View from the top
Canadian auto dealer sat down with Tim Reuss, President & CEO of Mercedes-Benz Canada to find out more about his strategy for Canada in 2012 and beyond 2011 was a very good year for Mercedes-Benz Canada, and it was a …
Category: General
The buzz from the show floor
From hot new products to social events and conference workshops, it was an action-packed few days at North America’s largest annual conference and trade show for auto dealers It was more than just a “feeling” that attendance was brisk and …
February sales continue strong
So January wasn’t a fluke! New vehicle sales in Canada during February were up 11.2 per cent from the same month in 2011, backing up January’s strong start. And, for the second consecutive month, Chrysler outsold Ford and General Motors …
A rewarding experience
Rewards and loyalty programs are useful tools to keep your customers from slipping away It’s a good day when a dealership is able to attract a new customer and watch the new car owner drive off the lot for the …
With a little help for my friends
An update on the Mechanics Beyond Borders project Back in the mid-fifties, my dad was a service manager of a Reliant dealership: “A three wheeler as used by Mr. Bean!” I was eight when I started going to the workshop …
Keeping tabs on the pulse of your dealership
New software tools evolve to handle the complexity of managing dealerships Dealership management software (DMS) programs are well-known tools to help streamline operations and boost sales. Yet choosing the best system for your needs is no easy task. The systems …
Attack the aftermarket
The aftermarket is killing you. What can you do to fight back? It’s a hot topic of contention, dealers versus aftermarket vendors and independent repair shops. The general perception among the public is that taking your car to an independent …
Housing market spooks economy
Canada’s economic foundations are sound Everywhere you look there seems to be another dire warning on the state of Canada’s housing market. Homes are overvalued by huge margins, screams one headline. Consumers are in debt up to their ears, warns …
Let’s not be fuel efficiency fools
As the price of gas increases, consumers become increasingly interested in the fuel efficiency of their vehicles, and in fuel efficiency in general According to a survey conducted by Synovate last year, fuel economy was the third most important concern …
Dealers flock to TADA’s Social Media Boot Camp
It was a packed house for the first social media boot camp event put on by the Trillium Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) in Toronto last week. Dealers from across Ontario, and even one from Vancouver, came to roll up their …
Canadian auto dealers launch class action over alleged price-fixing
Canadian auto dealers have launched class action lawsuits over alleged price-fixing by auto parts manufacturers. Three class action lawsuits have been launched in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice seeking more than $700 million in damages on behalf of Canadian …
TADA wins battle against higher gas taxes and tolls
The Toronto Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) says it has successfully fought off an attempt by the Ontario government to bring new regional gas taxes and road tolls to the province. These extra costs were recommended by Don Drummond, the Chair …
