Used-vehicle shoppers are feeling pretty sporty this month, judging by Kelley Blue Book’s Hot Used-Car Report. Sports cars and high-performance models led the month-over-month jumps in shopping activity growth so far in May with two particular used vehicles standing out the most. Interest in the 2009 Volkswagen GLI soared a whopping 171.9 percent higher month-over-month. […] [Read More]

The latest report from Metrolinx regarding “The Big Move” — a long-term Ontario transit and transportation solutions plan — that poses various increases in transportation taxes has local dealers up in arms. The Trillium Automobile Dealers Association says it is “disappointed that Metrolinx is recommending increasing taxes —  specifically on Ontario drivers —  to fund […] [Read More]

There were quite a few high points in ALG’s latest Industry Report for the Canadian market, including reports of last month’s new-car sales notching the second-highest April rate on record as well as predictions for increased used-market supply. Specifically, new-car sales in Canada during April grew by 8.9 percent year-over-year, coming in as the second […] [Read More]

The alleged targeting of conservative groups by the Internal Revenue Service pushed a member of Congress who also is a franchised dealer in Pennsylvania to question how some stores were closed after the government bailout of automakers more than four years ago. Rep. Mike Kelly, who operates Chevrolet, Cadillac, Kia and Hyundai franchises in Butler, […] [Read More]

The topic of advertising in newspaper classifieds and its future is a common one being bantered about these days, but what are the actual numbers behind this ad channel? In its latest Retail Automotive Summary, CNW Research looked into the dealer angle of classified ads and boiled down the statistics on how stores are using […] [Read More]

In the past, we have covered, “The Three Types of Tracers,” and “The Three Types of Skips.”  Now we have to complete the circle and cover “The Three Types of Tracing.” So you ask, why all these threes? The number three is generally attributed with a meaning of completeness: A beginning, middle, an end. Birth, […] [Read More]

It’s a part of the business that dealership managers are wringing their hands over nowadays — how to manage and maintain their online reputations. In order to get a better handle on the subject, Paul Potratz asked dealers to approach online reviews from a different angle. The chief operating officer and founder of Potratz Partners […] [Read More]

Moves by the federal government greatly swayed what happened in the dealership F&I office during the first half of the year. Whether it was how delayed tax returns slowed refunds getting into consumers’ accounts or regulators intensifying their focus on how auto financing is completed, developments out of Washington, D.C., dominated industry conferences, store management […] [Read More]

From “old-fashioned phone calls” to the latest in social media, Paul Potratz offers five ways to boost traffic to dealers’ brick-and-mortar and virtual showrooms, in his recent Think Tank Tuesday video segment. Potratz recommends that dealers and sales staff now only review their own buying habits when developing strategies to reach customers, but also think […] [Read More]

A father-daughter dealer team has been honored by the American International Automobile Dealers Association for their work in auto dealer advocacy. Honored by AIADA with the Legislative Action Network Grassroots Award were Minnesota duo Morrie Wagener and Cindy Wagener Robin. The award was presented at the association’s seventh annual International Auto Industry Summit, held recently […] [Read More]