Cars.com plans to restructure sales operations, cut staff amid investor pressure

Cars.com, one of the auto industry's largest online shopping sites, is restructuring its sales operations and eliminating more than 100 positions amid pressure from an activist investment group.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181212/RETAIL/181219856/cars-com-investor-reaction-job-cuts

Vroom collects $146 million in latest funding, eyes expansion with new hires

Upstart online used-car retailer Vroom said it raised $146 million in its latest round of funding, including a previously reported $50 million from AutoNation Inc.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181211/RETAIL/181219888/vroom-collects-146-million-in-latest-funding-eyes-expansion-with-new

Musk slams '60 Minutes' for editing comments about chairman

Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized '60 Minutes' for editing out parts of his responses to questions about losing the role of chairman last month.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181211/OEM02/181219889/musk-60-minutes-twitter

Renting a car in 30 seconds? Hertz and Clear say they can

Hertz and Clear announced the debut of Hertz Fast Lane Powered by Clear, a service that uses biometrics to speed members through the rental car process.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181211/MOBILITY/181219890/hertz-rental-technology-boost

Santa slims down for Audi

Santa Claus takes on a modern look in a new Audi ad that shows him shedding pounds when he endures a bit of a mid-life crisis after realizing that he can't fit into an RS 5 at his current weight.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181211/RETAIL03/181219891/audi-santa-claus-ad-video

China car sales drop at steepest pace in nearly 7 years

China's automobile sales fell about 14 percent in November from a year earlier. It was the steepest decline since January 2012, when the timing of the Lunar New Year holiday hurt auto sales.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181211/GLOBAL03/181219899/china-auto-sales

Cars.com pressured to perform, shake up management or sell

Starboard Value is calling on Cars.com to improve its performance or consider selling itself or making management changes, about nine months after the activist hedge fund reached a settlement agreement with the online auto-dealing platform.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181211/RETAIL/181219900/cars-com-starboard

Chinese dealers aim to learn from, invest in U.S. dealership groups

As new-vehicle sales cool in China, dealers are turning to their highly-respected U.S. counterparts to learn how to create additional revenue streams in stores while preparing for potential investments in the American market.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/VIDEO/312109999/chinese-dealers-aim-to-learn-from-invest-in-u-s-dealership-groups

Kia's redesigned 2020 Soul builds more variety from the same box

While other boxy designs have come and gone #8212; Scion xB, Nissan Cube, Honda Element #8212; Kia's Soul has built longevity through loyalty.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL01/181219969/kia-2020-soul-redesign

Dealerships make strikes toward more ethical culture

Ethical practices in automotive finance have evolved significantly in recent decades, with a boom in automotive retail regulations. Automotive News explores this evolution in this special section.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/FINANCE_AND_INSURANCE/181219995/dealerships-ethics-fi

Chevy launches year-end employee pricing campaign

Chevrolet has launched a national employee pricing sales campaign on all 2018 and some 2019 models through the end of the year.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL01/181219955/chevy-launches-year-end-employee-pricing-campaign

Affordability worries put car dealers in a gloomy mood

Price pressure, rising interest rates and a shrinking supply of affordable vehicles have U.S. dealers worrying more about business as they look toward 2019, according to the Cox Automotive Dealer Sentiment Index survey for the fourth quarter.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL01/181219958/affordability-worries-put-dealers-in-a-gloomy-mood

Cox Automotive economist sees tax season as possible 'disaster' for car dealers

Cox's chief economist warns dealers to be conservative on inventory next spring as changes to the tax law may significantly reduce refunds in 2019.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL01/181209806/tax-refund-season-could-be-a-disaster-this-year

November numbers reflect surprisingly good sales year

Heading into 2018, U.S. auto sales appeared headed for a second-straight annual decline. But it hasn't played out as expected: Sales have remained steady even as incentives were disciplined and prices rose further.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL01/181219962/november-numbers-reflect-surprisingly-good-sales-year

'Crazy Ivan' strategy at M.K. Smith Chevrolet gets used-car shoppers' attention

What does a 2014 Jeep Compass Sport have in common with a Soviet submarine?

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL/181219996/mk-smith-crazy-ivan-used

Florida dealership settles robocall suit for $4.8 million

A Florida store's $4.8 million settlement of a robocalling lawsuit is the latest wake-up call for dealers to remain vigilant about unwanted advertising messages to current and prospective customers.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL07/181219965/florida-dealership-settles-robocall-suit-for-4-8-million

Volvo dealers in California revolt against subscriptions

As Volvo prepares a new and improved version of its Care by Volvo subscroption service, California hears the grumbling of dealer protests.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/RETAIL/181219967/volvo-dealers-in-california-revolt-against-subscriptions

Set ground rules for self-promotion

Self-promotion can erode customer trust, FandI experts caution, and dealerships should have ethical ground rules for displays of personal achievement in the office.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/FINANCE_AND_INSURANCE/181219986/self-promotion-finance-insurance-ethics

Dealerships reconsider title of FandI manager

Whether it's better for mitigating sales resistance from customers or preventing cash-buyer confusion, some dealerships stray from the traditional title of finance and insurance manager.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/FINANCE_AND_INSURANCE/181219987/dealerships-title-fi-manager

Perfecting the vehicle sales-FandI handoff

DCH Millburn Audi in New Jersey has spent the last several years perfecting the sales-to-FandI handoff. The strategy has not only improved the sales process for the customer, but also increased the store's FandI profit.

source http://www.autonews.com/article/20181210/FINANCE_AND_INSURANCE/181219988/finance-insurance-sales-handoff