Rolls-Royce names BMW exec its new sales VP for Americas

Matthew Boguradzki will take over for Martin Fritsches, who was named president of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Americas in August.

source https://www.autonews.com/executives/rolls-royce-names-bmw-exec-its-new-sales-vp-americas

Cold, shutdown hinder Jan. sales

New U.S. light-vehicle sales are expected to be little changed in January from the start of 2018, though the record cold sweeping through the Midwest makes a decline more probable.

source https://www.autonews.com/sales/cold-shutdown-hinder-jan-sales

Cold, shutdown hinder January sales

New U.S. light-vehicle sales are expected to be little changed in January from the start of 2018, though the record cold sweeping through the Midwest makes a decline more probable.

source https://www.autonews.com/sales/cold-shutdown-hinder-january-sales

Ford adding overtime Ranger production as first-month sales hit 1,200

Kumar Galhotra, Ford's president of North America, said more than 300,000 hand-raisers have indicated they'd like to purchase the vehicle.

source https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/ford-adding-overtime-ranger-production-first-month-sales-hit-1200

Ally's originations rise on used vehicles, fall on new

Ally Financial's used-vehicle originations continued to grow in the fourth quarter, driven in part by loans to Carvana, DriveTime and CarMax customers, while total auto originations fell.

source https://www.autonews.com/finance-insurance/allys-originations-rise-used-vehicles-fall-new

Ally's used originations rise, while new originations fall

Ally Financial's used-vehicle originations continued to grow in the fourth quarter, driven in part by loans to Carvana, DriveTime and CarMax customers, while total auto originations fell.

source https://www.autonews.com/finance-insurance/allys-used-originations-rise-while-new-originations-fall

Digital tools are changing the art of F&I

The spread of online loan applications and product transparency is leading to a new outlook for dealership F&I departments.

source https://www.autonews.com/finance-insurance/digital-tools-are-changing-art-fi

Honda Passport starts at $33,035

The 2019 Honda Passport, which goes on sale next week, will carry a higher price tag than most of its competitors.

source https://www.autonews.com/retail/honda-passport-starts-33035

Dealers push back harder against mandates to upgrade stores

Dealership improvement costs have become a perennial headache, especially as dealers evaluate investments in a tight-margin market that's becoming increasingly digital.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/dealers-push-back-harder-against-mandates-upgrade-stores

Detroit auto show's attendance drops 4.3% in final winter year

DETROIT -- The 2019 Detroit auto show drew 774,179 total ticketed attendees this year, a drop of 4.3 percent, or 35,000 people from last year.

The 16-day Cobo Center event — which includes media, industry and public days — was its last show in the winter before shifting to June in 2020, was plagued by snowfall and intermittent severely cold weather.

The nine-day public show, which started Jan. 19, wrapped up Sunday with 100,757 attendees on that final day, according to a news release.

A figure for total attendance during just the public show days wasn't immediately available.

The show had an estimated economic impact of $430 million on the metro Detroit region, David Sowerby, managing director at Ancora, said in the release — the equivalent to hosting nearly two NFL Super Bowls a year in Detroit.

"Detroit displayed every facet of the mobility industry over the past two weeks, welcoming visitors from across the globe," 2019 NAIAS Chairman Bill Golling said in the release. "From startups showcasing their innovative technologies to executive discussions on a driverless future to industry giants standing on the world stage revealing brand-defining products and technologies, NAIAS was an incredible platform for one of the most exciting times in the history of our industry."

This year's formal Charity Preview event on Jan. 18 raised more than $4 million for children's charities with 10,072 attendees. Protesters outside the preview event used the forum to rally against General Motors' plans to idle five plants in the U.S. and Canada this year.

The annual fundraiser has raised more than $121 million since its founding by the Detroit Auto Dealers Association in 1976. The DADA produces the Detroit auto show.

An exhibition called the Gallery kicked off the auto show. In its 13th year, it drew more than 500 attendees to a display of cars and other automobiles worth $10 million.

AutoMobili-D, the Detroit auto show's mobility technology showcase, drew 46 percent more exhibiting participants this year, the release said. Sixty-five startups were there, as well as major automakers, suppliers and universities including Kettering University and Michigan State University.

Media preview days drew 4,568 journalists and the industry preview saw 35,185 automotive and technology executives from 1,679 companies.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/detroit-auto-shows-attendance-drops-43-final-winter-year

Dealer pushback against mandates to upgrade stores intensifies

Dealership improvement costs have become a perennial headache, especially as dealers evaluate investments in a tight-margin market that's becoming increasingly digital.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/dealer-pushback-against-mandates-upgrade-stores-intensifies

Dealer pushback against factory demands to upgrade stores grows

Dealership improvement costs have become a perennial headache, especially as dealers evaluate investments in a tight-margin market that's becoming increasingly digital.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/dealer-pushback-against-factory-demands-upgrade-stores-grows

Dealer pushback heightens against automakers' demands for store improvements

Dealership improvement costs have become a perennial headache, especially as dealers evaluate investments in a tight-margin market that's becoming increasingly digital.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/dealer-pushback-heightens-against-automakers-demands-store-improvements

Put it on your bucket list

The National Automobile Dealers Association convention is an information-sharing event worth attending, says Automotive News Editor-In-Chief Keith Crain.

source https://www.autonews.com/keith-crain/put-it-your-bucket-list

Dealer anniversary

Dealers featured this week include Manfred Scharmach, owner of BMW Northwest in Tacoma, Wash.; and Big Red Kia in Norman, Okla.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/dealer-anniversary

Retailer bets on body shops ? and wins

Louisiana dealer Ray Brandt took on the unfamiliar challenge of opening a body shop 30 years ago. He's glad he did; he now operates six of them in two states.

source https://www.autonews.com/best-practices/retailer-bets-body-shops-and-wins

Calif. group struggled for years, records show

Three floorplan lenders to Momentum Auto Group, which closed the doors to seven dealerships in November, have sued the dealership group, painting a picture of loan defaults dating to 2016.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/calif-group-struggled-years-records-show

Let dealers invest in innovation, not renovations

In a business that is increasingly going online, why should auto dealers put millions of dollars into a Taj Mahal?

source https://www.autonews.com/editorial/let-dealers-invest-innovation-not-renovations

EV race heats up with Leaf E Plus

Nissan's boosted battery range has put the Leaf E Plus back into the fight for the EV segment, a market spot where it once dominated.

source https://www.autonews.com/retail/ev-race-heats-leaf-e-plus

Import dealers, facing tariff threat, step up lobbying

Import brands are asking more dealers to take up the fight against potential tariffs this year. Says Toyota: It's not politics -- it's policies.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/import-dealers-facing-tariff-threat-step-lobbying

Import dealers step up lobbying

Import brands are asking more dealers to take up the fight against import tariffs this year. Says Toyota: It's not politics -- it's policies.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/import-dealers-step-lobbying

Hyundai previews Super Bowl spot for dealers, introduces interim CEO

Hyundai will use the Super Bowl to highlight its Shopper Assurance program, the foundation of a revamped retail strategy designed to make the buying process more efficient and consumer friendly.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/hyundai-previews-super-bowl-spot-dealers-introduces-interim-ceo

Mitsubishi: 1 in 7 U.S. stores set for upgrade

Fifty of Mitsubishi Motors' about 355 U.S. stores have agreed to facility upgrades, Mark Chaffin, COO of Mitsubishi Motors North America, said Sunday after the brand's make meeting with dealers.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/mitsubishi-1-7-us-stores-set-upgrade

Toyota vows to beef up utility lineup, stay committed to cars

Toyota Division General Manager Jack Hollis told dealers the brand intends to introduce 19 new, redesigned or freshened vehicles over the next three years. But EVs will come later when there is a solid business case that delivers profits.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/toyota-vows-beef-utility-lineup-stay-committed-cars

Supply seen squeezing Subaru sales

Subaru would be forecasting even higher U.S. sales for 2019 but it's short on factory capacity now, says CEO Tom Doll.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/supply-seen-squeezing-subaru-sales

Gilchrist: Technician shortage ?dangerous'

The automotive retail industry is facing a shortage of roughly 76,000 technicians each year between now and 2026. To help combat the chronic shortfall, Charlie Gilchrist says the NADA Foundation has launched a new initiative to train techs.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/gilchrist-technician-shortage-dangerous

Ford: Separate stores are key for Lincoln

Company officials, including Ford CEO Jim Hackett, used the brand's annual make meeting to stress their belief in the importance of standalone showrooms.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/ford-separate-stores-are-key-lincoln

M-B: Better dealer profitability expected in '19

Dealer profitability at Mercedes-Benz inched 0.1 percent higher last year, the luxury maker told its retailers at the make meeting Saturday. It should be better in 2019.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/m-b-better-dealer-profitability-expected-19

Cadillac focuses on products, profits in 2019

Product and profits were the main discussions between Cadillac executives and dealers Saturday at the NADA Show.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/cadillac-focuses-products-profits-2019

Will Red McCombs do your dishes?

Red McCombs Automotive is using Super Bowl Sunday to do some lighthearted branding with its 91-year-old founder.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/will-red-mccombs-do-your-dishes

GM opens up vendors for dealers

Part of those expanded choices include providers other than CDK Global for dealer websites -- a major concern for many retailers.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/gm-opens-vendors-dealers

BMW's stair-step review a hot topic

BMW told dealers that it will reconsider how its sales incentives program works, with changes coming as early as 2020.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/bmws-stair-step-review-hot-topic

Dealers sign up to spread safe-driving message

The National Foundation for Teen Safe Driving unveiled its "So Let's Do This" initiative, which will provide participating dealers with materials, instruction and guidance to operate safe-driving campaigns.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/dealers-sign-spread-safe-driving-message

Silverado will help '19 fleet growth

As Chevrolet launches a redesigned light-duty Silverado in tandem with a new medium-duty version of the pickup, General Motors' head of fleet sales is "bullish" for another year of growth in 2019.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/silverado-will-help-19-fleet-growth

For many at 2019 NADA Show, it's all about networking

The annual NADA Show isn't just about the make meetings and keynote addresses, the presentations and exposition. It's also a chance to mix and mingle with auto executives and fellow dealers. Photos by Joe Wilssens.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/many-2019-nada-show-its-all-about-networking

For many at the NADA Show, it's all about the networking

The annual NADA Show isn't just about the make meetings and keynote addresses, the presentations and exposition. It's also a chance to mix and mingle with auto executives and fellow dealers. Photos by Joe Wilssens.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/many-nada-show-its-all-about-networking

Fixed ops can be insurance in scary times

Even as dealers wrestle with questions about what the future may bring, they shouldn't forget about the insurance policy that a robust parts-and-service operation can provide.

source https://www.autonews.com/blogs/fixed-ops-can-be-insurance-scary-times

Utility market opportunity boosts Kia

The new Telluride and the X-Line version of the Soul should give Kia a better shot at the booming utility market, while also boosting dealers, said Bill Peffer, vice president of sales operations for Kia Motors America.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/utility-market-opportunity-boosts-kia

Ford details customer rewards program

The automaker last year announced vague plans for a rewards program that's part of a larger focus on customer retention. Executives used Saturday's NADA make meeting to reveal new details about the program, which is expected to launch as early as April.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/ford-details-customer-rewards-program

Share of digital ad spending increases

Dealers share of digital ad spending continues to grow, though it will at a slower clip over the next two years than the past five years. While digital is king, dealers say traditional advertising still works.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/share-digital-ad-spending-increases

Will Hyundai dealers finally get pickup news?

Hyundai dealers have little to complain about regarding product, but a pickup would nicely cap its expanded line of light trucks.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/will-hyundai-dealers-finally-get-pickup-news

Volvo to dealers: 'Take a breath' over subscription services

The company's top North American executive opened Saturday's make meeting with a message: Volvo isn't backing away from its commitments to dealers then implored them to "take a breath" over subscription services.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/volvo-dealers-take-breath-over-subscription-services

Honda debuts first Passport ad for dealers

Honda is ready to launch an outdoorsy ad campaign for its new Passport crossover, a model it hopes will reach both city drivers and off-road-leaning consumers.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/honda-debuts-first-passport-ad-dealers

Keogh tells Volkswagen dealers he'll get brand's house in order

VW dealers could tell things had changed just by listening to the presenters in their 2019 make meeting at NADA. For the first time in decades, there were no German accents.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/keogh-tells-volkswagen-dealers-hell-get-brands-house-order

China's Zotye rolls out U.S. dealers for 2020 launch

Zotye USA named its first U.S. franchised dealers Saturday, a group that plans 19 stores coast to coast. They could be among the first U.S. dealers to sell Chinese vehicles under a Chinese brand name.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/chinas-zotye-rolls-out-us-dealers-2020-launch

CDK wants to be a better partner

CDK says it is expanding its customer service operations, including adding staff and hours, increasing site visits and simplifying bills. CDK CEO Brian Krzanich sat down with Automotive News.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/cdk-wants-be-better-partner

Despite Lexus, Toyota success, brands looking ahead

Lexus and Toyota dealers repeatedly rank the Japanese brands as "most liked." So what's left to talk about during a make meeting Sunday morning? Plenty, it turns out.

source https://www.autonews.com/nada-show/despite-lexus-toyota-success-brands-looking-ahead

As the lineup expands, keep Hyundai's price advantage

Value has always been a big selling point for Hyundai. And Scott Stark, president of South Point Automotive Group in Austin, Texas, hopes it stays that way as the brand revamps its lineup with a batch of new crossovers that align better with consumer demand.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/lineup-expands-keep-hyundais-price-advantage

Toyota sticks by its cars but looks for niches to fill

Toyota believes in cars, even as other automakers abandon them for crossovers and SUVs. But the Japanese automaker and its dealers have also learned a valuable lesson about persistence from their success with the Toyota Tacoma.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/toyota-sticks-its-cars-looks-niches-fill

Lexus retailers prepared to handle plateauing market

The outgoing chairman of the Lexus National Dealer Advisory Council says his brand is as prepared as any to handle a plateauing market, but it could use some help on the upper end of its product lineup.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/lexus-retailers-prepared-handle-plateauing-market