Saturn was a loser for years -- but who knew?
Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News Canada
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News China
  • Automobilwoche
AN-LOGO-BLUE
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Account
  • login
  • HOME
  • NEWS
    • Dealers
    • Automakers & Suppliers
    • News by Brand
    • Cars & Concepts
    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • China
    • Shift
    • Mobility Report
    • Special Reports
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • This Week's Issue
    • When the chips are down: Big Tech’s needs put dent in car output
      GHSP
      Mich. supplier showcases technologies to fight distraction, virus
      Bentley rides fresh product to global sales record
      A show we love to hate ... but hate to miss
    • Hyundai Motor Group sets first overseas fuel cell plant in China
      Inside Huawei's push to develop smart roads that talk to driverless cars
      Vehicle production line at GAC-Honda, Honda's joint venture with GAC Motor Co.
      Honda books sales growth in 2020; Nissan slips
      Mercedes-Benz China
      Mercedes, Audi, BMW post record high deliveries for 2020
    • Detroit Aerial Panorama during sunset
      Developing future workers to fuel growth in mobility
      Getting around in Las Vegas often involves long waits for a crowded monorail ride, below, or taking escalators up and down to cross elevated pedestrian walkways along the Strip.
      Las Vegas offers best and worst in transportation challenges
      Where is transportation headed?
      In pandemic environment, RV industry ‘roaring back'
    • Why Waymo boss says ‘self-driving' needs to go
      Revel
      The moped-sharing startup with thousands of EVs and hundreds of collisions
      ELMS_Headquarters_i.jpg
      EV maker Electric Last Mile to move HQ in suburban Detroit
      Uber logo on a car window
      Uber appeals $59M Calif. fine over sexual assault data request
    • Elon Musk interview
      Tesla’s Model Y, on sale since March, is a showcase of EV technologies competitors will benchmark.
      Technologies of Electrification
      Cadillac’s Lyriq EV will be unveiled Aug. 6.
      Future Product Pipeline
      A CALL TO ACTION
    • When the chips are down: Big Tech’s needs put dent in car output
      In 14-brand Stellantis, who will make the cut?
      Why Waymo boss says ‘self-driving' needs to go
      Hot topics at virtual CES: AVs, air taxis and drones
    • Access F&I
    • Fixed Ops Journal
    • Marketing
    • Used Cars
    • Retail Technology
    • Sales
    • Best Practices
    • Dealership Buy/Sell
    • NADA
    • NADA Show
    • Automakers
    • Manufacturing
    • Suppliers
    • Regulations & Safety
    • Executives
    • Talk From The Top
    • Leading Women Network
    • Guide to Economic Development
    • PACE Awards
    • Management Briefing Seminars
    • World Congress
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
      • Mini
      • Rolls-Royce
    • Daimler
      • Mercedes Benz
      • Smart
    • Fiat Chrysler
      • Alfa Romeo
      • Chrysler
      • Dodge
      • Ferrari
      • Fiat
      • Jeep
      • Maserati
      • Ram
    • Ford
      • Lincoln
    • General Motors
      • Buick
      • Cadillac
      • Chevrolet
      • GMC
      • Holden
    • Honda
      • Acura
    • Hyundai
      • Genesis
      • Kia
    • Mazda
    • McLaren
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
      • Infiniti
    • PSA
      • Citroen
      • Opel
      • Peugeot
    • Renault
    • Subaru
    • Suzuki
    • Tata
      • Jaguar
      • Land Rover
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
      • Lexus
    • Volkswagen
      • Audi
      • Bentley
      • Bugatti
      • Lamborghini
      • Porsche
      • Seat
      • Skoda
    • Volvo
    • (Discontinued Brands)
    • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
      • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
      • KIA: 2021 K5
      • LEXUS: 2021 IS
      • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
      • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
    • Auto Shows
      • Detroit Auto Show
      • New York Auto Show
      • Los Angeles Auto Show
      • Chicago Auto Show
      • Geneva Auto Show
      • Paris Auto Show
      • Frankfurt Auto Show
      • Toronto Auto Show
      • Tokyo Auto Show
      • Shanghai Auto Show
      • Beijing Auto Show
    • Future Product Pipeline
    • Photo Galleries
    • Car Cutaways
    • Design
  • OPINION
    • Blogs
    • Cartoons
    • Keith Crain
    • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
    • Columnists
    • China Commentary
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send us a Letter
    • Nikon turns lens on auto factory, build quality
      Bosch_information_domain_computer web.jpg
      Bosch, Continental battle to supply the brain of the connected car
      A victory lap for Detroit car design
      Stellantis_logo_blue_background web.jpg
      In 'merger of equals,' PSA is buying FCA, Stellantis prospectus says
    • view gallery
      1 photos
      The Bridge
      view gallery
      12 photos
      Leo Michael's best of 2020
      view gallery
      1 photos
      UAW Deal
      view gallery
      1 photos
      Exit Voluntarily
    • Shifting gears away from the stick shift
      SEMA still a wonderful circus
      Penske still has plenty of races to win
      Ford's turn in the hot seat
    • January 12, 2021 | Automotive industry shined in 2020
      December 8, 2020 | In a year that lacked luster, All-Stars showed how to shine
      November 24, 2020 | Female talent in automotive is expanding
      November 17, 2020 | Automakers are getting creative with vehicle reveals
    • Dave Versical
      Female CMO is new norm
      Daron Gifford
      Biden era holds big promise for future of electric vehicles
      A show we love to hate ... but hate to miss
      Magna car output web.jpg
      Who will build the Apple car?
    • Is sales recovery nearing an end?
      Beijing's uphill battle to boost EV sales
      Nasdaq-like Star Board poised to become key finance platform
      Virus outbreak upends ranks of EV startups
    • Ford's ‘Finish Strong' ad sets right tone for '21
      UAW settlement brings justice, voting rights
      Dealers should be treated as partners in EVs
      Bergstrom Chevrolet-Buick-GMC-Cadillac of Oshkosh donates a new truck to Habitat for Humanity.
      Commitment to safety begets lasting loyalty
    • Is banning ICEs in our best interests?
      GM should share EV risk with dealers
      From Toyota store to hydrogen highway
      Ready to buy Mirai, but where to fuel?
  • DATA CENTER
  • VIDEO
    • AutoNews Now
    • First Shift
    • Special Video Reports
    • Weekend Drive
    • AutoNews Now: Stellantis may reconsider Peugeot's U.S. return
      AutoNews Now: Toyota to pay $180M in U.S. emissions settlement
      AutoNews Now: NTSB to automakers: Improve EV emergency response guides
      AutoNews Now: Cadillac's electric Celestiq teased at CES
    • First Shift: GM said to be considering electric Corvette crossover
      First Shift: Subaru to slow output due to microchip shortage
      First Shift: Trump administration delays increased fuel-efficiency fines
      First Shift: Ford, NADA rethink political donations in wake of Capitol siege
    • N.J. dealer helps position peers for ‘electric revolution’
      DCH Millburn Audi
      'Finding the diamond in the rough': How 2020's No. 1 dealership retains talent
      Don Johnson Motors
      'Distinctive culture' cuts turnover, carves career paths at Wis. dealership group
      Why 2020 could be a record year for buy-sells
    • Why the pickup is the auto industry's 'battleground'
      Carlos Ghosn's quest to restore his reputation
      Why Ford must execute to avoid 'deep trouble'
      Why Honda is 'locked and loaded' for 2020
  • EVENTS & AWARDS
    • Events
    • Awards
    • Congress Conversations
    • Retail Forum: NADA
    • Canada Congress
    • Europe Congress Conversations
    • Leading Women Conference
    • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
    • ANE Shift
    • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
    • Shift: The Future of Mobility (CES)
    • 100 Leading Women
    • 40 Under 40 Retail
    • All-Stars
    • Best Dealerships To Work For
    • PACE Program
    • Rising Stars
    • Europe Rising Stars
  • JOBS
  • AN Solutions
  • +MORE
    • Leading Women Network
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • In the Driver's Seat
    • Publishing Partners
    • Classifieds
    • Companies on the Move
    • People on the Move
    • Newsletters
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • RSS Feeds
    • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
    • Special Reports Podcasts
    • Daily Drive Podcasts
    • AAM
    • Gentex
    • Reputation.com
    • Ricardo
    • Ricardo
    • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
    • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
    • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
    • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
    • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
    • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
    • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
    • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
    • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
    • IHS Markit: Autonomous vehicles: Automotive and transportation disruption
    • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
    • IHS Markit: The battery electric vehicle (BEV)
    • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
    • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
    • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
    • Ally: Do It Right
    • DealerSocket
    • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
    • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
    • Guide To Economic Development
    • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Legal File
June 08, 2015 01:00 AM

Saturn was a loser for years -- but who knew?

Auditor led dealers astray, lawsuit says

Lindsay Chappell
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Bob Goodman says he based his decision to invest in three Saturn stores on a report from Deloitte.
    Saturn showdown
    Timeline for former Saturn dealer Bob Goodman's lawsuit March 2005: Deloitte, as auditor, gives an unqualified opinion on Saturn's annual franchise offering circular, creating the impression that Saturn is financially solid, Goodman alleges. March 2008: Goodman opens a Saturn store in Cape Coral, Fla., part of a larger investment in 3 dealerships. February 2009: GM reveals plans to divest itself of Saturn. The brand together with Saab and Hummer contributed an average of $1.1 billion in annual losses from 2003 to 2007, GM says. March 2010: Goodman files suit against Deloitte seeking $13.8 million in compensation for his post-2005 Saturn investments. June 2015: Possible court date for the case.

    Goodman: Seeks $13.8 million

    Jeff Morganrothattorney

    "Our case isn't with GM, or even with Saturn. It's with the people who did the auditing and turned a blind eye to problems."

    Saturn dealers rarely complained about General Motors' now-defunct franchise back in the day, and Bob Goodman, for one, never complained at all.

    But six years after the demise of the quirky car venture, billed as "a different kind of company," Goodman is the last man fighting.

    The former Florida "retail partner," as Saturn dealers were called, is suing for the $13.8 million he says he lost by investing in three southwest Florida dealerships in Saturn's final years of operations.

    But it is a different kind of lawsuit.

    His strategy? Rather than blaming GM for his losses, he is suing GM's outside auditing firm, Deloitte & Touche.

    Dealers have had mixed results seeking compensation from losses caused by GM's 2009 reorganization, mostly due to the protective ground rules of the government-managed bankruptcy. Saturn dealers' legal options were clipped further by a last-minute waiver many of them were offered and signed in hopes of saving the brand that year -- a pledge not to sue GM in exchange for inclusion in a reborn Saturn franchise that was proposed under the ownership of industry mogul Roger Penske. 

    But Goodman's lawsuit has made it to the verge of an actual court date, possibly as early as this month. Late last year, the court agreed to let him seek additional punitive damages on top of any compensation he receives for damages if successful in his lawsuit. 

    Goodman's five-year-old case in the 20th Judicial Circuit Court for Lee County, Fla., alleges that Deloitte, GM's longtime independent auditor, gave Saturn dealers an inaccurate picture of the subsidiary's financial health. 

    The nub of his complaint is that the accountants should have been aware that Saturn, as a wholly owned GM subsidiary, was a perpetual money-losing venture -- a revelation laid bare in late 2008 as GM faced up to its larger financial problems.

    Investing in Saturn

    Goodman's complaint specifically alleges that Deloitte failed to alert dealers of that reality through its independent auditors' report in Saturn's March 31, 2005, franchise offering circular -- the financial report distributed to prospective dealers and investors on which Goodman based his decision to spend millions more on his Saturn stores between 2006 and 2008, the lawsuit claims.

    "Our case isn't with GM, or even with Saturn," says Jeff Morganroth, the Detroit attorney representing Goodman's case who now speaks on Goodman's behalf. "It's with the people who did the auditing and turned a blind eye to problems. Mr. Goodman relied on them when he was making his decisions about whether to invest.

    "Had he known the extent of Saturn's losses, he wouldn't have sunk all that money into it."

    The suit alleges that Deloitte's independent auditors' report of Saturn certified that "the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company," when Saturn was actually a financial drain on GM. Deloitte was auditor for GM and Saturn.

    In the 2009-2014 Restructuring Plan that GM presented to the U.S. Department of Treasury in December 2008 as it sought a federal bailout, GM revealed that Saturn and two smaller brands, Hummer and Saab, had contributed a $1.1 billion annual loss to GM, before interest and tax, from 2003 to 2007.

    Deloitte spokesman Jonathan Gandal wrote in an email to Automotive News, "These claims are simply untrue and we are confident we will prevail based on the facts presented at trial."

    A former Saturn dealer in another state, who also suffered financial losses when Saturn failed, commended Goodman on his legal approach.

    "I don't know him, but kudos to him for finding a way to take this to court," said the former dealer, who asked not to be named. "We didn't have a lot of options."

    Bob Goodman and daughter Sarah make handprints at Goodman's new Saturn store in 2008.

    Blindsided dealers

    The case is a reminder of how blindsided many auto retailers were by the 2008-09 financial collapse of GM and Chrysler. Approximately 1,600 dealerships closed as a result of those bankruptcies.

    But the Goodman case also offers a glimpse of what happened inside Saturn, the brand designed to bring the automaker and its retailers into close working harmony.

    More than 400 Saturn stores were operating in 2008 as the economy crashed. The brand launched in fall 1990 as an industry disrupter, offering a no-pressure, "one-price" sales environment that made customer satisfaction as important as sales results. Retailers had helped create the national franchise system. Dealer-factory communications were touted as being open and transparent. Dealers hung signs in their stores assuring customers of the same in communications with them.

    Goodman, whose attorney provided details of his personal story, came late to the franchise. A Toledo, Ohio, native, now 53, he had decided by age 6 that he wanted to be a car dealer. He began canvassing the Detroit 3 at age 22 to find out how to get a dealership and was allowed to participate in a dealer training program at an Oldsmobile store in Ann Arbor, Mich., which he eventually bought. He held Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Saab and Isuzu franchises.

    But in the 1990s, the grittier ways of old-fashioned car selling -- high-pressure sales and abrasive factory-dealer relations -- were beginning to wear on him. When he witnessed Saturn's launch and heard about its more customer-friendly approach, he wanted in.

    Signs of trouble

    He sold his Michigan retail operation to acquire two existing Saturn stores in Fort Myers and Naples, Fla., in 2002. Within three years, Saturn management asked him to expand, moving his Fort Myers store to a new site and constructing a third store in Cape Coral, Fla.

    Goodman was bullish on the brand even though, by that time -- 15 years after Saturn's inauguration -- there had long been signs of trouble.

    Saturn's national sales volumes had peaked in 1994 at 286,003. Its original concept of selling small cars to win back market share from Asian imports had run into surging American demand for large cars, pickups and big SUVs -- none of which Saturn offered. Saturn had flopped at its vow to export cars to Japan. Its small cars were growing stale, and its foray into the midsize segment with the L-series sedan had failed. Some of its original gung-ho retailers had sold their stores. Others were convinced that, given a new wave of relevant products, Saturn would become revitalized.

    Skeptics had made much about the enormous investments that GM had poured into Saturn over the previous decade. But there were also corporate assurances that the brand would continue on. New products were rolling out, such as the stylish Sky convertible roadster. Given an infusion of new product, company executives doggedly believed, Saturn would be profitable.

    Saturn was structured as a wholly owned subsidiary of GM, much like a privately held company, and did not reveal its earnings or losses.

    The suit claims that the circular's financial information focused on a legal entity within Saturn known as "Saturn Distribution Corp.," which existed only on paper, without employees or business infrastructure.

    The distribution entity was created to act as franchiser for Saturn Corp. And although it recorded some income from financial activity, it did not reflect the true condition of Saturn Corp., Goodman alleges.

    In his statement to Automotive News, Deloitte spokesman Gandal wrote, "We are committed to conducting audits of the highest quality and stand fully behind our audit of Saturn Distribution Corporation's 2004 financial statements, which clearly disclosed the relationship between SDC and Saturn."

    According to depositions in the Goodman case, even Saturn's senior executives were not privy to its profits or losses.

    Jill Lajdziak was involved with the brand throughout its existence. In 1999, she was named Saturn's vice president, and in 2004, her title was changed to general manager. In the course of a lengthy deposition in the Goodman case two years ago, Lajdziak insisted that she never knew whether Saturn made or lost money. While she was responsible for knowing the profitability of Saturn's individual vehicles, she said in the deposition, she did not know how the company was faring as a whole.

    According to a transcript of the deposition, Lajdziak repeatedly said she could not remember if all, or any, of the Saturn vehicle lines had ever made or lost money.

    Similarly, Edward Toporzycki, Saturn's CFO from 1997 to 2002 and now GM's executive director of finance, said in a deposition that he did not know the financial condition of Saturn as a whole while involved with the subsidiary.

    "Do you know if Saturn Corporation was solvent during the time period you served as a CFO/vice president of Finance for it?" Morganroth asked Toporzycki, according to a transcript of the deposition.

    "No. No. No, I can't say," Toporzycki answered.

    "You don't know one way or the other?"

    "No," he repeated.

    "Did you ever have any communications with anyone while you were serving as CFO/vice president of Finance [at] Saturn Corporation as to the solvency or insolvency of Saturn Corporation?" Morganroth asked.

    "Not that I recall," Toporzycki said.

    Focus on Deloitte

    The suit does not fault Saturn management for being in the dark on the brand's true financial condition. Morganroth claims that management's lack of information bolsters Goodman's claim that it was up to the auditors to know and to alert potential investors.

    Instead, Deloitte's unqualified opinion on the 2005 franchise offering circular created "the false impression that Saturn was consistently profitable year in and year out, in order to convince prospective Saturn franchisees" to invest, the suit alleges.

    An unqualified opinion means that the independent auditor believes a company's financial statements are free from misstatements, are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and laws and are not concealing or overlooking important information.

    Goodman never got over the loss of his stores, Morganroth says. Many Saturn dealers were able to shift directions after the crash, acquiring different brands for their stores or launching used-car dealerships in their place. Goodman was not.

    He is now enrolled in law school. A thriving Kia dealership occupies the Cape Coral store he constructed and opened in 2008 on the verge of Saturn's collapse.

    Beneath the carpet in one of the dealership's back rooms, the current owners might someday discover two sets of handprints in the concrete floor. Before the store's completion in March 2008, Goodman and his daughter made their handprints in the wet concrete floor. It was intended to be a commitment in stone to his daughter that -- many years into the future -- the Saturn dealership would be hers to operate, too.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    ‘Serious' reforms, dialogue spare UAW from government takeover
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

     

     

    Send us a letter

    Have an opinion about this story? Click here to submit a Letter to the Editor, and we may publish it in print.

    Recommended for You
    ‘Serious' reforms, dialogue spare UAW from government takeover
    ‘Serious' reforms, dialogue spare UAW from government takeover
    Key Nissan witness in Kelly trial admits trying to conceal Ghosn compensation
    Key Nissan witness in Kelly trial admits trying to conceal Ghosn compensation
    Kelly, Nissan and Japan itself go on trial
    Kelly, Nissan and Japan itself go on trial
    Sponsored Content: VIDEO: Ricardo CEO shares macro perspectives on EV strategy and trends for 2021 and beyond
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    See more newsletter options at autonews.com/newsletters.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Digital Edition
    Automotive News 1-11-2021
    THIS WEEK'S EDITION
    See our archive
    Fixed Ops Journal
    Fixed Ops Journal 12-14-20
    Read the issue
    See our archive
    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up and get the best of Automotive News delivered straight to your email inbox, free of charge. Choose your news – we will deliver.

    Subscribe Today

    Get 24/7 access to in-depth, authoritative coverage of the auto industry from a global team of reporters and editors covering the news that’s vital to your business.

    Subscribe Now
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter

    Our mission

    The Automotive News mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in North America.

    AN-LOGO-BLUE
    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit, Michigan
    48207-2997

    (877) 812-1584

    Email us

    Automotive News
    ISSN 0005-1551 (print)
    ISSN 1557-7686 (online)

    Fixed Ops Journal
    ISSN 2576-1064 (print)
    ISSN 2576-1072 (online)

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Media Kit
    • Subscribe
    • Manage your account
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Automotive News
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • NEWS
      • Dealers
        • Access F&I
        • Fixed Ops Journal
        • Marketing
        • Used Cars
        • Retail Technology
        • Sales
        • Best Practices
        • Dealership Buy/Sell
        • NADA
        • NADA Show
      • Automakers & Suppliers
        • Automakers
        • Manufacturing
        • Suppliers
        • Regulations & Safety
        • Executives
        • Talk From The Top
        • Leading Women Network
        • Guide to Economic Development
        • PACE Awards
        • Management Briefing Seminars
        • World Congress
      • News by Brand
        • Aston Martin
        • BMW
          • Mini
          • Rolls-Royce
        • Daimler
          • Mercedes Benz
          • Smart
        • Fiat Chrysler
          • Alfa Romeo
          • Chrysler
          • Dodge
          • Ferrari
          • Fiat
          • Jeep
          • Maserati
          • Ram
        • Ford
          • Lincoln
        • General Motors
          • Buick
          • Cadillac
          • Chevrolet
          • GMC
          • Holden
        • Honda
          • Acura
        • Hyundai
          • Genesis
          • Kia
        • Mazda
        • McLaren
        • Mitsubishi
        • Nissan
          • Infiniti
        • PSA
          • Citroen
          • Opel
          • Peugeot
        • Renault
        • Subaru
        • Suzuki
        • Tata
          • Jaguar
          • Land Rover
        • Tesla
        • Toyota
          • Lexus
        • Volkswagen
          • Audi
          • Bentley
          • Bugatti
          • Lamborghini
          • Porsche
          • Seat
          • Skoda
        • Volvo
        • (Discontinued Brands)
      • Cars & Concepts
        • Virtual reveals (Sponsored)
          • GENESIS: 2021 GV80
          • KIA: 2021 K5
          • LEXUS: 2021 IS
          • NISSAN: 2021 Rogue
          • TOYOTA: 2021 Venza and 2021 Sienna
        • Auto Shows
          • Detroit Auto Show
          • New York Auto Show
          • Los Angeles Auto Show
          • Chicago Auto Show
          • Geneva Auto Show
          • Paris Auto Show
          • Frankfurt Auto Show
          • Toronto Auto Show
          • Tokyo Auto Show
          • Shanghai Auto Show
          • Beijing Auto Show
        • Future Product Pipeline
        • Photo Galleries
        • Car Cutaways
        • Design
      • Coronavirus Coverage
      • China
      • Shift
      • Mobility Report
      • Special Reports
      • Digital Edition Archive
      • This Week's Issue
    • OPINION
      • Blogs
      • Cartoons
      • Keith Crain
      • Automotive Views with Jason Stein
      • Columnists
      • China Commentary
      • Editorials
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Send us a Letter
    • DATA CENTER
    • VIDEO
      • AutoNews Now
      • First Shift
      • Special Video Reports
      • Weekend Drive
    • EVENTS & AWARDS
      • Events
        • Congress Conversations
        • Retail Forum: NADA
        • Canada Congress
        • Europe Congress Conversations
        • Leading Women Conference
        • Fixed Ops Journal Forum
        • ANE Shift
        • Shift: Mobility at a Crossroads
        • Shift: The Future of Mobility (CES)
      • Awards
        • 100 Leading Women
        • 40 Under 40 Retail
        • All-Stars
        • Best Dealerships To Work For
        • PACE Program
        • Rising Stars
        • Europe Rising Stars
    • JOBS
    • AN Solutions
    • +MORE
      • Leading Women Network
      • Podcasts
        • Shift: A Podcast About Mobility
        • Special Reports Podcasts
        • Daily Drive Podcasts
      • Webinars
      • In the Driver's Seat
        • AAM
        • Gentex
        • Reputation.com
        • Ricardo
        • Ricardo
      • Publishing Partners
        • Allstate: Want more from your F&I?
        • Ally: Navigating the future of automotive retailing
        • Amazon Web Services: Any place, any time, any channel
        • Amazon Web Services: The power of the cloud
        • Amazon Web Services: Universal translator: Harnessing sensor data to build better automotive software
        • Epic Games: Transforming the auto industry with digital assets
        • FTI Consulting: Crisis as a catalyst for change
        • Google: 5 trends shaping the auto industry's approach to a new normal
        • IHS Markit: Automotive loyalty in the wake of the COVID-19 recession
        • IHS Markit: Autonomous vehicles: Automotive and transportation disruption
        • IHS Markit: COVID-19: The future mobility delusion
        • IHS Markit: The battery electric vehicle (BEV)
        • Level5: 2020 Automotive E-Commerce Report
        • Naked Lime: Bring social reputation together as part of big-picture marketing
        • Wells Fargo Auto: Switching gears from LIBOR to SOFR
        • Ally: Do It Right
        • DealerSocket
        • Deloitte: Cyber everywhere: Preparing for automotive safety in the face of cyber threats
        • Facebook: The road to a zero-friction future
        • Guide To Economic Development
        • PayPal Credit: How consumer financing helps drive sales for online auto parts retailers
      • Classifieds
      • Companies on the Move
      • People on the Move
      • Newsletters
      • Contact Us
      • Media Kit
      • RSS Feeds