Archive for April 2024

Developing talent should be a priority for every dealership, as well as for every manager in the dealership. Pexels/ThisIsEngineering I was talking to an associate of mine who was scheduled to facilitate sales training for a large dealer group. He was frustrated, because on the scheduled day of the training none of the managers that…

Company’s vehicle identification number scanning capability Privacy4Cars Privacy4Cars, a privacy-tech company focused on solving privacy and security issues posed by vehicle data to protect consumers and automotive businesses, said the U.S. Patent Office approved three new patents of the company’s. Two are novel areas of expansion for Privacy4Cars: “Artificial Intelligence Based System and Method for…

The FTC says that if the plaintiffs are granted expedited review of the case, the stay shouldn’t postpone the rule’s enforcement by longer than a few months, if at all. Pexels/Negative Space CARS, the much-reviled FTC vehicle-shopping rule scheduled to take effect July 30, may be on hold for now, but an uncertain outcome makes…

The new rule applies to light vehicles 10,000 pounds in weight or lighter. New U.S. passenger cars and light trucks must have automatic emergency brakes as standard by the fall of 2029 to comply with a new federal rule. The U.S. transportation department enacted the rule as a way to cut highway deaths, including pedestrian…

Pexels/Matt Weissinger Tesla’s sway in California’s car culture may be plateauing, according to the state’s auto dealer group. In its first-quarter report, the California New Car Dealers Association said Tesla registrations fell for the second quarter in a row in the state Tesla used to be headquartered in. The latest decline was about 8% after…

The survey questioned 2,500 owners of various vehicle brands in the U.S., Germany and China. Pexels/Mikhail Milov A recent survey Mercedes commissioned found that 70% of consumers in the U.S., Germany and China can see themselves completing financing, a lease contract, vehicle subscription or a direct purchase on a carmaker’s website without consulting with a…

Investigation find BlueCruise had been engaged before each accident involving a Mach E, both of which happened after dark. Federal regulators are investigating Ford’s Mustang Mach E BlueCruise hands-free system after reports of two fatal crashes in which a Mach E hit stopped vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it determined in its…

Dorfman, Hetland and Robertson discussed their careers for the Agent Summit awards ceremony audience. Bobit Dealer Group at its recent Agent Summit in Las Vegas honored three men as the first inductees to its F&I Hall of Fame. Larry Dorfman, Arden Hetland and David Robertson received the awards in a summit ceremony at the Cosmopolitan…

Corbett says one effective strategy is giving the customer complementary products or services that enhance their initial purchases. Patrick Corbett knows a thing or two about sales. He started his automotive career 12 years ago in that department in Michigan before becoming finance director for a large automotive group at age 26, and is now…

Product designed to help dealers understand historical retail pricing of a vehicle and forecasted values over the 90 days. Predian, a provider of artificial intelligence-driven inventory management solutions, integrated wholesale and retail data into its ValueVision solution. Now dealers can make strategic pricing decisions and maximize profitability with confidence, knowing they have the most accurate…

Please consider nominating a woman you look up to as setting the standard for industry professionals while also serving as a role model for female cohorts. Bobit Dealer Group has extended the nomination period for its 2024 Women in Automotive honoree program, the first of an annual series. CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE A STANDOUT WOMAN…

NHTSA says post-recall accidents and some agency testing prompted concerns, along with Tesla saying that part of the recall remedy requires driver opt-in and allows for the driver to reverse the remedy. Pexels/Craig Adderley Federal automotive safety regulators opened an investigation into a Tesla recall of all models equipped with the Autopilot driver-assistance system to…

The FTC voluntarily stayed enforcement of the rule, which is now both the law of the land and one that is not being enforced. Pexels/Pixabay When I think about the Federal Trade Commission’s CARS Rule in its present state, I am reminded of that classic Louis Jordan song, “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t…

Always focus on the automotive customer’s feelings, Gould says. Pexels/Pixabay Gerry Gould must have known that one point of his Industry Summit talk on “getting back to the basics” would sound almost sacrilegious to a roomful of automotive agents, providers and dealers. But he knows people look to him for reality. “Eventually, it will move…

AAA found speed-related crashes rose on many of the roads in close proximity to interstates with recent speed-limit increases. Pexels/Craig Adderley New research indicates increasing highway speed limits can mean a jump in accidents on nearby roads. AAA examined crash statistics on roads within a one-mile radius before and after speed-limit increases on interstate highways…

The Subaru Forester is the only small SUV to so far receive a good rating in the updated crash test. A newly updated crash test shows many small sports-utility vehicles fail to perform well in what the tester considers some of the most dangerous accidents. The revised front crash-prevention test evaluates accidents that result in…

‘When dealers can clean and take action on their first-party data, it offers limitless marketing opportunities.’ Pexels/veeterzy The conversation around first-party data versus third-party data has been active for the past few years. However, a large percentage of the automotive retail world is still trying to understand why third-party data is less viable, how to…

EV tax credits ‘kinda sound like the Federales launch of the Affordable Care Act.’ IMAGE: Pexels/RDNE Stock Project Cash for Clunkers This program, formally called the Car Allowance Rebate System, or CARS, was introduced in 2009. It was touted as an economic stimulus package during the Great Recession, with a secondary motive to reduce carbon…

Software suite includes a dashboard that offers analysis and reporting across key dealership areas. Benchmark Automotive Data Benchmark Automotive Data, an automotive suite for actionable decision-making across the dealership, launched Benchmark Data Suite, its platform designed to track and manage important data in one location for better decision-making and profitability.  The software suite includes a…

New-vehicle supply is up 46% year-over-year. Pexels/Tom Fisk April’s sales pace, though down both month-over-month and year-over-year, bodes well for overall 2024 new-vehicle sales to be the best since the year before the pandemic struck. Cox Automotive says its earlier annual forecast is on target to best that of 2019 at 15.9 million units, up…

Red Dot competition says the Stinger is ‘luxuriously appointed, supremely comfortable and gracefully designed.’ Kia’s Stinger sports sedan won a prestigious international design award shoulder to shoulder with Ferrari and McLaren. The vehicle was one of three to win the Red Dot Best of the Best honor recently in Mulheim, Germany. After members of an…

2024 G80s and G90s made after last October qualify for the top rating. Two Genesis models received the highest safety rating bestowed by a leading rater. The 2024 G80 and G90 won the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick+ rating. The large luxury models that were built after October qualify for the rating,…

APCO Holdings EasyCare and National Auto Care, APCO Holdings brands, merged into a unified nationwide F&I force under the EasyCare brand. The merger follows the acquisition of National Auto Care in January 2023. With a combined legacy spanning over 40 years, the brands are renowned for their innovative F&I solutions, award-winning products, and ability to…

New chairman of the organization’s board says, ‘The challenges of repairing and servicing across all forms of vehicles have never been greater.’ National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence For more than 50 years, ASE has been a unifying force to improve the quality of repair and service in the transportation industry through testing and certification.…

Company provides comprehensive service in automobile finance, insurance, reinsurance and dealer warranty programs. Pexels/Vlad Deep First US Warranty President and COO Brent Marston announced the nationwide launch of the company providing customized finance-and-insurance programs, administration and training to the automotive industry. The Naples, Fla.-based firm’s program offerings include vehicle service contracts, limited warranties, gap insurance,…

Please consider nominating a woman you look up to as setting the standard for industry professionals while also serving as a role model for female cohorts IMAGE: Pexels Bobit Dealer Group is excited to announce that nominations are open for its 2024 Women in Automotive honoree program, the first of an annual series. CLICK HERE…

Store’s new owner wants to focus sales on trucks. Stellantis A California auto dealership that’s changed hands several times in the past 14 years is back with its original owner. The transaction, brokered by Tim Lamb Group, returned Folsom Lake Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram store to Fifth Wave Automotive Group. Fifth Wave President Carlos Hidalgo…

Hyundai says it plans to mass-produce the car-cooling product in the future. Hyundai says it’s developed a window-tinting film that can cool interior vehicle temperatures by dozens of degrees. The Nano Cooling Film blocks external heat energy and transfers internal radiant heat outside the vehicle, cutting internal temperatures near the driver’s head by about 52…

Why do shortages exist, and how can automakers continue to meet their goals in 2024?

Simply having data isn’t enough. Dealerships need a strategic approach that combines data insights with re-trained communication.

One way dealers can speed up the process is by addressing vehicle-delivery times. Pexels/Erik McIean The primary objective of a dealership is, undoubtedly, to sell vehicles. However, when mismanaged, the endeavor can leave customers with a less-than-favorable impression of the business. Customers’ chief complaints are dealing with multiple people, enduring long waits, and a lack…

The right products and services not only ensure customer satisfaction but also reinforce your dealership’s reputation for quality and reliability. Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio A Big Win for Dealers and Customers In the ever-innovating automotive marketplace, auto dealers face a unique challenge: catering to the growing segment of consumers who purchase older, high-mileage vehicles off their lots.…

ACE says Kamal’s appointment is the first step toward a tactical but wide-ranging expansion of curricula, services and clientele. Automotive Compliance Education (ACE) has named Tariq Kamal vice president of operations in a newly created role that puts him in charge of the training and certification provider’s business, sales and marketing strategies. Executive Director Gil…

Cybertruck prototype before deliveries started last fall. Pexels/Stephen Leonardi Tesla recalled nearly 4,000 of its new Cybertruck due to the potential for the accelerator pedal to dislodge and pose risk of crashing. A recall notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website indicates that the pedal pad could come loose, resulting in the pedal…

Nearly two-thirds of about 2,000 surveyed Germans said health tests to determine driving suitability would be sensible. Pexels/Luke Miller A survey of Germans commissioned by Continental found that the majority believe regular health checks are a good idea to gauge people’s suitability for driving. Nearly two-thirds of about 2,000 surveyed Germans indicate such tests would…

Battery-electric vehicles’ share of sales declined from about 14% to 13% year-over-year as hybrids rose from 24% to 29%. IMAGE: Pexels/Aleksejs Bergmanis New-vehicle sales in Europe fell for the first time this year in March as the electric sales portion declined. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association said this year’s Easter holiday timing adversely affected overall…

IMAGE: Pexels/Vraj Shah Healthy spring new-vehicle sales in the U.S. ate into inventory last month, chopping down days’ supply. Supply rose only marginally from 2.74 million units to 2.77 million but was up 46% year-over-year, Cox Automotive said. Days’ supply ended down seven days month-over-month to 72. That’s still 30% above a year earlier. Models…

Recall affects 2021 to 2024 Bronco Sports, as well as certain Mavericks. IMAGE: Ford Ford is recalling more than 450,000 vehicles over a battery issue that could lead to loss of power while driving. The recall affects 2021 to 2024 Bronco Sports and 2022 to 2023 Mavericks. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety…

Let’s delve deeper into what is accelerating its potential, the challenges slowing its adoption, and real automotive use cases.

There is a lot of work to be done to build the talent infrastructure to support EV manufacturing, which should be done through government, industry and education cooperation.