The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association is introducing a new way for its members to show — and sell — their inventory.
Coinciding with the open of the association’s convention, the organization launched dealermallUSA by NIADA. Dubbed the official NIADA marketplace for dealers, it’s is an online digital retailing platform powered by MOTOix, featuring vehicles for sale in an environment created to bring efficiency to online shopping while helping dealers increase sales and provide an exceptional customer experience.
“Digital retailing is a reality, and dealermallUSA provides NIADA members with the tools to give their customers the smooth, seamless purchase process they’re looking for, as well as a national platform for their inventory,” MOTOix chief executive officer and founder Larry Bruce said in a news release.
In addition, dealermallUSA will showcase vehicles in the NIADA Certified program.
NIADA Certified has been redesigned to give independent dealers the ability to “compete on a level playing field” with franchised operations in the certified pre-owned arena — one of the most popular and profitable segments of the used-vehicle market.
The program includes multiple program administrators — GSFSGroup, GWC Warranty, ProGuard Warranty, SouthWest Dealer Services and AUL Corp — as well as partnerships with Carfax and other providers.
The association also highlighted dealermallUSA by NIADA joins Carketa’s 200-point digital inspection and condition report as the latest additions to the new NIADA Certified 360 program — a comprehensive suite of products and services designed to support NIADA CPO dealers and customers in all aspects of the automotive sales process.
More services are coming soon to NIADA Certified 360, including vehicle financing options, vehicle transport, title and registration services, reinsurance and more.
“NIADA’s revolutionary program brings together digital inspections, national brand recognition, financing options and trusted logistics services,” NIADA vice president James Gibson said. “MOTOix provides a proven platform to take this program to new heights of service for our members and their customers.”
Officials reiterated dealermallUSA by NIADA will be launched during the NIADA Convention and Expo, which started Monday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
“Dealers attending the convention will be the first to experience the new platform firsthand,” NIADA said.
For more information about the convention or to register, visit niadaconvention.com.
Certified pre-owned sales often generate some of the most robust sales — and potential profit — for franchised dealerships.
Well, the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association revamped its vehicle certification program, so independent operations can gain a bigger piece of the what the association calls the used-vehicle industry’s hottest market.
On Tuesday, the association said its new, upgraded NIADA Certified program gives independent dealers more choices, higher standards, better technology and more ways to give their customers what they want.
“NIADA Certified has been completely redesigned and expanded to give independent dealers the chance to compete on a level playing field in the most popular and profitable segment of the used vehicle market,” NIADA vice president of member services James Gibson said in a news release.
“Our administrators are among the most trusted names in the industry, offering top-of-the-line warranties, marketing, training and service. We’re very proud of the program we’ve put together,” Gibson continued.
The new program is available to all NIADA members and includes tighter standards for vehicles to earn the certified designation. But NIADA said it still provides the opportunity for units up to 12 model years old with up to 150,000 miles to qualify for limited coverage in the newly created verified pre-owned category.
For the first time, the association highlighted NIADA Certified includes multiple administrators, adding GWC Warranty, AUL and ProGuard Warranty to previous administrator GSFSGroup to give dealers more options and offer nationwide coverage.
“NIADA is an extremely well-respected brand, and GWC is, too,” GWC vice president of sales operations Jeremy Beck said in the news release. “Together with the other administrators, we offer an opportunity for consumers to really have confidence in the program, while at the same time building on the NIADA brand and our individual administrator brands.
“It’s a perfect marriage for all of us to get together and offer this program,” said Beck, who referenced GWC’s involvement in this sponsored episode of the Auto Remarketing Podcast.
Dominic Limongelli is president and chief operating officer of ProGuard Warranty.
“This is a perfect collaboration,” Limongelli said in the news release. “We share a common objective to help independent dealers succeed. NIADA Certified gives them access to best-in-class products, sales training and tools, and that dovetails with ProGuard’s goal of protecting the customer and the dealer’s reputation by providing additional value.”
Broadening the base of administrators is not the only move NIADA made to enhance this certified program.
The association pointed out that another key component of the program is its integration with Carketa, which provides a 200-point digital inspection and condition report for all NIADA Certified vehicles.
Carketa’s system can automate the inspection process and generates a digital condition report — with images — that can be automatically added to the dealership’s website, advertising, vehicle detail pages, third-party listings and vehicle history reports.
The association said the report adds credibility and consumer confidence to the NIADA Certified program and illustrates for the customer why the vehicle is worth the price.
“We build the value proposition by highlighting those items on the digital condition report, on your website, your VDP and on Carfax and AutoCheck,” Carketa chief executive officer Brady Thurgood said, whose company closed a $6 million series seed financing in November. “That fits so well with NIADA’s new CPO program by building that value.
“It’s showing consumers what you’ve done on the car to validate the certified state of that vehicle. You’re showing that it’s held to a higher standard. And that’s the reason for CPO,” Thurgood said.
NIADA reiterated why the association went these lengths to enhance its certified program, citing a Cox Automotive projection of CPO sales this year reaching 3.0 million, which would break the current record set in 2019.
“Customers want certified vehicles and are searching for them,” Gibson said. “NIADA Certified offers independent dealers the tools to give those customers exactly what they’re looking for.
“And there is more to come. NIADA’s program will continue growing and improving, with more innovations coming in the future,” he went on to say.
For more information, visit niada.com/certified-pre-owned.
A new service provider now is involved with an established program for independent dealerships to retail certified vehicles just like their franchised store competition.
According to a news release distributed on Tuesday, GSFSGroup has partnered with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association as the new administrator for automotive financial products through the NIADA Certified Pre-Owned vehicle program.
As part of the partnership, GSFSGroup now offers NIADA members access to F&I products, including limited warranty and vehicle service contracts.
Officials pointed out that dealers also can benefit from no-cost training, field support and services to help establish the CPO vehicle program as a competitive offering on par with the programs of franchised dealers.
GSFSGroup provides a single-source solution for its partners that can reduce redundancy and increases process efficiency. The company also offers a complete suite of F&I products along with a unique recruiting and hiring tool with comprehensive training and development to ensure dealership associates are producing at maximum performance.
All solutions are available “a la carte” or as a complete solution.
“Our partnership with NIADA is a perfect match, as our unique business approach helps empower independent dealers with faster and easier solutions for this critically important certified pre-owned program,” GSFSGroup president Guy Koenig said.
“The end customer benefits from responsive service from a trusted provider,” Koenig continued.
Through the NIADA CPO program, the association said potential buyers can have peace of mind knowing the vehicle is certified, the vehicle passed a rigorous quality inspection and the dealership is held to NIADA’s Code of Ethics.
“Since we launched our partnership this year, we’ve seen strong adoption among our member dealers,” NIADA director of business development James Gibson said.
“The unique structure and vertical integration of GSFSGroup gives dealers the comfort of knowing decisions are made in the best interest of our members,” Gibson continued.
The NIADA Certified program is available to all independent dealers who are members of NIADA and their affiliated state association, where applicable.
“This unique program opens the doors for dealers to reach new customers while providing exceptional service in the used-car buying process,” NIADA added.
GSFSGroup is currently participating in the 2020 NIADA|NABD Virtual Convention and Expo Series, which continues through Oct. 6.
To learn more about the conference or to register, visit niadaconvention.com.
