Dealers: Page 38
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Agency Model: Developing Trend in New Car Retailing?
Under the agency model, the franchise dealer no longer is the focal point of a new vehicle sale; instead, the customer places an order directly with the OEM and names a preferred delivery dealer. The price and dealership mark-up or commission is set by the OEM.
By John F. Possumato • Nov. 1, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sonic Automotive Moves to Acquire Texas Dealer Group
The RFJ Auto Partners acquisition is expected to close in December, Sonic says. With the addition of dealerships for five new brands to Sonic’s lineup: Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram and Mazda.
By Jim Henry • Oct. 29, 2021 -
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
Column
Digital Shift Presents Aftermarket Opportunities
In response to market changes, aftermarket businesses have had to shift to more digital-centric experiences through apps and loyalty programs and more robust online experiences with enhanced search capabilities, online ordering and more.
By Brian Moates • Oct. 28, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
High Prices Prompt Bad Reviews of Car Dealerships, Study Says
“You can’t fault dealers for charging market price, but you have to be sensitive,” says Ali Fawaz of the company Reputation.
By Steve Finlay • Oct. 28, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Consumers Prepping for Car Dealership Visits Helps All Involved
“It’s not a 10-minute transaction,” but technology can help make the car deal go faster, says Chuck Schofield of Digital Motors.
By Steve Finlay • Oct. 27, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Flexible Menu Solutions for Better Compliance
Regulatory agencies are paying closer attention to automotive aftermarket sales, so dealers need flexible menu solutions that support their sales processes.
Oct. 25, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Rivian Ramps Up BEV Production, Opens Retail Center
In documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Rivian says it does not intend to use franchised dealers and is developing a network of service centers around the country to fix the vehicles it expects to sell online.
By Joseph Szczesny • Oct. 25, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Column
Getting More Out of Used-Car Reconditioning
Modern reconditioning to meet today’s consumer demand, whatever the market, is sound science as well as efficient, transparent and accountable. The system must get cars sale-ready fast to ensure the dealership meets customer demand efficiently and engagingly.
By Dustin Jones • Oct. 21, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Column
Reliable Auto Haulers Key to On-Time Vehicle Deliveries
It has never been more important for auto carriers to operate with agility in mind to keep a reliable fleet of trucks on the road and in position to make a timely delivery of that next shipment of vehicles.
By Katerina Jones • Oct. 20, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
U.S. Car Dealership Customers Ripe for Purchase Ordering?
“It’s a wild time,” says Marco Schnabl, CEO of automotiveMastermind, referring to vehicle demand seriously outpacing supply.
By Steve Finlay • Oct. 19, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Look to Service Departments for Pre-Owned Vehicle Acquisition
As the inventory crisis drags on, dealers can maximize their profitability by using data to identify acquisition opportunities through their service departments.
By Steve DeWitt, Senior Director of Business Development, Industry Voice by automotiveMastermind • Oct. 18, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealerships Changing Hands at Record Rate
The question for dealership buyers and sellers is how long the current, favorable environment can last, with demand outpacing supply, record average transaction prices for new and used vehicles, and pent-up demand for parts and service.
By Jim Henry • Oct. 18, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Manheim Auction Creates EV Battery Health Reports
When it comes to purchasing a used EV, “some people are experiencing battery anxiety,” says Manheim President Grace Huang.
By Steve Finlay • Oct. 14, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Consumers Leaning More Toward Car Dealership Service Centers
A Cox Automotive survey indicates 55% of consumers say they go to a dealership because its service personnel know their vehicle better.
By Steve Finlay • Oct. 13, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Column
Multi-Tiered Approach Fights Fraudsters
Besides payment options, lenders and dealers are leveraging sophisticated data from partners and carriers to authenticate a consumer’s identity.
By Angelica Jeffreys • Oct. 13, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Scanning Tech to Help Dealers Move the Metal More Quickly
Germany-based Twinner says the scans can increase used-vehicle turn rates 15% and save dealers money by making it easier to sell cars on the internet.
By Wards Auto • Oct. 12, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Column
Data Privacy Challenges for Automotive Retailers
The biggest issue for automotive retailers is that they are data-intensive and compete by collecting and analyzing consumer information. The last thing they want is to suffer a breach which would tarnish brand reputation with catastrophic and very public repercussions.
By Trevor J. Morgan • Oct. 11, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Change Your Marketing Game – Budgets Work Harder With OTT
Save valuable marketing dollars by leveraging targeting and metrics with OTT advertising on America’s most expansive streaming platform.
By Industry Voices Article by L2TMedia • Oct. 8, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Column
New Strategies Help Dealerships Thrive Amid Chip Shortage
Busy service bays have proved to be an effective shield against the impact of the chip shortage. The threat of higher prices for both new and used cars has given people plenty of motivation to keep up on maintenance of the cars they already have.
By Jillian Romero Chaves • Oct. 8, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Asbury Automotive to Acquire Utah-based Dealership Group
In the proposed deal with Larry H. Miller Dealerships, Asbury gets 54 new-vehicle dealerships, seven used-vehicle dealerships and 11 collision centers.
By Jim Henry • Oct. 5, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Selling Carries on Despite Sparse Stock at Car Dealerships
“Dismissing a customer because you don’t have what they want in stock is the last thing you want to do,” says Hyundai sales executive Randy Parker.
By Steve Finlay • Oct. 4, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Column
Digital Retailing, Fixed Ops and ‘Last Mile’ Delivery
Car dealers have always used “runners,” but perhaps the accelerated growth in digital retailing and “door to door” vehicle service requires a more scalable program and process.
By John F. Possumato • Oct. 4, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Self-serve Kiosks for Service Lanes Awarded Patent
Customers who check themselves in at a kiosk and leave their keys are issued a QR code that’s unique to them. After service is completed, the customer scans the QR code off their mobile phone, and the corresponding keys are dispensed.
By Jim Henry • Oct. 1, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
How a Car Dealership Service Department Really Works
In a Wards Q&A, Paul Williamsen talks about the inner workings of dealership service departments, a subject few people are fully familiar with.
By Steve Finlay • Sept. 29, 2021 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Is Bottom-of-Funnel Marketing Losing Dealer Appeal?
Move up the funnel with a healthy portion of your ad budget. Reach buyers when they are interested, but not yet shopped out. To accomplish this, I suggest a mix of local digital, broadcast TV and over-the-top services purchased from trusted local media sources.
By Adam Armbruster • Sept. 28, 2021
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