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2002 North American International Auto Show

DETROIT At first, journalists seemed relieved that almost every auto maker at the 2002 edition of the North American International Auto Show here wanted to talk about something other than SUVs. Then they realized that there still were a helluva lot of SUVs on display. It's not that the earnest OEMs didn't try. For one thing, Detroit auto makers suddenly seem interested in affordable coupes and roadsters

By the Ward's AutoWorld staff • Feb. 1, 2002

Get the most out of the convention and follow these tips to make NADA ‘02 work for you.

Well, it's NADA convention time again. Time to brush up on the latest developments, renew old acquaintances, and have some fun at the same time. Ever wonder, though, whether you're getting the most out of your convention? If so, use these handy suggestions to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities the event can offer you: Conduct a personal "needs analysis." Think about the problems and challenges

By Richard G. Ensman Jr. • Jan. 21, 2002

FORMER DISNEY EXECUTIVE NOW HEADS AUTOBYTEL INC.

Autobytel Inc.'s president and CEO, Mark Lorimer, resigned in what company officials called a surprise move. Autobytel's board of directors quickly named Jeffrey Schwartz as Lorimer's replacement. Schwartz joined the company as vice chairman in August in connection with the acquisition of Autoweb.com, Inc., where he was president and chief executive officer. Prior to joining Autoweb, Schwartz was

Jan. 1, 2002

OPPORTUNIES FOR USED-CAR SALES GROWTH

October was probably the best new-vehicle sales and profit month in the history of the franchised automobile business. But as you know, used vehicle sales failed to keep pace with that month's new vehicle sales rate which, for many dealers, has resulted in increased dollar inventory levels, days' supply and maybe most importantly, a decreased rate of dollar turn. I have spoken with many dealers who

By Tony Noland • Jan. 1, 2002

Is Wall Street Losing Its Clout?

A barrage of federal rules on disclosure has Wall Street analysts barred from private meetings with auto CEOs and financial staffs, leaving these high-powered financial gurus in an information black hole. With Wall Street and Main Street having access to the same information, are the financial elite losing their clout in the auto industry? Or did they wield too much power in the first place? Stephen

By Kevin Kelly • Jan. 1, 2002

Homecoming for new general manager at Darrow Dodge

The Russ Darrow Automotive Group in Milwaukee, WI has named Harvey Padek general manager or Darrow Dodge. He will continue to serve as general manager of Russ Darrow Cedarburg. The new position is something of a homecoming for Mr. Padek. His father owned the store, called Northshore Dodge at the time, when it was acquired by the Russ Darrow Group.

Jan. 1, 2002

Scania sees all-time financial loss in South America

Truck maker Scania AB is facing its worst financial loss in its 44-year history in Brazil. Arne Carlsson, president of Scania Latin America, says the company was more than $45 million in the red for the first nine months. The losses, he says, stem from the energy crisis in Brazil; the economic crisis in Argentina; the reduction of economic activity in Asia and Europe; the terrorist attacks in the

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE INTERNATIONAL • Jan. 1, 2002

Editor - Drew Winter bio

Welcome to Ward's AutoWorld Send me an email at: [email protected] For a complete staff listing, click here.

By Ward's Staff Listings • Jan. 1, 2002

Autobytel looks for new sources of revenue

Autobytel Inc., the pioneer of third-party lead referrals to auto dealers, is learning that adaptability may be the key to its survival. No longer does Autobytel see lead generation as its sole means of creating revenue. But the company is by no means abandoning its lead generation model. A J.D. Power survey shows that Autobytel still drives the most online car sales, despite dealers' occasional complaints

By Cliff Banks • Jan. 1, 2002

New leader at Autobytel

Jeffrey Schwartz succeeds Mark Lorimer as President and CEO of Autobytel Autobytel Inc. yesterday announced that Jeffrey Schwartz has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer effective immediately. Mr. Schwartz succeeds Mark Lorimer who resigned as Chief Executive Officer, President and Director. Mr. Schwartz joined the company as Vice Chairman on August 14, 2001 in connection with the

By Wire Reports • Dec. 7, 2001

Dealerships take heat for customers’ lack of navigation system know-how

While penetration of navigation systems remains at less than 1% of the market, the number of cars, vans and light-trucks models that offer factory-installed navigation systems grew from 26 to 45, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2001 Navigation Usage and Satisfaction Study. The number of vehicles with factory-installed navigation systems rose to an estimated 175,000 in the 2001 model year.

Dec. 3, 2001

Misinformation I Can’t Stand It

In a half century of reporting I have never seen any business plagued by such misinformation as the automobile industry. Think for a minute: Can you imagine that the state of California would order the airline companies to provide every traveler to and from the state with a pair of strap-on flapping glider wings? And the passengers would then be ordered to travel by leaping out of a high window and

By Jerry Flint • Dec. 1, 2001

Mexico Goes on Siesta

The good news for Mexico is that the news is not that bad. Forecasts call for vehicle sales in the country to total 830,000 to 850,000 units in 2002, down from some 900,000 deliveries in 2001. But that's not a sharp decrease considering Mexico's history, when a downturn in the heavily relied-upon U.S. market coupled with a recent presidential election likely would have caused an economic collapse.

By Brian Corbett • Dec. 1, 2001

FORECASTING IS MORE ESSENTIAL NOW

Helping good dealers become better has been NCM Associates' mission for more than 54 years. We want to assist you in planning and operating your business in a most proficient manner. With the following information, you should have a point of reference in constructing your 2002 plan. When a tragedy such as the Sept. 11 terrorists' attacks occurs, it creates certain reluctance on the part of the consumer

By Tony Noland • Nov. 1, 2001

Ten myths about multicultural new-car buyers

More than one million people from overseas come to the U.S. every year, and many of them want to show friends and family they are successful by buying a new car. In addition, there are nearly 80 million multicultural Americans already here. This is a huge market for new car salespeople all across the country if you know how to meet the unique needs of people from other cultures. Understanding the

By Michael D. Lee • Nov. 1, 2001

Put It In Perspective

George B. Selden is a pivotal figure in the early history of the automobile, but don't look to see if there are any buildings or freeways in Detroit named after him. There aren't. Nor should there be: Mr. Selden probably did more to stall the progress of the U.S. auto industry than any other man in history. This now obscure figure was an inventor and lawyer who filed the first patent for a road locomotive

By Drew Winter • Nov. 1, 2001

YOUR CHANCE TO SOUND OFF EVERY MONTH

We're starting a new feature, Sound Off. It invites readers to express themselves on a topical question of the month. Feel free to answer the question as well as share your thoughts on the issue. The Question of the Month is: Should the National Automobile Dealers Association have rescheduled its 2002 convention in New Orleans from Feb. 2-5 to Jan. 26-29 to accommodate the Super Bowl? Yes No Undecided

Nov. 1, 2001

Jervis C. Webb: Conveyor King

Jervis Campbell Webb, chairman emeritus of the company founded by his parents, Jervis B. Webb Co. of Farmington Hills, MI, died Oct. 7 in Mt. Vernon, NY. He was 86. Mr. Webb began working at the company, the world's leading designer, manufacturer and installer of conveyor systems, in 1937, eventually rising to president in 1970 and taking over as chairman six years later. An inventor who held several

Nov. 1, 2001

CarsDirect and AAA join forces

Four of the leading AAA (American Automobile Association) clubs in the United States recently selected CarsDirect.com as their online car buying service. Included in the selection are Automobile Club of New York, serving the metropolitan New York area; the California State Automobile Association (CSAA), serving Northern California, Nevada and Utah; AAA Michigan; and AAA Washington, serving central

By Wire Reports • Oct. 19, 2001

Why the NADA bowed to the NFL

Your convention date is set for the first week in February. You’ve booked 17,000 hotel rooms for the annual event. You’ve leased 300,000 square feet of convention center space. You’ve signed 650 contracts for the big event in New Orleans. And then someone asks you to change the dates to make way for their event. OK, that someone is not just anyone. It’s the National Football League. And their event

By Steve Finlay • Oct. 9, 2001

ASBURY AUTOGROUP PRESIDENT AND CEO BRIAN E. KENDRICK DIES

Asbury Autogroup Friday that Brian E. Kendrick, President and Chief Executive Officer, died Thursday evening of a sudden heart attack. Mr. Kendrick was 48. “All of us are deeply saddened by the unexpected and untimely loss of our friend and Chief Executive. Brian was a visionary and his tremendous energy and enthusiasm will be missed. Our thoughts and sympathy are with Brian’s family,” said Timothy

Oct. 8, 2001

Asbury Autogroup President and CEO Brian Kendrick Dies

Brian E. Kendrick, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asbury Autogroup, died Thursday evening of a sudden heart attack. Mr. Kendrick was 48. “All of us are deeply saddened by the unexpected and untimely loss of our friend and Chief Executive. Brian was a visionary and his tremendous energy and enthusiasm will be missed. Our thoughts and sympathy are with Brian’s family,” said Timothy Collins,

By Wire Reports • Oct. 8, 2001

WHAT A FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALL CAN DO

AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR dealers spend millions of dollars promoting their products in the marketplace, yet the final result is often placed in the hands of poorly trained salespersons. A mind set among many auto salespeople is that immediacy is the principal requirement for selling cars. The persistent philosophy for automobile selling during the past half century has been sell the prospects

By Nat Shulman • Oct. 1, 2001

BorgWarner to make dual-clutch auto-manuals

BorgWarner Inc. announces that it has a customer and will begin production in 2003 of its DualTronic automated manual transmission. The DualTronic dual-clutch automated manual improves upon the automatic-shifting manual transmissions currently fitted in several European vehicles by employing two separate gearset shafts, each with its own corresponding wet clutch, to engage and disengage the gears.

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S ENGINE AND VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY UPDATE • Oct. 1, 2001

CASH MANAGEMENT IS A TEAM EFFORT

Jeff Sacks, with whom I conduct our general managers' Boot Camp training, tells of a 20 Group session he spoke at. When he entered the meeting for his presentation, he noted an anchor sitting in front of one participant and an ice chest in front of another. He asked the chairperson why. The answer: Oh, the one with the ice chest is the member with the most frozen capital, and the anchor in front of

By Tony Noland • Oct. 1, 2001