The buying game
In the long days of summer, the automotive retail industry feels a little sleepy. A lot of dealers, and most Canadians, take a little downtime, hang out at the cottage, or take summer road trips. But even though it might …
News
Every business is a software business
This quote has been making the rounds widely in various forms, and is increasingly being touted as an obvious truth. And frankly I agree. It seems to have been first attributed to Watts S. Humphrey, an American pioneer in software …
Dealers adapt to F&I changes
Changing consumer demands and new technology are impacting the F&I office experience. Dealers are starting to adapt. An increasing number of car dealers are feeling the pressure: consumers want transparency when it comes to the full cost of vehicle ownership, …
Trends that are transforming the automotive marketplace
Electric vehicles and advanced technology trends are increasingly impacting the automotive space, but customer service and satisfaction still remain a key recipe for dealer success. The nature of change in the automotive industry has occurred at an increasing rate in …
A glimpse into the future?
The U.K. experience with mobility and transportation changes could be a window into Canada’s future. Change and disruption is coming; it’s real and very apparent. If you hang around the transportation space in the U.K. for only a brief period …
One state to rule them all, one state to bind them
The fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards debate deepens and becomes more complex. Forgive the Lord of the Rings parody in the title, but I couldn’t help thinking about that line when it was announced a couple of weeks …
One emission standard is all we need
As Canada aligns itself with California on emissions standards, it may be easy to forget that a single North American standard is what we need — and what will deliver the most benefits. As we head into the fall election, …
How do you want to be remembered?
There may be fewer new-vehicle customers around in the next few years, which means dealers will need to make a good, memorable impression to appeal to consumers’ emotions. New vehicle sales in Canada continue to trend downwards, despite a near …
The changing colours of fall
Like the changing seasons, the automotive retail industry is in transition and it will require dealers to focus more on long-term planning if they are to remain ahead of the game. We are all familiar with the changing seasons. The …
What do consumers want to know about EVs?
Canadians are warming up to electric vehicles, but they have numerous questions when they arrive at the dealership. Here’s your primer on how best to answer them. When you run a nationwide platform dedicated to electric-car charging, you end up …
Why China and Europe are dictating the design of future vehicles
China and Europe, both significantly large automotive markets, are pushing the EV trend forward, quickly, and its influence is and will be felt in other areas of the world — including North America. Almost overnight, it seems, automakers are all …
Time to optimize your fixed ops
The future of fixed ops involves adopting new technologies, improving marketing and upgrading facilities to better meet the needs of customers. We talk to a few providers to get their thoughts on what the industry needs. The showroom floor has …
