Dealers: Page

F&I Contact Should Start in Showroom

At what point in the car-buying process should dealership finance and insurance managers introduce themselves to customers and pose a few questions?

By Steve Finlay • June 1, 2007

Dodge Sprinter Gets Around Chicken Tax

Manufacturing experts might have a problem with this method of operation: Assemble vehicles in Germany. Disassemble them. Ship the works to the U.S.

By Steve Finlay • June 1, 2007

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

Toyota Names Pflughaupt to Replace Farley as Marketing Head

Farley last month was named group vice president and general manager-Lexus Div.

By Ward's Staff • May 31, 2007

Sam Pack’s Parts Department Packs a Punch

Sam Pack Five Star Ford is one of a handful of dealers that ship parts nationwide.

By Emily Prawdzik Genoff • May 29, 2007

Understanding CPO Shoppers

Certified pre-owned vehicles generate greater profit for dealers than do traditional used models.

By Emily Prawdzik Genoff • May 15, 2007

Determined Dealers Taking a Firm Stand on Consolidation

Manufacturer pressure for dealers to consolidate is growing, and runs the risk of violating anti-coercion clauses in most state franchise laws and the federal dealer day-in-court law.

By Mac Gordon • May 1, 2007

Dealership Groups Are Going International

Auto retailing increasingly is becoming a global industry, with some U.S. publicly owned dealership groups seeing profit opportunities overseas, says Paul Melville, a partner with Grant Thornton

By Steve Finlay • May 1, 2007

Association’s F&I Certification Goes Towards College Credit

Certification by the Assn. of Finance & Insurance Professionals is now transferable as course credit to Northwood University through the association's partnership with the Automotive Dealership Institute.

May 1, 2007

Crawl, Walk and Run

Dealers have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to online marketing investments. One is knowing where to start. So take the crawl-walk-run approach.

By David Kain • May 1, 2007

Survival of Fittest

Those that survive the coming U.S. consolidation will control a lot of business and be well-run, aggressive, tightly managed dealerships.

By Steve Finlay • April 19, 2007

Saab Taps Shannon as U.S. General Manager

Steve Shannon, who joined GM in 1982, has held positions in field sales, marketing and product planning in the U.S. and Europe.

By Ward's Staff • April 16, 2007

Ford Flex Not Minivan Replacement, Marketing Chief Says

Pricing for Ford Flex CUV, yet to be announced, will be in line with main competitors: the GMC Acadia and Honda Pilot.

By Byron Pope • April 16, 2007

Dealers Curious About New Liberty’s Retractable Roof

Supplied by Michigan-based ASC Inc., “Sky Slider” features fabric similar to that used in soft-top convertibles.

By Eric Mayne • April 4, 2007

API Closes; Dealers Feel Effects

Dealers that have provided extended-service warranties to their customers through Automotive Professionals Inc. (API) may be headed for tough days ahead. The Chicago-area firm informed its dealers and agents it was entering assignment for the benefit of creditors. In a memo to agents, Owner James Hawk cited severe cash shortfalls from reduced service contract production and steady strong GPR (guaranteed

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2007

WARD’S e-Dealer 100

Two Web-based firms, Cars.com and Dealer.com, recently launched tools that help dealers determine the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

April 1, 2007

Customer Service Triage

Running a dealership can be crazy. It's easy to forget the reason for being in business in the first place customers.

By Richard F. Libin • April 1, 2007

Dumb People Are Not Building These Major Dealerships

Gary Dilts, during a Power Point presentation, shows a photo of a little boy standing in a corner of a room, face to the wall, looking as if he's being punished.

By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2007

Cut Your Wholesale Losses

Is your wholesale loss devouring any gross profit contribution your used-vehicle retail sales are generating?

By Dennis Gregg • April 1, 2007

Eliminate Cashier’s Position

A dealer unrolled his plans for a new service department. As he proudly presented the blueprints at a meeting, he mentioned the location of the cashier's office.

By Lee Harkins • April 1, 2007

Mystery Shopping

Is your dealership paying for Internet leads, but not getting them? It happens more than people realize, says Lisa Keller, founder of eValuation Inc., a consulting firm that mystery shops dealerships' Internet departments.

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2007

How Do You Define the Best?

I often hear dealers say they don't necessarily want to be the biggest, but the best. How do you define best?

By Tony Noland • April 1, 2007

Sitting By Myself on a Sunday

I am sitting at my desk, on Sunday, a day that we are closed, alone in an otherwise empty dealership, drinking reheated coffee

By Peter Brandow • March 23, 2007

February Manheim Index Remains Unchanged From January

February auction sales are constant with those from January, yet show a 1.9% overall decline from last year.

By Emily Prawdzik Genoff • March 20, 2007

Generous Dealership Employees Donate $255,000 to Charity

Employees of the 16-dealership Wilson Automotive Group in Orange County, CA, donated $255,000 to charities this year.

March 1, 2007

Who’s Got You Covered?

The dealership world seems divided these days between the high fivers and the mad-as-hellers. You know which one you are, so I won't waste ink telling you where I'd guess you'd be

By Peter Brandow • March 1, 2007