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The new owner of the former McKenna Subaru in Huntington Beach plans to double its parts and service department, hire more than 75 people.McKenna Automotive Group A small Southeast-based automotive group bought a Southern California Subaru dealership with the goal of making it the best-selling U.S. store for the Japanese brand.Sutherlin Automotive Group bought the…
Dealers would better protect themselves from legal minefields by adopting more of a lawyer mindset when considering the various regulations they’re bound to. Pexels/RDNE Stock Project I had the pleasure of addressing a 20 Group recently regarding the current legal culture. The exasperation of the assembled dealers was palpable, as it normally is when dealer…
September 26, 2025 It’s a good idea to ensure deals are set up well by getting involved in the process early, starting with sales meetings, says Trent White with the Automotive Training Academy by Assurant.
Making customers feel special and valued can help dealerships build lasting relationships and stand out in a crowded marketplace. Pixabay/Tumisu Retention and loyalty are essential in the automotive industry today as they never have been. The digital transformation has brought a wave of competition to auto dealerships. It’s now easy for consumers to buy a…
No instrument panel warnings alert drivers that a detachment has or is about to happen. Pexels/Julissa Helmuth Ford recalled more than 115,000 F-series pickups because part of the steering column in the trucks can detach, compromising steering control. The automaker reported that it’s unaware of any crashes or injuries connected to the flaw but has…
Toyota scored the highest mass-market car brand loyalty for the fourth straight year, according to J.D. Power’s research, with a 62% rate. Automotive brand loyalty is taking some hits this year, another market watcher has observed. J.D. Power’s research, based on vehicle sale data from September 2024 through last month, determined an average 49% loyalty…
Before you worry about the clock, focus on eliminating why the clock runs: manual data entry, redundant clicks, and guesswork on product pricing. Pexels/Jeshoots F&I managers across the U.S. have the same desire: “Getting that menu out in under a minute.” It sounds simple—until you’re staring at an uncooperative dealer management system, incomplete deal data,…
Most auto dealer F&I metrics rose in the second quarter, according to StoneEagle data. StoneEagle Finance-and-insurance product sales are helping shore up auto dealership revenues as consumer affordability and trade tariff challenges threaten front-end profits. Though average front-end dealer gross profit in June totaled $695 per vehicle, down 26% since January and 40% from the…
Consistent, intentional effort—not gimmicks—leads to results. Pexels/Bich Tran “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry An alarming trend has emerged in today’s “success culture.” Many people set out with ambitious goals—perhaps to be the best “closer” or to learn the perfect sales script that will influence customers. However, the…
No vehicle registrations, voter registrations or property ownership are among major warning signs of synthetic IDs, while 100% of such files show no open bankruptcies, TransUnion says. Pexels/Markus Winkler As synthetic identity fraud grows, new research shows ways to help spot it. Synthetic identities are created by combining real information, such as a Social Security…