Operations: Page 205

Inside Look at a Dealer-Management System Conversion: How 1 Dealership Did It

Picking the right dealer-management system can keep a dealer awake at night. Select the wrong one and it can affect employee morale along with putting a hurt on the bottom line. Matt Dagenais, one of three brothers (Tim and Paul are the others) who run the Riverside Auto Group in Escanaba, MI, shares his insight and experience following a recent conversion the group decided to do. Ten years ago, Riverside's

By Cliff Banks • Jan. 1, 2009

Pay-Per-Lead Program Gets Started for Used-Car Stocks

AutoUSA, a firm that provides Internet sales leads to auto dealers, launches a used-car inventory pay-per-lead plan for dealerships. With the new program, piloted by dealership chain AutoNation Inc., dealers post their used-vehicle inventory at top automotive sites. Those include AOL Autos, CarPerks.com, Overstock.com, AutoMedia.com, CarDomain.com and AutoUSA's used-car website, AutoUSAused.com. With

Jan. 1, 2009

Explore the Trendline➔

Automotive Manufacturing

Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.

By WardsAuto staff

New E-Report Card Grades Online Inventory Management

A new e-report card is intended to help managers of auto dealership Internet sales departments to turn online inventory faster and at good grosses. AutoUpLinkUSA's eReport Card gives dealership e-commerce managers a real-time summary of their online listings' performance so adjustments for improving results can be made quickly, if necessary. Such improvements include keeping online vehicle listings

Jan. 1, 2009

Learn What May Be Lacking

Periodically, step back and take stock of your inventory-control and management performance. During the course of day-to-day business in the parts department, much is taken for granted. Too often, problems go undetected until they become obvious and looming. By then you are either applying a quick fix or feeling overwhelmed. By answering the following questions, you can quickly assess the performance

By GARY J. NAPLES • Jan. 1, 2009

Proton Finalizes Agreement to Assemble Gen2 in Iran

Zagross Khodro, which originally announced it would begin assembly of the Gen2 in 2005, now plans to begin building the model in April at its assembly plant in Borujerd.

By Alan Harman • Dec. 29, 2008

Chevy Volt’s Attention to Detail Extends to Wheel Design

Forged aluminum wheels are twice as strong, more durable and typically 20% lighter than cast aluminum, Alcoa says.

By James M. Amend • Dec. 23, 2008

Suzuki President Resigns, Predecessor Assumes Post

Osamu Suzuki, who is married to the granddaughter of the auto maker’s founder, takes over from current President Hiroshi Tsuda, who is stepping down for health reasons.

By Ward's Staff • Dec. 10, 2008

Proton Begins Rolls Out of Persona in Middle East

The auto maker’s Egyptian distributor reportedly aims to initially sell 2,000 Protons annually and more than 5,000 units a year by 2010.

By Alan Harman • Dec. 3, 2008

Navigation Preferences Vary by Age, Study Shows

The survey concludes a significantly higher percentage of younger users download search and traffic information, a feature often found on phone- or PDA-based systems.

By Byron Pope • Dec. 3, 2008

Analysis Says Hispanics Pay More for Used-Car Loans

The Consumer Federation of America and its Hispanic America Saves initiative released an analysis on interest rates for car loans, comparing rates received by Hispanic borrowers to rates received by borrowers from the general U.S population. The analysis shows a significant disparity between used-car loans extended to the different groups, with Hispanics paying more, according to the federation. In

Dec. 1, 2008

After 60 Days in Stock, Ouch!

Fresh units sell is a common statement among pre-owned vehicle dealers that's probably as old as the business itself. I have no idea when I first heard that. It just seems to be part of the knowledge that is imparted to pre-owned vehicle managers as they grow up in this business. It is an axiom that dealers all seem to believe, but they often choose to ignore by holding on to aged inventory. If pre-owned

By Tony Albertson • Dec. 1, 2008

Salesman Accused of Odometer Fraud in Michigan

A salesman at Huntington Ford in Rochester, MI, is accused of installing switches that let customers leasing cars shut off odometers. Randall Hill faces charges of odometer fraud, a 5-year felony. He allegedly demonstrated the odometer device to undercover police officers, who, on a tip, went to the dealership, posing as customers. Police say the dealership wasn't aware of the scheme. Also charged

Dec. 1, 2008

10 Ways to Drum Up Business

The true mark of a professional service manager is one who can increase business in a challenging market. Here are 10 ways to do that: Multi-point inspections. They are one of the few techniques I consider a must do for all stores. The service advisor should ask the customer at the time of write-up if the service department can perform the inspection as a customer benefit. Once the inspection has

By Lee Harkins • Dec. 1, 2008

Ward’s Spring Training Returns

Ward's wants to invite you to join us in Tampa, FL, March 15-17 for the second annual Ward's Automotive Spring Training Conference. Last year's conference was a hit, and deemed by participants as one of the premier events of the year. We know that with all of the uncertainty surrounding the automotive industry, this is a tough time to be thinking about a conference. But we also know, dealers will

Dec. 1, 2008

SEMA Show Attracts Dealers

This year's Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Assn. convention in Las Vegas paid particular attention to the growing number of dealers who attend. SEMA and the National Automobile Dealers Assn. joined forces to put on a dealer day at last month's vehicle aftermarket and accessories extravaganza in Las Vegas. Dealership parts, service and general managers were treated to lunch, dinner and keynote presentations

By DAVID SKROBOT • Dec. 1, 2008

Daily Staff Huddles Lead to Great Plays on Business Field

A 10-minute daily huddle at the beginning of each shift is a great way to point your business development center in the right direction. Gather your team together and tell the receptionist to hold calls. You might be surprised at how much you can accomplish in just 10 minutes if you are prepared and focused. Go in with a game plan. Know what you want to cover. A basketball coach will call a timeout

By Tom O'Connor • Dec. 1, 2008

How to Purchase Profitably

Purchasing is a prime role of the parts manager. Ineffective purchasing, particularly when unplanned and careless, can kill profitability. It is easy for parts managers to forget about the important routines so often taken for granted. Unrestrained purchasing hurts your department. Drawbacks range from lower profits to higher inventory obsolescence. The following check list will help. Does the parts

By GARY J. NAPLES • Dec. 1, 2008

Hey, What’s This Guy Up To?

Despite all that's happened, Edward Lampert is optimistic about the U.S. auto business. Who? Lampert is a sophisticated investor who could dramatically change the automobile business, becoming a major player in vehicle sales, service and repair. The Yale graduate, through his hedge fund ESL Investments and other holdings, has quietly become the owner of 44% of AutoNation Inc., the nation's biggest

By Marty Bernstein • Dec. 1, 2008

Mitsubishi Names New North American CEO

Kurihara makes his third trip to the U.S., after previous postings at the auto maker’s U.S. sales arm in the mid 1980s and late 1990s.

By Ward's Staff • Nov. 26, 2008

Floor plan crisis hits Hecker

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.The Denny Hecker Automotive Group in Minneapolis is closing six stores and selling three because of a dispute with Chrysler Financial. Chr...

Nov. 25, 2008

How They Cope with Crisis

In February, Paul Taylor, chief economist of the National Automobile Dealers Assn., and others were predicting 2009 light vehicle sales of about 15.7 million units, a drop from the 16.1 million sold last year. As the year wore on and the economy worsened, Taylor adjusted his prediction downward to 14.5 million units. That figure doesn't look so bad in retrospect, as Taylor once again lowers his forecast

By Lillie Guyer • Nov. 1, 2008

China’s Bull Market Slows on Global Woes

China, The Largest and Most-Mature Automotive Market of the world's key emerging economies, has less in common these days with its fellow BRIC countries Brazil, Russia and India and more with Western nations as effects of the global financial crisis begin to take their toll. Demand has been falling off sharply in the last two months, and the outlook for the remainder of the year is gloomy, independent

By Christie Schweinsberg with Mack Chrysler • Nov. 1, 2008

Dizzy From Cliff-Diving Charts

I told Professor Keith Schwer that if I learned one thing from his economics presentation, it's what a cliff-diving chart is. Actually, I learned much from his review of trends in auto finance. But the cliff-diving charts stand out the most. Those are graphs with trend lines that go up and up then plunge. I could show a lot of these, all related to today's economy, Schwer says. He could and did, at

By Steve Finlay • Nov. 1, 2008

Venza Plays Where Passion Trumps Functionality

The auto maker’s new 2-row midsize CUV surprises with its sporty tendencies, but is there room in an already crowded segment?

By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 29, 2008

Tips On Using the Web to Target Hispanic Buyers

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.Recent U.S. Census figures estimate that by 2042, one third of the population in the U.S. will be Hispanic, with the vast majority being bor...

Oct. 23, 2008