Dealers: Page

‘Hang In There,’ Former Presidents Bush, Clinton Tell Auto Dealers

The two men, rivals in the 1992 presidential campaign, are co-founders of a charitable fund that aids needy people, including the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

By Steve Finlay • Jan. 27, 2009

Dealix Overhauls Usedcars.com

Revamped website lets buyers compare dealer-listed used-car prices with Kelley Blue Book values.

By Cliff Banks • Jan. 25, 2009

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from WardsAuto

Automakers are evaluating their long-term strategies, revisiting their product mix, and approach to both retail and manufacturing approach along the way.

By WardsAuto staff

Incoming NADA Chairman McEleney Gets More Than He Bargained For

Powerful state franchise laws that protect dealers from manufacturer incursions into their businesses now don’t seem so strong.

By Cliff Banks • Jan. 22, 2009

Owner Ed Tarbox Wants to Make Right Moves on Chessboard

The import dealer believes he is in a better position than most retailers.

By Derek Stark • Jan. 22, 2009

Here’s Looking at YouTube

If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to add video to your dealership website – complete with analytics on who is viewing that video – YouTube.com has an enticing offer: we’ll do it for free

By Joe Dysart • Jan. 21, 2009

Beware of Ready, Aim, Ouch!

Ron Reahard says he hated the finance and insurance manager at a dealership where he worked as a salesman. After he had a great deal, he'd come out and say how much he screwed the customer, Reahard recalls of the manager. He sometimes made $1,200 in 40 minutes. We floor sales people, making a flat $50 selling cars, were loath to turn customers over to him. When Reahard became an F&I manager himself,

By Steve Finlay • Jan. 1, 2009

A Guide to Car Dealer Survival

People who look back at their careers often focus on the tough times, says David Robertson, executive director of the Assn. of Finance & Insurance Professionals. They'll reminisce about what they did to get through the ordeals of economic downturns, and what they became because of those efforts, he says. If that's the case, these current hard times will give people plenty to talk about in nostalgic

By Steve Finlay • Jan. 1, 2009

Autobytel Cuts Work Force and that Includes the CEO

After months of rumors, Jim Riesenbach is out and Jeffrey Coats is in as the new president and CEO of Autobytel Inc., the ailing pioneer of dealership lead-referral services. The firm also laid off 40 employees, approximately 25% of its workforce, and says the move will save $5.2 million on an annual basis. Other moves include several promotions for current executives, including Mark Garms to senior

Jan. 1, 2009

What Car Dealers Can Learn From Las Vegas Model

Las Vegas lends itself to analogies during industry conferences there, with speakers often holding up the city as a business model to follow. The F&I Management and Technology conference was no exception, as evidenced by Dennis Doyle's keynote speech at the Paris Hotel on the Strip. This town was built on minimizing risks and maximizing profits, says Doyle, a GMAC vice president. When they say, What

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2008

Ward’s Dealer of the Year - Jim Ellis

Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.A few weeks ago, I flew to Atlanta and met with Jim Ellis to interview him for our annual Ward's Dealer of the Year award. After spending mo...

Nov. 25, 2008

Hecker Shuts Down Six Dealerships, Sells Three Others

Denny Hecker, one of Minnesota’s largest car dealers is selling three of his dealerships to private investors and closing the doors on six others.

By Derek Stark and Cliff Banks • Nov. 24, 2008

Ideas For Becoming a Modern Dealership

Dealerships will not survive the next five years without a Web-focused mindset

By Cliff Banks • Nov. 21, 2008

Dealers Say Media Missing Point

The fallout in local communities will be “horrendous” if auto makers don’t receive a bridge loan to help them survive, dealers say.

By Derek Stark • Nov. 18, 2008

Welcome

Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.Welcome to Ward’s Dealer Dialogue blog. It’s Ward’s first attempt at the world of blogging, so there might be some trial and error. But ...

Nov. 16, 2008

Greg Miller, 42, Takes Helm of 42-Store Dealership Group

The 42-year-old son of a megadealer takes the helm of a vast enterprise that includes a 42-store dealership group. Larry Miller, 64, founder of the namesake Larry H. Miller Group based in Sandy, UT, handed over the reins of the operation to his son Greg Miller, who becomes the second youngest CEO among the top 10 U.S. dealerships. Larry Miller, a business icon in Utah and the Far West, decided on

By Mac Gordon • Nov. 1, 2008

Lithia Dealership Chain Extends Repair Warranty Program

Lithia Motors dealership chain has broken with service-industry tradition and is extending its vehicle repair warranty on non-maintenance parts to three years/50,000 miles. The extension from a warranty of one year or 12,000 miles is designed to help boost loyalty at Lithia's 110 dealerships, says Ron Stoner, Lithia vice president-fixed operations. Excluded from the overage are routine parts such

By Mac Gordon • Nov. 1, 2008

Back to the Niche Markets

Las Vegas In recent years, auto financing firms widened their offerings, with traditional prime lenders venturing down to non-prime consumers, and subprime specialists reaching up to customers with better credit scores. That trend has taken an abrupt U-turn on the rough road of today's credit crisis. Auto lenders are steering away from their brief foray into full-spectrum lending, says Lou Loquasto,

By Steve Finlay • Nov. 1, 2008

CRM Systems Rapped for Lacking Personal Touch

A feared drawback is that dealership employees can rely too much on CRM and not enough on their own human skills to cultivate customer relationships.

By Steve Finlay • Oct. 28, 2008

Oz University Wins Challenge to Design Futuristic Model T

The winning vehicle, a 3-wheeled car powered by compressed air and no steering mechanism, is so simple it can be assembled at dealerships, Australia’s Deakin University says.

By Alan Harman • Oct. 7, 2008

GMAC Insurance Now Does Post-Repair Inspections

Insurance-claims representatives typically inspect damaged vehicles before repairs in order to estimate costs. GMAC Insurance now has a post-repair inspection service designed to promote consumer confidence by ensuring the quality and value of repairs after an accident. As part of SmartInspect, customers can opt for a GMAC Insurance representative at no cost to re-inspect and approve all work done

Oct. 1, 2008

Dealers Still Show Skepticism Towards Internet Marketing

Costa Mesa, Ca Car dealers spend a bundle on conventional advertising, yet balk at small allocations for Internet marketing efforts. That baffles Todd Stainbrook, even though he says he understands the dealer after spending much of his Ford Motor Co. career in the field. Same-brand auto dealers at regional marketing meetings will approve millions of dollars on co-operative TV ads, he says. But then,

By Steve Finlay • Oct. 1, 2008

Lessons From Bill Heard’s Collapse

Operating with integrity and having access to operating capital are critical for dealers wanting to stay in business today.

By Cliff Banks • Sept. 29, 2008

Smart USA Opens Trio of Penske Retail Centers

With 16,000 U.S. sales through August, Smart is on pace to exceed its goal of selling 25,000 vehicles this year.

By Derek Stark • Sept. 18, 2008

DealerTrack Adds Real-Time Market Pricing Enhancement

DealerTrack Inc. has added real-time market pricing functionality to its InventoryPro inventory management solution for auto dealers. The free enhancement, based on continually updated price quotes for millions of vehicles across the country, allows dealers to see at a glance how local competitors are pricing particular vehicles. With this information, dealers will have the ability to adapt to the

Sept. 1, 2008

WARD’S REMARKETING 150

Rank Dealership Owner/Principals City ST Total Revenue Used Units Used Revenue 1 Quality Auto Group John H. Fielder San Antonio TX $171,733,721 6,439 $126,716,745 2 Fletcher Jones Motorcars Fletcher Jones Jr. Newport Beach CA $571,082,030 2,109 $92,381,736 3 Braman Motorcars Norman Braman West Palm Beach FL $430,388,387 1,599 $86,011,757 4 Carr Chevrolet, Inc. Wallace Preble/Gene Bradshaw Beaverton

Sept. 1, 2008