Like taking a trip to the future
I’m recently back from the CADA Study Tour in China, so I thought I’d share some initial thoughts. This won’t be a deep dive. Look for that to follow in upcoming issues. It certainly warrants a deeper dive and far …
News
Dealers have a used advantage
One challenge dealers have is that most have spent a lifetime inside the auto industry — they drive dealership demo vehicles, and don’t have a current sense of what it’s like for a consumer to shop for or purchase a vehicle, …
With leadership comes incredible responsibility
A reflection on leaders that have truly made a lasting impact I was recently on vacation with my wife in Europe and we decided to stop in Zug, Switzerland where we used to live for a year. We wanted to …
Are we facing car-flation?
Vehicle prices have risen more than many consumer goods, but the margin isn’t as wide as you might expect While walking through the Canadian International AutoShow something stood out to me: the prices of the vehicles on display. There has …
Transforming F&I departments with AI
How Canadian dealers can boost profits, efficiency, and customer experience Artificial Intelligence has been making headlines everywhere. Maybe you’ve started managing your schedule or getting help to draft emails you’d rather not write yourself. Now, as you gain comfort with AI tools, you …
Unlocking the power of AI
An Artificial Intelligence tsunami is on the way. The people that understand how to use the power behind it are going to have a new lease on their careers. The depth of value offered by artificial intelligence to a dealership’s …
Tips to make the most of your marketing
In times of uncertainty, execution is your edge to drive leads and business into your dealership Economic uncertainty is rising. Consumers are cautious. New vehicle demand may dip. But for smart dealers, that’s not a reason to panic — it’s a reason to …
What makes a good leader?
Leadership is more important than ever to weather storms Today’s business and political conversations are filled with questions of leadership. Who are the right leaders to move our country to the next level? Which automotive leaders can help us through …
Real or mirage?
2025 offers a unique window of opportunity to improve Canadian competitiveness For much of the last decade, Canada’s competitiveness and productivity levels have been a quiet undercurrent in national conversations, a slow burn behind the more pressing headlines of partisan …
Women techs face real hurdles: Part 2 of 2
Canadian auto dealer columnist Wolfgang Koehler shares what female techs told him about what it’s like being a woman in our industry. We can do better. In the previous issue, I wrote about a personal account of a female service technician …
Technology boosts F&I success
F&I providers are modernizing their offerings to better meet the needs of dealers and car buyers The way dealers sell finance and insurance products has been evolving due to a number of factors including government regulations, the growing trend of digital purchasing, …
The perils of mixing business and politics
There is little doubt we are living in tumultuous times. Everything from the weather to the Superbowl halftime show have become heavily politicized. The current economic and political climate has left the public deeply polarized and increasingly agitated. Sharing personal …
