Dealers' termination tales: ?It just wasn't right'

As the 2010 lawsuit filed by 280 Chrysler dealers who lost their franchises heads to a trial in the Federal Court of Claims next week, many dealers are reminded of the trauma they faced a decade ago.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/dealers-termination-tales-it-just-wasnt-right

Ira Rosenberg, who co-founded Prime Motor Group, dies at 82

Dealer Ira Rosenberg, who started Ira Motor Group near Boston in 1975 and sold it 25 years later to public retailer Group 1 Automotive Inc., died last week from complications following a fall in February. He was 82.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/ira-rosenberg-who-co-founded-prime-motor-group-dies-82

GPB legal troubles of Prime concern

As federal and state investigations into the majority owner of Prime Automotive Group intensify, concern grows about the future of one of the largest, and fastest-growing, dealership groups in the country.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/gpb-legal-troubles-prime-concern

Jettisoned Chrysler dealers challenge U.S. in court

Almost 300 of the Chrysler dealers whose franchises were terminated in the 2009 bailout will continue their fight in Washington on April 8, nine years after they sued the U.S. Treasury.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/jettisoned-chrysler-dealers-challenge-us-court

Young buyers will want small, efficient

Young car buyers will want small, fuel-efficient vehicles and automakers should prepare for the demand, write one Automotive News reader in a letter to the editor.

source https://www.autonews.com/letter-editor/young-buyers-will-want-small-efficient

U.S. sales drop with no reason for buying

"Consumers simply haven't had a compelling reason to buy," Cox Automotive's chief economist said.

source https://www.autonews.com/sales/us-sales-drop-no-reason-buying

Lender seeks Nissan store, car wash foreclosure

The dealership group owned by two former NFL players and auto industry veteran Michael Saporito faces new litigation by Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp., which seeks to foreclose on a Nissan dealership and a car wash in Luzerne County, Pa.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/lender-seeks-nissan-store-car-wash-foreclosure

Jeep Gladiator pickup will be a premium player

Jeep is following the same pricing mantra as it does for the Wrangler: Versatility comes with a cost. The priciest Gladiator pickups, fully loaded, will top $60,000.

source https://www.autonews.com/retail/jeep-gladiator-pickup-will-be-premium-player

Jeep Gladiator will be a premium player, starting above $35,000

Jeep is following the same pricing mantra as it does for the Wrangler: Versatility comes with a cost. The priciest Gladiators, fully loaded, will top $60,000.

source https://www.autonews.com/retail/jeep-gladiator-will-be-premium-player-starting-above-35000

Ira Rosenberg, longtime New England dealer, dies at 82

Dealer Ira Rosenberg, who started Ira Motor Group near Boston in 1975 and sold it 25 years later to public retailer Group 1 Automotive Inc., died Thursday from complications after a fall last month. He was 82.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/ira-rosenberg-longtime-new-england-dealer-dies-82

Auto industry unites to oppose Trump import tariffs

Groups representing many arms of the auto industry -- automakers, dealers, parts suppliers and aftermarket companies alike -- are in lockstep in their opposition to new import levies being considered by the White House, a rarity for an industry that often disagrees on major policies.

source https://www.autonews.com/automakers-suppliers/auto-industry-unites-oppose-trump-import-tariffs

U.S. auto sales expected to fall again in March

New U.S. light-vehicle sales are projected to fall for the third straight month in March. Affordability concerns, higher interest rates and an uncertain regulatory outlook are keeping some would-be shoppers at home, analysts say.

source https://www.autonews.com/retail/us-auto-sales-expected-fall-again-march

Proposed FTC rules mean dealers should bolster consumer data protection

Dealers should be most concerned about proposed amendments to the Safeguards Rule, which would require the use of encryption and multi-tiered authentication for access to sensitive customer data and periodic reports on customer data protection to the leadership team.

source https://www.autonews.com/finance-insurance/proposed-ftc-rules-mean-dealers-should-bolster-consumer-data-protection

Compliance remains key, even in seemingly dry regulatory climate

The stream of regulatory actions brought against auto dealers in the past few years appears to have slowed to a trickle, and the retailers are taking note. But even in such a climate, dealers need to make compliance a priority.

source https://www.autonews.com/fi-blog/compliance-remains-key-even-seemingly-dry-regulatory-climate

Ford pilots site for online used vehicle shopping

FindYourFord.com compiles a listing of used vehicles from multiple dealerships in one place.

source https://www.autonews.com/retail/ford-pilots-site-online-used-vehicle-shopping

Nissan captive agrees to pay $2.2 million to settle robocall suit

Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp. was accused of calling noncustomer cellphones without obtaining consent, violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. As many as 10,000 consumers could have been affected.

source https://www.autonews.com/finance-insurance/nissan-captive-agrees-pay-22-million-settle-robocall-suit

Potential tariff hikes threaten Subaru's 87-month U.S. streak

Subaru's more than seven year-long string of monthly U.S. sales gains may end if the Trump administration increases tariffs on cars and auto parts.

source https://www.autonews.com/sales/potential-tariff-hikes-threaten-subarus-87-month-us-streak

Potential tariff hikes threaten Subaru's 87-month U.S. sales streak

Subaru's more than seven year-long string of monthly U.S. sales gains may end if the Trump administration increases tariffs on cars and auto parts.

source https://www.autonews.com/sales/potential-tariff-hikes-threaten-subarus-87-month-us-sales-streak

EV startup startup Canoo will offer cars by subscription only

Canoo is positioning itself as a "boutique California EV brand" and said it will start sales in the United States in 2021, eventually expanding to China.

source https://www.autonews.com/retail/ev-startup-startup-canoo-will-offer-cars-subscription-only

Dealers get a glimpse of Bronco prototype

The SUV will headline a "family" of off-roaders that will eventually include a small unibody pickup.

source https://www.autonews.com/sales/dealers-get-glimpse-bronco-prototype

Porsche stores to the max

Just opened in Southern California this month, Porsche Palm Springs is the first store out of the chute for Destination Porsche, the new design plan for the brand's stores worldwide.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/porsche-stores-max

Want that security deposit? See you in court

The collapse of the Reagor Dykes retail group has left behind a mess at its store in Plainview, Texas. And the landlord wants it cleaned up.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/want-security-deposit-see-you-court

Porsche sketches a future built of brick and mortar

The brand envisions its dealerships as places to not only transact business, but also soak up Porsche culture.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/porsche-sketches-future-built-brick-and-mortar

Solar garden aims to cut energy, insurance costs

Dallas-area dealer Stan Graff plans to install 37 new car canopies topped with solar panels that could lower his hail insurance costs.

source https://www.autonews.com/best-practices/solar-garden-aims-cut-energy-insurance-costs

Check out the top 150 U.S. dealership groups

Industry disruption? Our annual ranking shows big retailers aren't hesitating to invest more of their profits in the traditional dealership model.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/check-out-top-150-us-dealership-groups

Dealer anniversaries

Featured this week is Larry Wind, president of Woltz & Wind Ford in Heidelberg, Pa.

source https://www.autonews.com/dealers/dealer-anniversaries-11

Rocky start?

Despite the early stumbles, vehicle subscription services aren't going away.

source https://www.autonews.com/shift/rocky-start

Time for no-haggle?

Here's a story about a dealer who did something unconventional, and it paid off, at least in the short term.

source https://www.autonews.com/shift/time-no-haggle

Who will call the shots?

As digital retailing moves to the forefront, some dealers worry that automakers will dictate their paths to the future.

Automakers have historically required dealers to use specific vendors for various tasks. John Malishenko, director of operations for Germain Motor Co., a dealership group with stores in Ohio, Michigan and Florida, questions whether automakers trust dealers' ability to adapt to digital retailing.

"In the dealer body, there's this lowest common denominator of guys that are just still doing business the way they've always done it," he said. "And then there's guys like us that are a bit more innovative, more digital. We've embraced the changes in the market."

Malishenko predicts that more automakers will mandate a centralized digital system.

"But that lowest common denominator solution is antiquated for me. It's actually limiting for me because I want to move beyond that. I want to go deeper," Malishenko said. "I want to do more, but you have this standardized, centralized solution."

Kevin Frye, e-commerce director for Jeff Wyler Automotive Family — with dealerships in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana — agrees. With the number of franchises Jeff Wyler has, the stores could end up using eight to nine digital retailing platforms to fulfill automaker mandates.

"Our brand is Jeff Wyler, and we want to have one uniform experience for online digital retailing," Frye said.

Still, Frye added, automakers realize that many dealers are reluctant to change, and one of automakers' priorities is protecting their brand image, value and position in the market.

For example, if one automaker mandates a digital retailing platform and another doesn't, and the dealers that don't have a mandate aren't pursuing digital retailing strategies on their own, the second automaker may be at a disadvantage. "The earliest example of something similar to this would be the early days with [General Motors] mandating websites" with a specific vendor, said Frye. Some dealers, he added, "were too stubborn to believe in the Internet and to get websites, so they had to protect their brand."

source https://www.autonews.com/shift/who-will-call-shots

Diving into digital

Auto dealerships face a challenge: They have to put the digital retailing system in place, market it to consumers and change the culture in-store.

source https://www.autonews.com/shift/diving-digital