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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealers Love Leads, Hate Costs
Quality of online sales leads varies, with some low-level ones coming from people who turn out not to be particularly serious buyers.
By Steve Finlay • April 14, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
OnStar Not Sweating Ambitious Plans of Hughes Telematics
“It’s not like they’re going to wake up tomorrow and be OnStar,” Chet Huber says of competitor Hughes Telematics.
By James M. Amend • April 2, 2008 -
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Big Change for Small Trucks
Some things you can always count on. The other line always moves faster than the one you're in. The Oscars always run late. Your fingers. But that list is getting shorter. The day is coming when pickup trucks no longer will be body-on-frame vehicles. Not small pickups, anyway. As auto makers ponder weight-reduction strategies in a bid to comply with 2020's 35-mpg (6.7 L/100 km) fleet fuel-economy
By Eric Mayne • April 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Internet Myths Are Debunked
Think again if your image of a typical Internet car shopper is someone in the market for a shiny new vehicle. The chances are more than twice as great such a consumer is looking online for a used car. So say two industry veterans, Chip Perry and Joe Lescota, citing data they say contradict some popular misconceptions. Perry is president and CEO of AutoTrader.com. Lescota is a dealership consultant
By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
California Should Follow Europe’s Lead
Europe has a better idea. And if state politicians followed its lead on curbing carbon-dioxide emissions, they could avoid a lengthy, pointless tug of war and greatly impact how Americans view and ultimately do their part to combat global warming. Here in the U.S., Washington regulators, the auto industry and nearly a dozen states are locked in a battle over who has ownership of CO2 emissions standards.
By David E. Zoia • April 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealership Staffers Accused of Aiding Illegal Immigrants
Employees of three used-car dealerships in southern Ohio face charges of selling fake IDs to illegal immigrants and forging documents to help them buy cars. About 20 law enforcement vehicles raided Credit Auto Sales and Paul's Auto Sales and Service and Pay Less Auto Sales in Hamilton, as well as Pay Less Auto Salvage in Middletown. They arrested seven people accused in 34 grand-jury indictments of
April 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Samoa Plans Switch to Right-Hand Drive
An organization named People Against Switching Sides has filed suit to stop the change, claiming it will cause loss of life and harm the local economy.
By Alan Harman • April 1, 2008 -
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Cobalt SS Has Right Chemistry for Street Cred
Cobalt may rank 27th on the periodic table, but with Chevy’s SS badge attached, it has all the elements of a winner.
By Eric Mayne • March 31, 2008 -
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Oz Auto Makers Drop Out of Sydney Show
Citing rising costs, a number of auto makers have been pushing for one show to be held in Australia each year that would alternate between Melbourne and Sydney.
By Alan Harman • March 31, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mini Star Performer in Lackluster Market
U.S. Mini chief Jim McDowell predicts already low dealer stocks will become minuscule once summer arrives.
By Herb Shuldiner • March 26, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Japan’s Omron Looks to New Technologies for Further Growth
Three main products, ECUs, radio-frequency components and relays, account for 70% of Omron’s automotive business.
By Roger Schreffler and Mack Chrysler • March 25, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Warring Factions Spark Chamco Split
The turmoil at Chamco marks the latest glitch for China-based auto makers with an eye toward the lucrative North American market.
By Christie Schweinsberg • March 24, 2008 -
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Suzuki Re-Enters Midsize Sedan Segment
Set for production by 2010, the Kizashi concept makes a bold styling statement, with a dramatic waterfall grille, high beltline and an upscale, aspirational flair.
By Tom Murphy • March 20, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Pontiac Urged to Adopt El Camino Name
The 2-door, rear-wheel-drive car-based pickup doesn’t have an official name yet, and GM is inviting the public to have a say.
By Tom Murphy • March 20, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Malibu Powers Chevy Car Sales
Chevrolet’s marketing director says 12,600 Malibus were sold in February, bringing the year-to-date total to 27,001 and putting the Malibu on track for an annual rate of 154,000 units.
By Herb Shuldiner • March 7, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Maruyama New President of Denso North America
Haruya Maruyama, a 30-year Denso veteran, replaces Mitsuo Matsushita. While in Germany, Maruyama was responsible for all sales activities throughout Europe.
By Ward's Staff • March 7, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Autoliv Night Vision to Boost Sales, Protect Pedestrians
The supplier’s second-generation technology debuts next year on an ’09 model with improved software for better pedestrian detection.
By Herb Shuldiner • March 5, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Japanese Expected to Play Minor Role in Indian Car Market
With the exception of Suzuki, HSBC analysts doubt Japanese auto makers will be able to develop profitable businesses in India in the near term.
By Mack Chrysler • Feb. 26, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Suzuki Stills Sees Room for Midsize Sedan
A future D-segment sedan would provide something between a baby step and quantum leap for Suzuki’s brand image, a company official says.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Feb. 19, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Industry Loses a Pioneer
Michael Waldrop, eCommerce Director for Asbury Automotive Group’s Florida region, passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2008. He was 39 years old.
By Ward's Staff • Feb. 15, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Recessions Don’t Necessarily Hurt Auto Sales
While NADA’s chief economist anticipates a “non-recession” in 2008, he predicts U.S. light-vehicle sales will drop to 15.7 million units, 400,000 fewer deliveries than like-2007.
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 11, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
In This Corner: Ric Flair Finance
Billed as The Nature Boy during his long and lively professional wrestling career, Ric Flair is now in the loan business, including direct auto financing. The response to Ric Flair Finance's website, www.ricflairfinance.com, was reportedly so great, it was shut down for a period after it debuted. There are click links for mortgage, auto-loan and loan- refinancing applications. A come-on on the homepage
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Is It the Lead or Salesperson?
An auto maker debuts a hot new car, prompting a flood of Internet leads at auto dealerships. But not all those inquiries are from serious prospects. Many are casual contacts by people who are interested in an all-new product but not necessarily ready or able to buy it. The spike in leads can jam a dealership's Internet department, which can handle only so many inquiries and doesn't readily know which
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Customers From Hell
Customer horror stories about car dealers abound. But how about dealers' horror stories about customers who can be abusive, unfair and downright obnoxious? How do dealership professionals handle customers from hell or at least those who are hot under the collar? We asked several veteran dealers to share their experiences with angry customers and how they handled the situations. In a nutshell, here's
By Lillie Guyer • Feb. 1, 2008 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Subprime Auto Borrowers Fret
A survey says Americans are getting nervous when it comes to their chances of getting a car loan, because of the subprime mortgage crisis. Polled people were asked: Given the fallout in the subprime mortgage market, how concerned are you that your ability to obtain credit for something like a car loan will be affected? One-third said they were or concerned their credit may be at risk. GDEXAuto, a
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2008
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