challenge: Capable but simple
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Telematics systems run the risk of becoming too complicated and distracting, yet they also can become outdated well before the vehicle's life is complete. So said a panel at the J.D. Power International Automotive Roundtable.... Read More »Getting Busy at NADA
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
The NADA convention in Orlando was a round-the-clock combination of serious business, relationship building and relaxing with peers and colleagues. Here are some scenes from the show.... Read More »NADA CONVENTION
NADA's agenda: Cut red tape, watch Washington
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
he new chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association will keep a close eye on how new health care and lending laws are implemented and also wants NADA to find ways to cut red tape affecting dealerships, he said during his inaugural speech.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- BUICK-GMC
Buick, GMC seek 10% sales gains
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Buick wants to continue driving its lease penetration higher with a zero-down-payment promotion this month, General Motors executives told dealers at the Buick-GMC make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- AUDI
Audi to pump up U.S. supply of Q5s
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Audi of America's supply of Q5 crossovers will grow by about 8,000 in 2013, Audi executives told dealers during their make meeting. The move should ease shortages that frustrated dealers and customers last year.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- KIA
The key word at Kia meeting was 'more'
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Kia told a full house of dealers that more models, more advertising and more sales and service business are headed their way in the coming years.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- MINI
Mini boosts marketing budget 30%
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
The 60 or so dealers at the first Mini make meeting held at a National Automobile Dealers Association convention were told to expect a bigger marketing budget this year and a redesigned Cooper hardtop next year.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- ACURA
Acura: RDX, ILX to fuel 19% gain in retail sales
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Acura plans a 19 percent increase in new-vehicle retail sales in 2013, dealers were told at the make meeting. The brand is counting on its RDX crossover and ILX entry-level sedan to drive sales this year.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- CADILLAC
Cadillac expects fresh lineup to lift retail sales 35%
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Cadillac is targeting a retail sales jump of about 35 percent this year and plans a fall rollout of the next-generation CTS sedan, General Motors executives told dealers at the make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- MAZDA
Mazda6, CX-5 to boost Mazda sales, loyalty
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Mazda has struggled with customer loyalty for years, but the launch of the redesigned Mazda6 and a full year of CX-5 sales should reverse the trend, executives and dealers said at the make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- VOLKSWAGEN
VW: Sizzling sales pace to cool
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Volkswagen brand expects to increase U.S. sales 11 percent in 2013, executives told dealers at the make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- VOLVO
Volvo revamps margin and bonus structure
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Volvo is putting a new margin and bonus structure into effect with the launch of 2014 models. The new structure contains variable elements tied to sales performance, customer satisfaction and updated facilities.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- LINCOLN
The upside of MKZ delay: Quality counts
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Lincoln dealers say they're impressed by the brand's efforts to get the 2013 MKZ's quality right, even though many still have not received the redesigned sedan.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- SUBARU
Subaru: Sales could hit 400,000 in 2013
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Subaru of America targets 365,000 sales this year, but the total could go as high as 400,000, said COO Tom Doll.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- NISSAN
Sales are up; Nissan keeps game plan
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
After setting a brand sales record in 2012 and two years of record dealer profitability, Nissan urged retailers at its make meeting to stay focused on the strategy of the past three years.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- PORSCHE
Porsche: More cars, happy dealers
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Porsche executives aim at least to match last year's 21 percent sales growth on the strength of updated products launching in 2013, they told dealers at the make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- JAGUAR
Jaguar: F-Type, awd will boost sales
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Jaguar sales will rise this year with the addition of four- and six-cylinder engines, all-wheel drive and the new F-Type roadster, dealers and executives said after the make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- INFINITI
Infiniti to ease tight supplies of QX56, FX
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Johan de Nysschen, the executive who left Audi in June to run Infiniti worldwide, couldn't attend the Infiniti make meeting. So he recorded a 10-minute video to tell U.S. dealers that Infiniti has a stream of new products coming through 2020, and that parent company Nissan Motor Co. solidly supports the plan.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- HYUNDAI
Hyundai will roll out owner loyalty programs
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Despite tight inventories, Hyundai hopes a third shift of Elantra production added in September at its plant in Montgomery, Ala., will boost total U.S. sales in 2013 to 730,000, which would be a 4 percent increase over 2012.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- TOYOTA
Hot January torpedoes Toyota's sales forecast
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Toyota is recalculating its projected U.S. sales gain for 2013 after getting off to a fast start for the year.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- HONDA
Honda steps away from stair-steps
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
After a year in which the outgoing Accord and the Civic were subject to stair-step incentives, Honda executives told dealers they expect to avoid the controversial tactic in 2013. But never say never.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- FORD
Ford dangles $750,000 carrot for facilities
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Ford brand will offer as much as $750,000 in dollar-for-dollar matching funds to dealers who refurbish their facilities in line with the Ford Trustmark design program, the brand told dealers at its make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- LAND ROVER
Factory chases more 2013 Range Rovers for dealers
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
The redesigned Range Rover will be in short supply for most of 2013 because of high worldwide demand, especially in China, Land Rover dealers were told at the make meeting.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- MERCEDES-BENZ
Communication with dealers is top priority at Mercedes
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
The Mercedes-Benz Dealer Board is taking steps to improve its communications with the dealer body. The 13-member board will schedule quarterly conference calls in each region with a regional representative so dealers can receive updates on programs, sales and other information.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- CHRYSLER GROUP
Chrysler to dealers: Keep focus on sales
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
Chrysler Group executives promised Fiat dealers a spring preview of new products planned for their showrooms and heard Jeep retailers plead for more Wranglers and Grand Cherokees.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- CHEVROLET
Chevy expects 7% sales gain with new lineup
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
General Motors executives told Chevrolet dealers at the make meeting that they expect the brand's sales to increase 7 percent this year as Chevy rolls out 13 new or refreshed models, dealers said.... Read More »MAKE MEETINGS -- BMW
BMW is making plans for dealership renovations
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
BMW will disclose details of a new dealership improvement program in the second quarter. The program, called "Future Retail," will include exterior and interior renovations.... Read More »NADA CONVENTION
Underriner: Ease rules on stores
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
With little payback proved, automakers should back off demands on dealers for massive investment in facility image programs, outgoing NADA Chairman Bill Underriner told dealers.... Read More »NADA CONVENTION
Report: Rising sales of rentals to restock used-vehicle supply
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 18, 2013
New-vehicle sales to rental car companies in 2012 rose 11 percent to 1.55 million units, which will help increase the number of vehicles returning to the used-car market in 2013, predicts an annual report on the state of the used-car industry.... Read More »Nissan urges dealers to stay on track amid product blitz
5:19 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 11, 2013
After setting a brand sales record in 2012 and two years of record dealer profitability, Nissan urged retailers at its make meeting to stay focused on the strategy of the past three years. Nissan is midway through a plan to introduce five key model redesigns in 15 months.... Read More »Mitsubishi to double marketing spend this year, return to prime-time network TV
3:39 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 11, 2013
Mitsubishi Motors North America executives told dealers at a standing-room-only make meeting here today that it will double its marketing spend this year and return to prime-time network TV after a long absence.... Read More »Ally sees full U.S. repayment by 2014 on auto business gains
10:11 am U.S. ET | Feb. 11, 2013
Ally Financial, the second-largest remaining investment by the Treasury’s federal bailout fund, will repay the government by 2014 on the strength of its auto-finance business, its CEO said.... Read More »Acura to give each dealer 2 RLX sedans ahead of launch
2:33 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 11, 2013
Acura plans to give each of its 265 dealers two 2014 RLX flagship sedans on Friday, a month before the car goes on sale March 15.... Read More »Hyundai aims to increase owner loyalty
12:53 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 11, 2013
Hyundai Motor America hopes that the third shift added in September at its Alabama plant will help the company boost 2013 sales 4 percent, to 730,000 units.... Read More »AutoTrader acquires incentive-tracker Automotive Information Systems
2:40 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 11, 2013
AutoTrader Group's stable of online classified properties and software companies just got bigger. Dale Pollak, founder of vAuto, a unit of AutoTrader, said AutoTrader has acquired Automotive Information Systems, an Ann Arbor, Mich., tracker of new-vehicle incentives, for an undisclosed price.... Read More »Ford to help refurbish stores
3:28 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Ford brand will offer dollar-for-dollar matching funds up to $750,000 to dealers who refurbish their facilities in line with the Ford Trustmark design program, the company told dealers at its make meeting today during the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.... Read More »Chevy expects 7% gain in U.S. sales from new, refreshed models
7:26 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
With 13 new or refreshed models on tap, Chevrolet is telling dealers to expect a 7 percent gain in U.S. sales this year. That projected sales gain would be in line with the industrywide pace if U.S. sales hit 15.5 million units, the high end of the 2013 sales forecast that GM set at the start of the year, dealers were told Sunday at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.... Read More »Cadillac targets 35% retail sales gain this year
5:40 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Cadillac is targeting a retail sales jump of about 35 percent this year and plans an autumn rollout of the next-generation CTS sedan, General Motors executives told dealers today during their make meeting here at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.... Read More »Chrysler dealers hungry for more Wranglers
3:38 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Chrysler Group dealers used its make meeting during the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here to voice a concern they share with the factory: There aren’t enough Jeep Wranglers and Grand Cherokees to meet demand in the United States.... Read More »
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NADA video
NADA blogs
Westcott to outline dealers' strategy
6:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
David Westcott, the incoming NADA chairman, will speak at the general session Monday afternoon and outline how the group intends to make its voice heard in Washington. Westcott, 66, sells Buick, GMC and Suzuki vehicles in Burlington, N.C.... Read More »Volvo revamps dealer margin, bonus structure
4:57 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Volvo is putting a new margin and bonus structure into effect with the launch of its 2014 models. The new structure has variable elements tied to sales performance, customer satisfaction and updated facilities.... Read More »Kia to dealers: Get ready for more
2:37 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Kia asked dealers at its make meeting during the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here to “take a longer term view” of Kia's growth plans and get ready for bigger volumes.... Read More »For Land Rover dealers, tight supply helps profitability
6:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Land Rover dealers in most of the country are sold out of the new-generation Range Rover SUV through early summer. The 2013 Range Rover went on sale in December, replacing a 10-year-old model.... Read More »On the record
6:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
JOHN MALONEY CEO Volvo Cars of North America and SANDY SCHWARTZ, Manheim president... Read More »Lincoln's 'touch points'
6:16 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Dealer Dan Pfeiffer, left, of Pfeiffer Lincoln in Grand Rapids, Mich., examines what Lincoln calls its "customer touch points" color palette with Michael Harmon, dealership facility services program manager, at the Ford Motor Co. exhibit. "Customer touch points" within the dealership are those points of interaction with customers that help to create the overall branded experience.... Read More »Q&A: Used prices expected to soften this year
3:52 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
As managing editor of Black Book, Ricky Beggs oversees the company's daily monitoring and analysis of national used-vehicle prices, providing dealers, auctions and automakers with the data needed for pricing and residual planning. Beggs spoke with Staff Reporter Lindsay Chappell during the National Automobile Dealers Association convention here.... Read More »Fiat dealers can postpone expansions as Alfa Romeo returns to U.S.
10:33 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Changes in the product cadence for Alfa Romeo’s return to the United States means Fiat dealers may be able to postpone required expansions of their stores for up to two years until more vehicles arrive in 2015, Chrysler Group’s top dealer executive said.... Read More »Question of the day
5:47 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
What department in your dealership is the most difficult to staff adequately: service technicians, F&I personnel, sales personnel, other?... Read More »Q&A: MELINDA ZABRITSKI
Experian's auto finance analysis has surprises
5:47 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Experian Automotive's Melinda Zabritski said that despite conventional wisdom, it's too soon to say auto finance is all the way back, especially in some states that were hit hard when the housing bubble burst. For the fourth quarter of 2012 vs.... Read More »BMW pledges to work toward making its dealers most profitable
6:42 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
BMW of North America will do "everything possible" -- including having enough vehicles in the right mix -- to ensure its dealers are among the most profitable in the United States, CEO Ludwig Willisch pledged at the brand's make meeting. It also means the new facilities program that BMW will introduce in the second quarter won't be a major strain on dealers, he said.... Read More »VW, Audi dealers to use ADP tools to speed customer financing
6:41 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
The captive financing arms of Volkswagen and Audi are using new online tools to enable their dealers to submit financing deal terms electronically and receive instant validation of the contracts.... Read More »Study by eBay finds split in consumers' car research habits
6:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
More than one-third of shoppers ages 18 to 35 -- so-called millennials -- use mobile devices to research vehicles they are interested in buying, vs. 19 percent of consumers in other age groups, a study by eBay Inc. found.... Read More »What a catch!
6:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
David Brahm, right, vice president of marketing at North Haven Resort in Pewaukee, Wis., attempts to reel in Scotty Scott of Scott Jaguar in Charlotte, N.C., on the show floor. North Haven offers trophy fishing excursions as sales incentives as well as its Utik Lake, Manitoba, lodge as a meeting location.... Read More »Buick-GMC looks ahead
5:46 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Lynn Thompson, left, co-owner of Thompson Buick-GMC-Cadillac in Raleigh, N.C., chats with Brian Sweeney, Buick-GMC's vice president of U.S. sales and service, after the Buick-GMC make meeting. Sweeney told dealers the brand will run a zero-down-payment lease promotion Feb. 11-28.... Read More »Volkswagen to bring infotainment system to U.S. this year
2:54 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Volkswagen will begin offering an infotainment system in the United States this year, the company’s U.S. marketing boss said today. The system, named Car-Net, is similar to Ford's Sync and MyFord Touch software, Tim Mahoney, chief marketing officer at Volkswagen of America, told Automotive News here during the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.... Read More »Q&A: JOSEPH AGRESTA JR. -- MERCEDES-BENZ DEALER BOARD
Launches, margins, satisfaction are top Mercedes issues
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Mercedes-Benz USA's renewed focus on the customer experience has boosted dealer training and changed the margin structure, and it could mean more money for stores. Mercedes-Benz wants its dealers to be the best in customer satisfaction and began programs last year.... Read More »Q&A: JIMMY ELLIS -- VOLKSWAGEN NATIONAL DEALER ADVISORY BOARD
VW dealers expect slower, still robust, growth in 2013
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Volkswagen hit a home run in 2012 with the redesigned Passat, the newly American-built sedan that paced the company to 35 percent growth in U.S. sales. In these boom times for the brand, VW dealers are scrambling to hire people, expand their stores and adjust to new bonus and loaner car programs. They are also keeping an eye on the brand's plans for expanding its dealer network.... Read More »Q&A: DON HOBDEN -- KIA NATIONAL DEALER COUNCIL
Kia dealer: 'We can sell everything that we can get'
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Despite a quiet year for new-product launches and some limited vehicle availability, Kia set another sales record in 2012. This year, things will be tougher. A more competitive marketplace where bigger brands are spending more on incentives will put pressure on Kia to maintain its sales momentum and market share.... Read More »Q&A: JOHN IACONO -- LEXUS NATIONAL DEALER ADVISORY BOARD
Lineup strong, inventory shortage over for Lexus dealers
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Lexus dealers have seen inventories return to normal levels after more than a year of recovering from the tsunami that ravaged their inventory supplies. But the damage done to Lexus sales meant the brand has not won the top-selling luxury brand title for two years running. Does Lexus want the title back from BMW and Mercedes-Benz? Could it do it, even if it wanted to?... Read More »Q&A: DAMON SHELLY -- BMW NATIONAL DEALER FORUM
BMW dealers assured they won't wait for awd variants
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
The redesigned 3-series sedan, BMW's highest-volume car in the United States, went on sale in February last year. The awd version didn't come until late August. BMW of North America has assured dealers that in the future awd models will be available at the launch of sales of a redesigned or new model, said Damon Shelly, chairman of the BMW National Dealer Forum.... Read More »Q&A: CHIP OTT -- VOLVO RETAIL ADVISORY BOARD
Volvo dealers: We need better marketing, advertising
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
With nearly flat sales and sluggish store traffic in 2012, Volvo dealers are worried. Though freshened XC60 and S60 models are to go on sale in the second half of the year, they alone won't lift Volvo's prospects, dealers say. The brand needs better marketing and an increased advertising spend, says dealer Chip Ott.... Read More »Q&A: MIKE SULLIVAN -- PORSCHE BOARD OF REGENTS
Porsche's plan to increase U.S. sales is on track
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Porsche is forecasting that its U.S. sales will be 50,000 by 2018. That would be up 43 percent from the 35,043 units sold in 2012 and roughly double its 2010 level. The introduction of the 911 and Boxster last year and the promise of more vehicles coming this year are spurring U.S. sales momentum.... Read More »BEST PRACTICES
WHATCHA GOT? Cows, pigs, maple syrup, all work for a trade-in at Vt. dealership
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
There's no Blue Book value for pigs, cows or maple syrup. But Gardner Stone has taken all of those as trade-ins from customers of his Ford and GMC dealership in rural Vermont. He boldly claims the business, G. Stone Motors, "will take anything in trade." He really means it.... Read More »BEST PRACTICES
Okla. dealer gets in tune with customers
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Jonathan Fowler says his musical talents as a bluegrass guitarist didn't get him past open-mic night. But Fowler's passion for music is helping make a name for his family's Volkswagen dealership in Norman, Okla.... Read More »BEST PRACTICES
For Web-savvy buyers, it's all about the videos
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Dealer Shaun Del Grande is tapping the power of YouTube to reach Web-savvy auto shoppers in Silicon Valley. More than 1,000 videos shot and edited in-house are posted on his Del Grande Dealer Group's YouTube pages, with hundreds more on the way. Since the group began posting on YouTube in late 2009, the videos have received more than 926,000 views.... Read More »What's happening on Monday
5:47 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Various workshops, receptions and other events on Monday... Read More »How to sell service plans in the service lane
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
With top managers' support, proper training and a maximum of two levels of coverage to sell, service writers can significantly boost their dealerships' sales of service contracts, F&I trainer Rick McCormick says.... Read More »Dealer uses service clinics to build loyalty
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
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 new and used vehicles. Rountree owns a Ford dealership in Brattleboro, Vt., and a Ford-Lincoln store in Keene, N.H.... Read More »NADA leader won't duck a factory fight
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Dealers praised Peter Welch's selection last week as president of the National Automobile Dealers Association, citing his willingness to stand up to automakers. As head of the California New Car Dealers Association, Welch went toe to toe with Chrysler Group in 2011 over a factory-owned store in Los Angeles.... Read More »After rivals close, dealer adds 18 bays
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Dealer Larry Taylor sees service as his Field of Dreams. "Build it and they will come," says Taylor, 64, owner of Beau Townsend Ford-Lincoln in Vandalia, Ohio, near Dayton. Taylor indeed did build it. He saw opportunity for more service business after four nearby Ford Motor Co. dealerships closed. Last year he added 18 service bays.... Read More »In service business, speed counts
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
Many dealers focus their service departments on big-ticket repairs and warranty work. Brothers Colin and Richard Wickstrom decided to focus on time -- specifically, their customers' time. The dealer principals of Wickstrom Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram in Barrington, Ill., about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, have designed the service areas of their dealership to give the impression of speed.... Read More »Q&A: JIM HASKELL - MITSUBISHI NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD
Tough times at Mitsubishi; Outlander, small car will help
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 10, 2013
For Mitsubishi, 2013 holds promise. A new Outlander crossover arrives this summer, followed by Mitsubishi's still unnamed small car late in the year.... Read More »Dealers face sticker shock on health plans
6:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Auto dealers have 10 months to re-evaluate and change their employee health care benefits under the national Affordable Care Act, and complying with it could leave many of them with sticker shock.... Read More »Old car, new repair prospect
4:02 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Expect consumers to keep their cars longer, requiring more repair work, and expect more dealership groups to follow AutoNation's lead and brand themselves.... Read More »Outgoing NADA chairman urges factories to be flexible on facilities
5:08 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
With little payback proven, automakers should back off demands on dealers for massive investment in facility image programs, outgoing Chairman Bill Underriner told dealers today at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention.... Read More »Passion cools on facilities issue
9:00 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Expansive new dealership buildings still aren't worth the millions of dollars invested in them, but facility renovation programs aren't as dramatic an issue for dealers as they were a year ago. So concludes an NADA study that was released Saturday. The finding on payback is an echo of the first phase of the study, released a year ago.... Read More »Chevy to kick off 'Find New Roads' campaign at Grammys
8:28 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Chevrolet will launch its "Find New Roads" global advertising campaign with two lengthy anthem commercials that will air Sunday during coverage of the Grammy Awards, General Motors' top marketer said.... Read More »VW execs seek ways to shave sales costs
3:22 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Volkswagen of America executives on Sunday plan to discuss with dealers a new plan for achieving an old goal: slashing the per-unit cost of selling cars.... Read More »Honda planner: Civic, Accord hitting stride
10:22 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Vicki Poponi, American Honda assistant vice president of product planning, is seeing the results of her department’s work: a swath of new products hitting dealerships or on the way. She spoke with Staff Reporter Mark Rechtin about what 2013 holds in store.... Read More »New-generation Mini Cooper hardtop to be unveiled next week
2:55 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Mini dealers will get a glimpse of the new-generation Cooper hardtop next week at a worldwide dealer meeting in Helsinki, Finland. The hardtop is scheduled to go on sale in March 2014 and is the first vehicle to be built on a BMW platform that will spawn 10 to 12 compact Mini and BMW front-wheel-drive models.... Read More »NADA economist: 15.4 million in U.S. vehicle sales this year
5:17 pm U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
With the United States economy gaining momentum, NADA chief economist Paul Taylor predicts industry sales will top 15.4 million vehicles this year.... Read More »BEST PRACTICES
Store's fitness focus is a win-win for losers
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Crevier BMW is shedding dead weight. Since starting its Biggest Loser contests seven years ago, the dealership has shed 640 pounds. That's how much weight employees at the Santa Ana, Calif., dealership have lost by participating in the contests.... Read More »BEST PRACTICES
Dealerships' test drives build social media buzz
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
Dan Boismier said interacting with a customer who had complained on Twitter about the Suburban Collection gave the brand exposure to thousands of local consumers who are connected to them on social media. The cost? A few hundred miles and a tank of gasoline.... Read More »BEST PRACTICES
Dealers profit by helping Jeep owners go topless
12:01 am U.S. ET | Feb. 9, 2013
For Jeep Wrangler owners, going topless in the summer -- swapping the Wrangler's hard shell for a canvas soft top -- can be a pain in the neck, back and legs. But Jeep dealers have found that removing the Wrangler hard tops and storing them for customers over the summer is a great way to boost profits, improve customer satisfaction and ensure at least two dealership visits a year.... Read More »
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