Dealers: Page 121
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Financing Credit Is More Than a FICO Score
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.Developed by Fair Isaac & Co., a FICO credit score is a method of determining the likelihood that borrowers will pay back their loans. Such ...
By Steve Finlay • July 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ditch That Old Notion
Ted Linhart, CEO for the Dominion Auto Group in Richmond, VA, says it is time to get rid of the idea that automotive Internet customers are different from other customers. It is one of the first things Linhart says during a presentation at the ENG conference on how search technology is changing automotive retail. I want to dispel the notion that there is a separate Internet customer today, he says.
By Cliff Banks • July 1, 2006 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Kia Corporation
TrendlineArtificial Intelligence
Automakers and dealers alike are increasingly seeing the use case for AI within their operations. Explore some use cases in this trendline.
By WardsAuto staff -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tough Talk, But That Darn Death Tax Lingers On
WASHINGTON Newt Gingrich, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, urged members of the American International Automobile Dealers Assn. to adopt a tough stance when lobbying their senators for repeal of the estate tax. I am really concerned about the death tax repeal, Gingrich tells AIADA members gathered here for the association's annual congress. If you were to take a poll in the country,
By Cliff Banks • July 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Buyers Right Under His Nose
The Mile One Automotive Group, with 65 dealerships throughout the Northeast, began looking for customers where most dealers never think to look their own employees, families and friends. Steven Fader, the group's CEO patterned the initiative after the American Express Centurion program, which offers a Black card to very wealthy and select members. Called the Mile One Ambassador Program, the concierge-like
By Cliff Banks • July 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Focus on Finance & Insurance
Bad Hearts and Empty Heads When dealership finance and insurance staffers run afoul of the law, there are usually two reasons, says attorney James S. Ganther who specializes in helping dealers stay out of legal trouble. He likens the problem to anatomical ailments of sorts. The offenders either have a bad heart in need of an ethical bypass or they have an empty head, and somewhere in America, a village
July 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
King of Cars
Here is a trivia question: Who was the first car dealer reportedly to start advertising on TV? Stay tuned for the answer. The question is relevant, in part because of a new reality-TV series on A&E featuring life in a Las Vegas dealership. The show, King of Cars, is a new spin on what had been a long-standing practice in automotive retail outrageously creating a personality using television and other
By Jesse Berger • July 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mitsubishi’s CEO Gilligan Retires
Gilligan was president and chief operating officer of Mitsubishi's sole North American assembly plant in Normal, IL, for seven years.
By Ward's Staff • June 29, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Luxury Market Has Stronger Presence on Ward’s Dealer Ranking
One of every five stores on the Ward's Dealer 500 sells luxury vehicles.
By Cliff Banks • June 15, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Internet Customers? Not Anymore
Dealer Ted Linhart believes it is time to dispel the notion of a separate "Internet customer."
By Cliff Banks • June 9, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Megadealer Dies in Motorcycle Crash
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.Cornelius Martin, founder and president of the Martin Management Group, one of the nation’s largest minority-owned automotive dealership fir...
By Cliff Banks • June 5, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Grow Your Own Tech
Training a technician can be a costly investment. However, re-training a technician and tailoring their talents to manufacturers' specifications can be a bigger challenge. The reality is, finding a new tech fresh out of high school is the most cost-efficient way to bolster your service department for the long haul. I've owned dealerships and have witnessed the swap. A technician, frustrated with his
By LARRY CUMMINGS • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Blind Brothers Create a Parts Powerhouse
New-car sales are down at your dealership nearly 50%, and it is not because you are a bad dealer or forgot how to sell cars. Add to that, you and your co-owner brother are blind. What do you do? Call it quits? Not if you are Tim and Bruce Young of Delray (FL) Lincoln Mercury. Instead of giving up, they turned to parts. It worked. In the last 10 years, the dealership has become a parts juggernaut in
By Cliff Banks • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
History Lessons on AutoNation’s Lots
In a move intended to enhance used-car values, vehicle-history provider Carfax has expanded its partnership with AutoNation Inc., the nation's largest dealership chain. Used-car shoppers will be given a Carfax vehicle-history report for any car they're considering at AutoNation's 269 stores. Free reports will be made available with all AutoNation online listings. Eligible vehicles will come with Carfax
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tool-Reimbursement Program Helps Techs and Dealers
Tool-expense reimbursement programs can put hard cash in service technicians' pockets for the tools they buy, reduce staff turnovers and give dealerships a tax break. These programs have been around in other industries for years. They made their way into car dealerships a few years ago. Most programs then were rate- or depreciation-based, which the IRS struck down last summer. Not affected by that
By Jim Leman • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Yesterday’s business practices are today’s felonies
Old school dealers might heed a warning about changing tolerance levels of finance and insurance practices from David Gaul of Ferman Motor Car Co. Yesterday's business practices are today's felonies, says Gaul, corporate compliance officer for Ferman dealerships, based in Tampa, FL. He and others from dealership groups, speaking at an F&I Management and Technology conference, stress the importance
By Steve Finlay • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Reaching for the Skies
ORLANDO, FL The cockpit of an airplane is an unlikely place to do an interview while on the exhibit floor at the National Automobile Dealers Assn. convention. But Alan Klapmeier, president and chief executive officer for Cirrus Design Corp. (one of two airplane manufacturers to exhibit at NADA this year) thinks it makes perfect sense. He is at the convention to introduce and promote the idea that
By Cliff Banks • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Insurance Companies Make It Hard
While a body shop has substantial profit-making potential, dealers are increasingly finding themselves squeezed by insurance companies that pay for the majority of customer repairs, So says Kirk Felix, executive conference moderator at NCM Associates. The insurance companies continue to control all aspects of the repair business, he says. Dealers must be aware of their charges to the insurance companies
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Big Guy with a Big Job
Midway through press days for the New York International Auto Show, John LaSorsa takes big strides to get everything done before the event opens to the public. The 6 ft. 2 in., 250-pound LaSorsa leads with a presence. The second-generation auto dealer knows the importance of this annual exhibition sponsored by the Greater New York Auto Dealers Assn. The show helps kick off the spring selling season,
By Maureen McDonald • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mile One Acquires Hall Automotive
Steven Fader, CEO of Mile One, has built one of the nation's biggest dealer groups, while remaining mostly unknown in the dealer community.
By Cliff Banks • May 4, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
From Cookies to Calls
At Fresh Beginnings Inc. in Valdosta, GA, a management station in the middle of a call-center room rises above operators conducting hundreds of conversations. It gets a visitor's attention. We did that intentionally, says company founder and president, Hugh Hathcock. The call center acts an outsourced business development center (BDC) for auto dealers. Depending on a dealership's specific needs and
By Cliff Banks • May 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Era of Inventory Manager?
The new job title may someday be found at every dealership.
By Steve Finlay • April 27, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
WDB Material Submission
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. Please send WARD'S Dealer Business ad materials to: Bonnie Oslund 7900 International Dr, 3rd Fl Minneapolis, MN 55425 Phone: (952)851-462...
April 17, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
“I’m a car guy, not a computer guy, so I learn daily”
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.Simmons Rockwell, a 10-franchise dealership group based in Elmira, NY, is No. 15 on the Ward's e-Dealer 100. Internet manager Randy Meeker t...
April 12, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Denmark’s Nellemann to Distribute Ssangyongs in Baltic
Nellemann plans to have 10 to 14 dealers in the Baltic by the end of the year.
By Peter Homola • April 4, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
China’s Hafei Motor Enters Russia
Pricing for the Hafei Brio will begin at $7,990 when it goes on sale in April.
By Peter Homola • April 3, 2006
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