Dealership upgrades

Chrysler, 2 rejected dealers head to court

6:13 pm U.S. ET | Oct. 11, 2012
The owners of former New York dealerships Eagle Auto Mall and Terry Morris Chrysler-Jeep will face off against Chrysler Group in court on Dec. 3 in suits stemming from allegedly wrongful franchise terminations.... Read More »

 

GM to resume visits to small dealers after 25-year absence

7:30 pm U.S. ET | Sept. 11, 2012
At many of GM's 1,200 smallest dealerships, a factory rep hasn't walked through the door in 25 years. That's about to change next year, when GM district managers will resume regular visits to stores that have had only call-center contact with the company.... Read More »

 

BEST PRACTICES

Redoing a store? Check the trash, save some cash

12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 27, 2012
When John Lambert learned in 2007 that he would have to double the size of his Claremont, N.H., Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep dealership, the scrounging began. Lambert figures he shaved $80,000, or about 10 percent, off the cost of his $800,000 renovation. At a time when many dealerships were struggling to survive, that resourcefulness helped enable a renovation Chrysler demanded in exchange for approving Lambert's acquisition of Chrysler and Dodge franchises. Lambert's approach isn't for everybody.... Read More »

 

Mini dealers fill vacant stores

12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 20, 2012
Mini, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the United States, is one of the few franchises adding dealerships and seeing lots of existing stores expand voluntarily. And many of its dealers are taking advantage of all the vacant stores on the market -- the result of industry consolidation and the ravages of the recession.... Read More »

 

Lincoln prepares for fight with Lexus

4:19 pm U.S. ET | Aug. 17, 2012
Lincoln brand managers are training their sights on a new competitor as they prepare to reboot the marque with a new MKZ sedan this fall. Lincoln is positioning the mid-sized 2013 MKZ to take a bite out of the Lexus ES, one of the Japanese luxury brand's biggest volume products.... Read More »

 

DAVID BARKHOLZ

For some dealers, it’s time to celebrate and explore digital reforms

12:01 am U.S. ET | Aug. 17, 2012
U.S. auto dealers are enjoying a banner year. Now let’s see if they’ll use this little respite from the recent downturn to upgrade store technology and experiment more with nontraditional forms of marketing, especially digital advertising.... Read More »

 

High-tech Audi showrooms planned for 20 'affluent' sites

12:01 am U.S. ET | July 19, 2012
Audi opened a London showroom featuring giant LED screens that let customers design their own vehicles as part of the carmaker's effort to bring in younger, media-oriented buyers. The Audi City outlet in Piccadilly Circus is the first of a network the company is planning by 2015 for 20 "affluent locations" in Europe, China, Russia and the United States, said Sven Schuwirth, head of brand development.... Read More »

 

Trial to challenge legality of GM facilities program

12:01 am U.S. ET | July 16, 2012
Billionaire megadealer Norman Braman's lawsuit charging General Motors with illegal two-tier pricing is shaping up to go to trial in October 2013. The suit, which has captured the attention of dealers nationwide, could be a test case on the legality of manufacturer facility programs that reward participating dealerships with volume-based incentives.... Read More »

 

Hendrick Automotive changes the names of Kansas City stores

5:09 pm U.S. ET | June 27, 2012
Hendrick Automotive Group is renaming its eight Kansas City-area dealerships over the next 10 months. The dealerships' names will change from “Superior” to “Hendrick,” the company said in a statement Wednesday.... Read More »

 

FINANCE & INSURANCE

Hey, keep it down out there!

12:01 am U.S. ET | June 4, 2012
Curry Honda's Howard Sackaroff says he keeps two bottles of Advil on his desk. The dealership is in the midst of a $4.5 million renovation. And Sackaroff doesn't want business disrupted during construction -- least of all the finance and insurance office, where privacy is critical. Fortunately, Sackaroff planned ahead so he hasn't had to pop any pain relievers yet.... Read More »

 

What influences car buyers the most? Salespeople

4:02 pm U.S. ET | May 31, 2012
The most influential source of information for U.S. car buyers is a salesperson at the dealership. That salesperson trumps all other influencing factors for car shoppers and buyers, according to an annual study conducted by St. Louis-based marketing research firm Maritz Research.... Read More »

 

BEST PRACTICES

Shabby to shining: Toyota stores near HQ get makeovers

12:01 am U.S. ET | May 28, 2012
You'd have thought the two Toyota dealerships nearest to Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. headquarters in Torrance, Calif., would be shining examples of the automaker's power and prestige. But they aren't, or at least they weren't. But both stores are getting major face-lifts this year.... Read More »