The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association added two new relationships with service providers aimed at helping operators turn more metal and generate profit.
NIADA announced ddk marketing has joined with the association as its newest National Affinity Partner, offering NIADA members a free 90-day trial of its autogenius app.
Also, Security Key Systems (SKS) now is a National Member Benefit partner, giving association members availability to a key tracking suite with a wide range of configuration options and features to help them avoid losing sales due to being unable to find keys quickly.
NIADA explained ddk autogenius is a Web-based mobile app that is designed to increase a dealer's odds of saying just the right thing to keep each customer engaged throughout the selling process.
Once a simple five-question customer survey is completed, the firm indicated the research intelligence behind autogenius analyzes the answers to identify the customer. For each of the three key customer categories, the app then can direct the salesperson on what to say — and not say — to that particular customer to lead to more closes and happier customers.
“The sales associates don't have the time to learn a lot of new tools or complex procedures,” said Luke Heffron, senior vice president of ddk's Genius Group. "Everything about our autogenius app was designed with that in mind.
“The training is built in and created using the latest research on e-learning facilitation,” Heffron continued. “We’ve threaded a gamification tool throughout the app to keep sales associates engaged, learning and excited about the app.”
Heffron also mentioned autogenius works on all WiFi-enabled devices, including tablets, kiosks and touchscreen monitors. And ddk marketing will provide NIADA members with a free, full-license 90-day trial.
“The ddk autogenius partnership delivers to our membership an easy-to-implement, highly effective, inexpensive sales process enhancement resource that delivers increased closing ratios, corresponding sales and customer satisfaction,” NIADA senior vice president of member services Scott Lilja said.
“Instead of spending thousands of dollars on time-consuming and complex sales training programs, this unique sales tool brings immediate results within a convenient, easy-to-use app,” Lilja went on to say.
For more information, call (312) 638-3478, email [email protected] or visit www.ddkautogenius.com.
Security Key Systems teams with NIADA
SKS has helped dealerships with key management issues for more than 20 years thanks to founder and chief executive officer Steve Singleton, who has more than 40 years of experience in managing the demands dealerships face.
“We view this as a great opportunity to help dealerships increase their sales and eliminate down time,” SKS chief operating officer Cheryl Ryan said.
“With society's increasing conveniences, customers want to be able to take test drives as soon as they enter a dealership and are not interested in waiting around while an employee tracks down a key to their desired vehicle. Our key management solutions will help dealers offer the increased speed customers are looking for to get in their new car,” Ryan continued.
NIADA highlighted that SKS combines first-class service, strong support and a selection of key systems that do more than just store keys, allowing independent dealers to connect customers with their desired car as quickly as possible to help increase sales.
SKS’ KeyWatcher Touch system uses technology such as touch screen key selection and fingerprint logins to track keys, monitor users and run usage reports to eliminate wasted time locating keys and make sure customers can take the test drives they desire.
“Security Key Systems is a leader in the auto dealership key management/security market,” Lilja said. “With vehicle key technology becoming more complex by the day, it is critical that our member dealers have the appropriate resources available to ensure the security of, ease of location and tracking of those critical customer assets.”
Lilja added SKS is offering NIADA members unique discounts on its services, “which provides substantial value in being an NIADA member.”
For more information or a live demo, contact Ryan at (941) 474-5640 or visit www.securitykeysystems.com.
Autotrader has launched a television advertising campaign with Disney Pixar's “Cars 3,” which includes a 30-second television commercial featuring members of the well-known cast that will debut on television during the 2017 NBA Playoffs on TNT.
"Collaborating with Disney Pixar's 'Cars 3' was a natural fit for Autotrader for more than the obvious reason of the spotlight our iconic brands share within the automotive space," Autotrader vice president of marketing Jessica Stafford said in a news release.
"Much like the Cars franchise, Autotrader shares a personal connection with people of all ages and at all life stages, and we feel this is reflected in the playful content we developed with the Disney and Pixar teams to further drive excitement for our brand and the upcoming premiere of 'Cars 3'."
The new commercial encourages viewers to find the car that best fits their lifestyle and concludes with the tagline – "Every car has a personality. Find the one that fits yours at Autotrader."
Autotrader said the ad targets key demographic groups such as such as Millennials, Hispanics and families.
Additionally, the campaign will be presented on Hulu, ESPN Deportes Radio, and Autotrader’s social media channels.
The 30-second commercial, titled "Every Car Has a Personality," is currently available on YouTube.
On Wednesday, CRIF Lending Solutions announced a partnership to integrate Carvana’s online automotive retail platform with its ACTion and SAIL loan origination systems.
CRIF said its new collaborative effort aims to help financial institutions effectively reach pre-approved customers or members for direct auto loans.
“Integrating our platforms with partners like CRIF Lending Solutions provides consumers with an expanded variety of financing options, saving them valuable time,” Carvana chief executive officer and co-founder Ernie Garcia said.
The ACTion platform provides omni-channel access to provide responsive and efficient use of lenders’ services via online, branch, indirect and mobile sources.
“From ease of application access and submission to instant automated decisioning, cross-selling as well as processing and funding, ACTion delivers a powerful and flexible loan origination system to enhance any institution’s digital presence,” CRIF said.
The company’s software application for integrated lending platform, known as SAIL, enables financial institutions to streamline the loan application process.
CRIF said the web-based lending software also increases productivity and strengthens loan tracking and reporting capabilities.
“In an already ultra-competitive auto lending market, our goal continues to be providing technology for advantages in every segment,” Kyle Kehoe, president of CRIF’s ACTion division said. “Utilizing Carvana’s portal is another example of our commitment to reaching that goal. We look forward to strengthening partnerships like this as mobile and online lending continues to grow.”
Vehicle history report provider ClearVin announced on Monday that it has collaborated with J.D. Power Valuation Services — formerly known as NADA Used Car Guide — to now deliver NADA Values data to its client base of dealers and wholesalers who buy and sell used vehicles using its product.
"With NADA Values, our customers can now view the most accurate information on a vehicle's value," ClearVin president and chief executive officer Yury Strachuk said in a news release. "This information goes beyond what a person can learn from just a visual inspection and test drive."
In addition to vehicle history, the integration of NADA Values with ClearVin's vehicle history reports gives buyers and sellers the most up-to-date value of vehicles, according to ClearVin.
ClearVin’s reports now include retail, trade-in, auction and loan values from NADA Values, which helps buyers, bid on a vehicle at auction, sell, or apply for a loan, the vehicle history report provider said.
"By adding our trusted values to the ClearVin product, customers will benefit from our market intelligence and can rest easy on their transaction decisions," James Gibson, director of business development at J.D. Power Valuation Services, said in the release.
Jumpstart Automotive Media announced an exclusive ad sales representation agreement with CarStory’s website and app, which matches car shoppers with vehicles using patented technology and datasets.
“CarStory is a rapidly growing, mobile-first experience that is focused on streamlining the car shopping process, which aligns with our strategy. They deliver the ‘whole story’ about a car and digital advertising supplements this story and helps continue the narrative to make the consumer’s discovery process more efficient," Jumpstart chief executive officer Nick Matarazzo said in a news release.
The CarStory website and app leverages data and analytics to provide customers with the information they need to make educated car-buying decisions.
CarStory uses patented technology and industry-leading analytics to facilitate a search process that results in a confident purchase decision. It said it currently has a network of more than 6,500 participating dealerships across the U.S.
“We feel it’s important to help match consumers with the right car and we do this by facilitating a faster, more efficient discovery process,” CarStory CEO John Price said. “Our partnership with Jumpstart strengthens our strategy of delivering the best data to an in-market shopper at the right moment and gives brands the opportunity to better demonstrate value, increase engagement, and sell more cars.”
Greater Kalamazoo Auto Auction, an XLerate Group auction, will celebrate its 41st year anniversary on Thursday with a special sale.
In honor of its anniversary, GKAA said it will award more than a total of $15,000 in cash and prizes to a number of potential dealer customers who attend the sale this week.
Each Thursday, the auction holds its dealer sale at 10 a.m., with 600 plus dealers in attendance, according to GKAA.
GKAA was founded in 1976 and currently consists of a 26,000 square foot facility on 65 acres.
The auction also has a 9-bay reconditioning facility, a full-service mechanical repair shop and transportation department.
“By taking advantage of the many services offered by Greater Kalamazoo Auto Auction, each customer expands his own automotive marketing efforts and benefits in terms of time and financial return,” GKAA general manager Daryl DeVries said in a news release.
“Above all, each customer, whether buying or selling, returns time and time again because of the special qualities that set GKAA apart from the rest. We have a strong team of loyal employees that goes the extra mile each and every week.”
IAG names fundraising challenge winners
The Independent Auction Group recently announced the winners of its March Madness bracket challenge, a fundraising effort the group held in collaboration with Dyer Auto Auction last month.
Participants were asked to mail in a dollar for each bracket to be put into a trophy.
IAG's top three finishers for this year were women. The first place title went to Britney Egbert, fleet/lease manager at Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho.
Each year's winner gets to keep the trophy filled with the bills for one year until the next challenge and a new winner is chosen. The funds accumulated are to be used for any charitable effort of the winners choosing.
GAA launches two promotions
ServNet recently announced that auction group member Greenville Auto Auction (GAA) recently kicked off its BB&T/Regional promotion, X-Factor, along with a new promotion that allows its dealers to enter a pool to win a quad.
The newly adopted quad promotion is a three-month event that will end in June.
Additionally, GAA said recently the acution has had a notable number of strong sales, which include its AdrenaLANE Sale, a sale that highlights specialty units such as powersports, sports cars, golf carts, and RV's, according to auction general manager Billy Willis.
“Greenville Auto Auction is eager to continue building great relationships with dealers and is looking forward to the auctions ahead,” GAA said.
ADESA Remarketing Limited, the UK affiliate of ADESA, announced recently that by way of its successful partnership with Arval, both companies have newly collaborated with Motability Operations to lead the transition to upstream defleet remarketing in the UK.
This move allows ADESA to offer an increased volume of used vehicles on its upstream mobile technology platform built on the TradeRev mobile app, which allows dealers to participate in daily e-auctions with live bidding on a wide range of vehicles.
“ADESA’s ability to offer these much sought-after used cars gives dealers a first opportunity to access a rich mix of quality stock to meet customer demand,” Jonathan Holland, managing director of ADESA UK, said in a news release. “Our model is a proven and credible alternative to more traditional remarketing channels and provides buyers with a cost-effective, convenient and efficient solution.”
Three unique selling propositions the vehicle auction and remarketing services provider now offers in the UK include the following:
- Upstream remarketing provides the earliest possible access to vehicles as soon as a contract ends
- Appraisal services allows vendors to appraise a vehicle and bring it to market in less than 10 minutes
- White label manages rental vehicle buy-back and management car solutions for OEMs
Additionally, in less than 10 minutes, the upstream remarketing platform can both appraise and bring vehicles to market as well as personalize preferences related to the vehicles they view, according to ADESA Remarketing Limited.
Auction Management Solutions (AMS) announced that earlier this month the firm partnered with Oklahoma Auto Exchange in Oklahoma City for business development consulting.
Oklahoma Auto Exchange started back in 2005, offering a weekly sale every Wednesday morning across four auction lanes, operating in a facility consisting of 128,000 square feet situated on approximately 18 acres of land. The operation currently offers 650 to 700 units weekly.
OKAEX is a full-service auction with full reconditioning, light mechanical services and in-house transportation.
“We are very excited to be a part of the AMS group of auctions,” Oklahoma Auto Exchange owner Mike Clopton said. “We have spent a lot of time building a great base of dealer consignment business over the last 12 years, as well as some fleet/lease and repossession business, and feel that it is time now to start to expand into focusing on national consignors.
“We feel that AMS can be a great help to achieve our goals,” Clopton added.
The focus of AMS is to provide strategic business development services, with an emphasis on business processes and profitability that aid in the growth and success of client/partner businesses.
AMS was started by industry veterans Tom Stewart and Richard Curtis, and provides consulting and recruiting services to the automotive industry that includes independent auto auctions, service providers and vendors.
Adding this location brings the firm’s client list to 16 total locations, which also include:
—KASP Auto Auction
—Columbus Fair Auto Auction
—Greater Quad City Auto Auction
—Rochester Syracuse Auto Auction
—Greater Erie Auto Auction
—DAA Chattanooga
—DAA Murfreesboro
—DAA Memphis
—DAA Huntsville
—DAA Mobile
—Southeastern Auto Auction
—Dealers Auto Auction of Idaho
—166 Auto Auction
—All Valley Dealers Auction
—Central Auto Auction
“We are very excited to be working with Oklahoma Auto Exchange,” Stewart said. “Mike and his son Kyle have built a very strong auction in the Midwest, and consignors are looking for strong independent auctions to partner with."
“One of our goals here at AMS is to focus on providing our customers with the best service we can, while working through a proven sales strategy to help them grow their business,” Stewart added.
Clopton closed by saying, “Tom will be working closely with Kyle Clopton, our director of sales, on continuing to build relationships within the industry.”
For more details, visit www.okaex.com.
On Wednesday, Carvana announced its expansion into St. Louis, the company’s first market in the state of Missouri.
The online platform for buying used-cars now has a total of 24 markets overall and currently offers free delivery services to more than 3 million residents who live within the St. Louis local delivery area.
“We’re so pleased the Gateway City is our gateway into the Midwest,” Carvana founder and chief executive officer Ernie Garcia said in a news release. “Launching our free delivery services in St. Louis allows us to give nearly 4 million consumers an alternative to the traditional dealership experience.”
On Carvana.com, customers can purchase, trade and obtain personal financing options after answering 10 questions.
Credit Union Partnership
In other news from the company, Carvana partnered with Northwest Federal Credit Union (NWFCU) to provide an online vehicle financing and purchasing solution to the more than 200,000 Virginia-based credit union members.
“We’re proud to expand our offering with this partnership, which will allow NWFCU members to browse Carvana’s 7,300+ vehicle inventory online and seamlessly finance their transaction through NWFCU,” Erin Krause, vice president of lending for NWFCU said. “At NWFCU, we are committed to providing financing and services that meet the evolving needs of our members and their families."
In celebration of the partnership, Carvana and the NWFCU Foundation are holding a raffle to give away a vehicle up to $15,000 in value.
The raffle will begin Monday and run to June 11. Tickets can be purchased at any NWFCU branch or online via the NWFCU Foundation website, www.nwfcufoundation.org.
One raffle ticket is $10, three tickets are $25 and 10 tickets are $75. The winner will be drawn on June 15. Visit the NWFCU Foundation website for a complete list of rules.
“Organizations like NWFCU share our commitment to providing value, transparency and service to every consumer. We’re honored to work alongside NWFCU in support of their members and the community by offering our car buying alternative,” Christina Keiser, director of partnership growth at Carvana said.
SiriusXM announced on Tuesday that dealer group Rightway Automotive signed on to its Pre-Owned Program, which provides a three-month subscription to the radio company’s All Access package.
Any of the group’s customers who purchase a pre-owned vehicle with a factory-equipped satellite radio can use the service.
“Rightway is a welcome addition as we continue to grow the SiriusXM Pre-Owned Program, which now features the participation of more than 25,000 auto dealers across the country,” Gail Berger, SiriusXM vice president of auto aemarketing said in a news release.
“The SiriusXM All Access package is our most comprehensive programming offering. It adds value to Rightway’s large satellite radio equipped pre-owned vehicle inventory, and allows us to reach many potential new subscribers by giving them access to our world class content both in and out of the vehicle.”
The package includes talk programming, live professional and college sports coverage, commercial-free music, comedy and various exclusive online-only channels.
Programming is also accessible outside the vehicle on the SiriusXM app and online at siriusxm.com.
“Rightway is excited to work with SiriusXM to provide additional value for our customers,” Rightway operations director Chase Dicken said. “SiriusXM offers an unparalleled lineup of music, entertainment and sports programming, and Rightway customers can now drive off our lots with it all at their fingertips.”
Additionally, Rightway customers who purchase any vehicle equipped with SiriusXM’s Infotainment services will have three months of access to the in-vehicle information, which features traffic and weather data, fuel prices and more, according to SiriusXM.
Rightway currently operates more than two dozen dealerships located in Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and Georgia.
For additional information about the Pre-Owned Program, visit www.siriusxmdealerprograms.com.
