BMW Thailand to No Longer Service Gray-Market Vehicles Feb 8, 2010 9:07 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Alan Harman The auto maker’s decision is part of a new global warranty and services policy, in which BMW warranties only will be valid in the vehicle’s country of origin.
Dealership Reductions Set Record Feb 4, 2010 8:00 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Steve Finlay Not all markets experienced declines. Some even saw a net increase in dealerships, however slight.
Toyota ‘Truly Sorry;’ Production to Restart Next Week Feb 1, 2010 2:29 PM, WardsAuto.com, By Christie Schweinsberg Toyota says the pedal fixes being rolled out at dealers this week should stop instances of unintended acceleration.
Crime, Punishment & Auto Retailing Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Car dealers are favorite targets of state attorneys general.
Two reasons dominate such keen governmental interest, says Terrence O'Loughlin, a former investigator for the Florida Attorney General's Office.
Crime and the Modern Dealership Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Lillie Guyer Tied to a battered economy, more dealer fraud and embezzlement cases are having their day in the sun, or in the cold light of courts. It's a burgeoning
Out of Trust, Out of Control Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Lillie Guyer When it's the dealer who's in trouble with fraud, things usually unravel fast. Here's how it happens. A dealer starts to fudge the numbers a little in
How to Fight Embezzlers Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Alan Richman A $1 million embezzlement at Caliber Motors in Anaheim Hills, CA, stunned the local dealership community when it became public this past spring. Sheryl
What Dealers Should Do When the IRS Pays a Visit Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Ronnie McKee offers advice to dealers who may unwittingly find themselves face to face with a suspicious IRS agent. Don't panic, says the former IRS compliance
Editorials
Now For Arbitration Hearings Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, BY STEVE FINLAY Massive dealer eliminations came last year, thanks to General Motors and Chrysler, operating on the odd premise that slashing sales points somehow helps
My Money Is on the Monkey Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, BY PETER BRANDOW With all the uncertainty in the car business, dealers are struggling to get a handle on something real to believe in. Manufacturers, equally unsure how
Chrysler-Fiat 30 Years Ago Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, BY DAVID RUGGLES A recent quote from Lee Iacocca caught me by surprise. Chrysler has a better chance of survival than does General Motors, which is just too big, says
Finance & Insurance
Treat Them as Individuals Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Rebecca Chernek No two snowflakes are exactly alike. The fingerprints of no two people are alike. The customers who step onto your lot are not exactly alike either. So
Fixed Operations
Use Video in Fixed Operations Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Lee Harkins Video advertising for the sales departments is the norm. Pull up any dealership web site and it usually contains some type of video for the sale of new
Mercedes Stores Get Upgrades Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay U.S. Mercedes-Benz dealerships are getting upgrades, ranging from cosmetic surgery to all-new new multi-million dollar facilities. It is part of Mercedes-Benz
Dealers Leaner and Meaner Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Mac Gordon Domestic-brand dealers who survive the downsizing of ranks will be stronger competitors against foreign brands. So say participants at an annual conference
Plenty of Hurt to Go Around Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Lillie Guyer Jerry Zegley is a small-volume single franchise dealer in a huge market area, Chicago. Some might say Roseland Pontiac, his three-generation family business,
EVs Invade Detroit Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay DETROIT - Would the Detroit Electric vehicle, circa 1910, fit in here at the 2010 North American International Auto Show's new EV exhibit, dubbed Electric
Whitacre Likes Sound of New GM Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By James Amend DETROIT - General Motors Co. Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre suggests the rebuilt auto maker will make an all-out marketing bid to convince consumers it
Closed for Business Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay DETROIT Where do customers go if a dealership closes, as 1,467 did through November of this year? Sometimes straight to the competition. Customers are
Future Bright for Survivors Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay DETROIT It's a great time to be a car dealer, despite the troubles many of them have seen, says Sheldon Sandler, who facilitates the buying and selling
Dealer Determined To Lead Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Mac Gordon For the second year in a row, the incoming chief of the National Automobile Dealers Assn. assumes a post previously held by his father. During a tough
Ward's 10 Best Engines
YOU CAN'T CHANGE FAST ENOUGH Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Tom Murphy and Drew Winter The engines have been studied, the arguments won and lost, the winners announced and the press releases written. Now all that is left to do is decide
Dealer: Days of Who's First Off Line Are Over Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay General Motors Co. executive Roger Duguay chooses his words carefully as he attempts to respond tactfully. The question to the executive director of GM's
Audi AG: 2.0L TFSI Turbocharged DOHC I-4 Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
It appeared the era of the dynasty had died last year when Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s VQ V-6 failed to win a spot on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list for
Audi AG: 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6 Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Muscle cars of one form or another have found a receptive audience among judges for 10 Best Engines competitions over the past 16 years. As consumer preferences
BMW AG: 3.0L DOHC I-6 Turbodiesel Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
It's tragic to think the U.S. market, having just gotten a taste of European-style, torque-rich clean diesel engines, could see them disappearing in the
Ford Motor Co.: 2.5L DOHC I-4 HEV Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
The best way to ensure a return appearance on the Ward's 10 Best Engines list is to substantially improve on what you did the previous year. Ford Motor
Ford Motor Co.: 3.5L Twin-Turbocharged DOHC V-6 Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Engines that combine direct injection with turbocharging are not new to the Ward's 10 Best Engines list. But Ford Motor Co.'s 3.5L twin-turbo EcoBoost
General Motors Co.: 2.4L DOHC I-4 Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
It took Ward's editors 16 years to find a naturally aspirated 4-cyl. in an affordable family vehicle worthy of honoring with a 10 Best Engines award.
Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.: 4.6L DOHC V-8 Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.'s brilliant Tau V-8 checks off all the boxes you need for a premium V-8, including power, efficiency and refinement. It also adds
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.: 2.5L Turbocharged H-4 Boxer Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
The last time the Subaru brand won a 10 Best Engines award, in 2004, the list was fueled by testosterone. The rally-ready 300-hp 4-cyl. WRX STI was in
Toyota Motor Corp.: 1.8L DOHC I-4 Hybrid Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Years ago, before the Toyota Prius earned respect in the market and while gasoline remained cheap, the debate was spirited among Ward's editors deciding
Volkswagen AG: 2.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-4 Diesel Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Conservation-minded driving enthusiasts have few choices fewer still if they lack the hefty paycheck necessary to buy a loaded BMW 335d turbodiesel for
Dealer Management
Nothing Lost in Translation Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Tony Noland I've been asked to speak to a Brazilian international dealer group, In conjunction with the National Automobile Dealers Assn. Their representative said
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Phil Villegas Most dealers I know feel that, unlike past recessions, this recovery will be much slower and with a greater sense of fragility. But while the economy
Six Legal Safeguards to Take Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Michael Charapp Worn out by increasing compliance obligations? It seems that every year dealers face added responsibilities under federal and state laws. While compliance
Remarketing
Bring On New Sales Process Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Dale Pollak Nothing is ever sold by a sales person or purchased by a shopper without justification or validation. Companies spend billions each year in marketing
New Trade Group Serves Pre-Owned Dealer Niche Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay A new trade group aims to help auto dealers with their used-car operations, particularly retailers who lost new-car franchises as part of General Motors
Dealer Complains Used-Car Price Books Go Too Low Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay The used-car price guide books get it wrong, says Doug Wolford, chairman of the Kentucky Auto Dealers Assn. They say prices are down, but in the auction
The Move to Used Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Length of vehicle ownership often depends on the age of the owner, but Americans overall are keeping their cars longer. In an Experian Automotive review
Sales
4 Giant Steps Beyond Selling Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Richard F. Libin Gone are the days of the stereotypical car salesman seersucker suit, cigar in hand, focused on selling as fast as possible, regardless of the customers'
Technology
DMS Vendors Vow to Do Better Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Ralph Kisiel Dealers already are plenty dissatisfied, what with plummeting sales, store closures and depleted inventories. Now you can add to that list less satisfaction
System Shopping at NADA Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Ralph Kisiel While hundreds of software and service providers will exhibit during the National Automobile Dealers Assn.'s convention in Orlando, count on the dealership
Internet Marketing
Which First, SEO or SEM? Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Jason Lancaster Search engine optimization (SEO) and search-engine marketing (SEM, also known as PPC or pay-per-click advertising) are powerfully simple. Using SEO and
Customers Take Their Time Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay The Internet has sped up many things, but it has slowed vehicle buying as consumers spend more time online before heading to the dealership to do the
Done Right Way, Chat Becomes Critical to Dealerships Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Idle chat won't win sales, but dealerships are ahead of the game if they effectively use Internet chat functions to communicate with prospective buyers,
Death of Auto Dealerships Greatly Exaggerated Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay In the 1990s, some auto-industry seers predicted consumers would one day shop for, order and ultimately buy cars online, virtually eliminating the need
Dealer, Getting Creative Online, Widens Use of Videos Feb 1, 2010 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Michael Baker says he is trying to get creative online at the dealership level. That includes new efforts to use website videos not only to pitch vehicles
BMW Thailand to No Longer Service Gray-Market Vehicles 
Crime, Punishment & Auto Retailing 
