Law Calls for Written Pay Plans for Commissioned Staffers

Many car dealers throughout the country could face legal problems regarding how their commissioned-based employees are paid. The warning comes as new legislation goes on the books in New York that requires written pay plans for commissioned employees that spell out worker classification, payment of wages, and calculation of commissions. Without such a written pay plan in place, the burden of proof

Aug. 1, 2008

New NHTSA Crash Ratings Draw Lukewarm Reaction

A new overall “Vehicle Safety Score” combining the star ratings from front, side and rollover procedures arrives with ’10 model testing.

By James M. Amend • July 11, 2008

Law of Diminishing Returns

First runs for cars at auctions usually yield higher price offers, says a Citi Financial Auto and AutoIMS study. Using 2007 Adessa Inc. data the study indicates 83% of vehicles sell at auctions on their first runs through the lanes and fetch prices averaging 103% above market prices. If the cars have to be run a second or third time, says study co-author Layne Weber, the price dropped quite a bit

By Mac Gordon • July 1, 2008

Bike Makers’ Patent Battle May Reveal India’s Hand

Multinational auto makers have been fighting IPR infringement in a number of emerging markets, and a strong policy in India would give them greater confidence to introduce new technology and designs.

By Sudhakar Shah • June 2, 2008

Move Your Inventory Faster

If you are like many dealers, you wrote down some used-vehicle inventory at the end of the year. As a result, you may have instituted a mandatory turn policy that, when a unit hits a certain age, it must be disposed of. A turn policy is a step in the right direction, but not without addressing the behavior that created the aging and wholesale losses in the first place? To illustrate my point, let's

By Tony Albertson • June 1, 2008

Smart Fortwo Scores Well in IIHS Crash Test

Smart Fortwo’s NHTSA crash-test results were mixed.

By Ward's Staff • May 14, 2008

Dingell Resubmits Cap-and-Trade to Help Regulate Greenhouse-Gas Emissions

The Congressman also reiterates his concern over multiple agencies with regulatory authority to limit tailpipe pollutants through enforcement of new corporate average fuel economy rules.

By James M. Amend • April 11, 2008

Subprime Auto Lending Firm Emerges From Ashes

New subprime lender replaces one that got burned by government agency.

By Steve Finlay • March 25, 2008

Pontiac Optimistic About Performance Image Despite Stricter CAFE

Pontiac unveils at the New York auto show today a top-of-the-range ’08 G8 GXP motivated by a 6.2L V-8 that premiered in the ’08 Chevy Corvette.

By James M. Amend • March 19, 2008

Dealers Protect Their Interests

Dealers at the 2008 National Automobile Dealers Assn. convention in San Francisco vowed to fight excessive regulations; urged auto dealers to listen to them more; heard auto executives praise their efforts; and walked an expo floor filled with more than 600 exhibitors.

March 1, 2008

HHR SS Harbinger of CAFE-Driven Market

The HHR SS executes in a manner befitting its SS moniker and truck-based heritage – without all the guilt of overindulgence.

By James M. Amend • Feb. 21, 2008

Planes Crash Over Dealerships; 5 Die

Five people were killed when two small planes collided over Corona, CA, and debris rained down on a busy commercial strip of auto dealerships. Four victims of the Jan. 20 accident were aboard the two aircraft that crashed about a mile from Corona Municipal Airport, says the National Transportation Safety Board. The fifth victim was killed on the ground after falling debris, including part of a cockpit,

Feb. 1, 2008

Helping Dealers Sleep at Night

Dealers across the country are barraged with harassment and discrimination suits, credit fraud, false advertising and other potential regulatory hassles, experts say. Trying to comply with all those regulations can unnerve even the most cool-headed dealers. The top two challenges facing dealers today are managing overall profits and compliance issues, says Raphael Carty, vice president-marketing at

By Lillie Guyer • Feb. 1, 2008

Compliance Guide Help Dealers Sort Through the Regs

DealerTrack's revised Compliance Guide is available this month. The 47-page guide offers tips to protect dealerships in all compliance areas. Its seven sections cover rules, regulations, laws and best practices in: Privacy, security and identity theft Credit applications and contracts Marketing and advertising for new and used cars Aftermarket selling, including service contracts and insurance Arbitration

Feb. 1, 2008

Penalty System Remains Same With New CAFE Law

Auto makers will find cold comfort in an enforcement structure that will remain largely unchanged with a new energy law that raises federal fuel economy standards by 40% and could cost OEMs billions of dollars. It will be similar to the existing structure, a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tells Ward's. Pelosi led the charge for a stricter corporate average fuel economy standard. Under

By James M. Amend • Jan. 1, 2008

ExxonMobil Improving Li-ion Safety, Performance

The company’s new separator film has improved thermal-management qualities, which are aimed at addressing fire-related safety concerns of lithium-ion batteries.

By Mike Sutton • Dec. 10, 2007

French Auto Industry Embraces Competitiveness Clusters

In 2005, as China and India experienced rapid growth as low-cost players in the global economy, the French government could see the writing on the wall. To compete with these emerging economic superpowers, French companies would need to step up their game. The government announced a plan to spend 1.5 billion ($2.2 billion) over three years to form of high-tech expertise that would allow French companies

By Tom Murphy • Dec. 1, 2007

New CAFE Standards Imminent, Insiders Say

Although a compromise could silence a long-standing argument between the industry, politicians and special interest groups, there are few winners in the debate.

By James M. Amend • Nov. 27, 2007

ZAP Awaits Court Decision on Smart Lawsuit

The lawsuit, initially filed in October of 2005, claims Daimler and Smart engaged in unlawful actions to eliminate ZAP as a competitor in the California market.

By Alan Harman • Nov. 20, 2007

Fast-Growing Russian Car Market Slow to Regulate Vehicle Emissions

The country plans to move to Euro 3 standards in 2008, bumping up to Euro 4 by 2010, as the EU currently prepares for Euro 5 and 6.

By Byron Pope • Oct. 30, 2007

Compliance Is Here to Stay

Terry Dortch of Automotive Compliance Consultants has compiled 168 pages of news items from various sources about finance and insurance compliance, regulations, violations, fines and continuing infractions that still trouble the industry.

By Jim Leman • Oct. 1, 2007

California Loves Dealerships

SACRAMENTO, CA - Californians love their cars, but California cities love their car dealerships.The reason: dealerships are major sources of municipal revenues in a state where local governments can levy their own sales tax with voter approval.

By Steve Finlay • Aug. 1, 2007

UAW Makes Pitch for Hill-Terry CAFE Proposal

The union’s plea arrives ahead of expectations that Democrats keen to increase the fuel average could try to push a rival amendment this week.

By James M. Amend • July 31, 2007

Mechanic’s Invention Aims to Mitigate Fire-Related Accident Injuries

An Australian mechanic’s automotive safety innovation is a front-runner for a prestigious inventor’s award.

By Alan Harman • July 23, 2007

Dealers Lobby for Looser CAFE Rules Amid Fresh Industry Criticism

Auto makers, dealers and the UAW consider the Senate’s 35-mpg CAFE requirement unrealistic, insisting it fails to take into account consumer demand and marketplace realities.

By James M. Amend • July 18, 2007