Keeping yourself “Above the Line”
Winning the game both on the field and in the showroom depends on the right mentality Early in 2016, I decided to go back to coaching and accepted the Head Coach role for a Midget AA Boys hockey team. For …
News
Reality is what you make it
Seeing is believing that virtual reality will play an important role in retail There was nothing external to distinguish the room from the hundreds of others deep inside Ford’s Dearborn engineering and design complex. Stepping inside, it didn’t seem unusual: …
The heady days of summer…fall, winter and spring
From within and without, technological, regulatory and social disruptors have got dealers thinking — a lot We are fortunate to be involved in a great industry. Each and every day is exciting, challenging and rewarding. Sometimes, though, it can be …
The leader of the battery pack
Government, property owners and employers all have a stake in the EV economy The rise of the electric vehicle (EV) over the past few years is changing the auto industry profoundly, with many major auto manufacturers focusing their attention on …
Ready, set…wait
Governmental initiatives to put more electric vehicles on the road is well-intentioned but economically, technologically and socially premature The Federal government recently announced it had established a Federal Advisory Committee to assist it in establishing a Zero Emission Vehicle strategy …
Trading realities
There’s good reason to fear for NAFTA’s future, but better reason to let those fears go With a new United States trade representative confirmed through a strong bipartisan majority in Washington, it is expected that a major renegotiation of the …
The customer experience: a healthy obsession
What customers feel may be more important than what they think — are dealers asking the right questions to engage them? A recent article in the Report on Business caught my attention. It was an interview with Joe Natale, the …
Legendary B.C. dealer Tom Harris dies unexpectedly
One of the most prominent and admired auto dealers in Canada, Tom Harris, 67, died unexpectedly in June at Roche Harbour on San Juan Island, in the state of Washington. A well-known philanthropist, Harris owned several dealerships on Victoria Island, …
Pop-ups shake up auto retail
Dealers watch to ensure new OEMs’ pop-up retail experiences aren’t the thin end of a wedge If fewer people are visiting dealerships to look at cars, is the answer to bring the cars to the people? OEMs around the world, …
High visibility
Porsche dealership paving the way for business area development One of North America’s busiest highway interchanges is about to become busier as Porsche launches its fourth Greater Toronto Area dealership this summer. “We have many luxury buyers in this area, …
Students shine at Georgian auto show
The sun brightened up the opening ceremonies for the 32nd annual Georgian College Auto Show in June as dignitaries and students gathered on the Barrie campus. The largest outdoor, student-run auto show in North America gives students attending the Automotive …
CDK Global names new chief HR officer
CDK Global, a leading provider of automotive digital marketing solutions and retail IT, has announced the appointment of Amy Byrne as its new executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “Amy brings nearly 25 years of experience leading large …
