Electric vehicles are reborn and this time they could be here to stay One hundred years ago, the first electric starter was introduced on the 1912 Cadillac. Ironically, its introduction sounded the death knell for the electric vehicle (EV) of …
Dealers are paying closer attention to sustainable business practices The auto business frequently comes under close political scrutiny, not only as it relates to the production and use of the end product (automobiles) but also the facilities that manufacture and …
Uninformed sales staff will turn buyers away It might seem like a minefield, trying to navigate through the features and technology on modern vehicles. Yet armed with product knowledge, learning about them can be a relatively painless experience, both for …
A look at how dealers are enticing customers into their stores and keeping them over the long-term In this age of fickle consumer spending patterns, instant media access and a bewildering choice of products and services on offer, it can …
Finance and Insurance departments adapt to offer more choice Finance and insurance (F&I) departments are doing quite well. According to an Automotive News survey in February, managers were optimistic that 2011 would see even better returns than 2010. Sixty-three percent …
Organized criminals want your cars. Are you using all the available tools to pretext them? Canada has one of the highest rates of car thefts in the world, with about 300 cars being stolen each day, according to Statistics Canada. …
After 29 years, super association executive director Shirley Canty gears down Sitting down with Shirley Canty for an interview to talk about her illustrious career, you get the sense that this whirlwind force doesn’t much like sitting down at all. …
Many dealers are finding that bringing cars to auction is proving increasingly profitable The car business presents both some unique challenges and opportunities. The Great Recession of 2008-09 saw many changes. Perhaps the biggest news was the bankruptcy and subsequent …
Dealer groups continue to grow. What does this mean for you? The trend towards large dealer groups is spreading from coast to coast. Beyond the synergies and the economies of scales, what’s behind this? And is there such a thing …
How Budds’ Oakville, Ontario, Collision Centre is taking front and center stage in the industry “It’s all about Six Sigma,” says Budds’ Collision Vice President and General Manager Sam Piercey, as he draws a little diagram on a piece of …
Dynamic entrepreneur Mike Trotman shares recipe for success When we last caught up with B.C. auto dealer Mike Trotman, he had just been named to the prestigious Top Forty under 40 list by Business in Vancouver magazine. In the course …
So-called infotainment systems, which can provide both information and entertainment, have been around in various forms for more than a decade. They encompass a multitude of possible features ranging from satellite radio service to real-time navigation to emergency reporting services …
