Used-Vehicle Market Shows Strength Jul 1, 2009 8:00 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Cliff Banks Dealers continue to pay higher-than-expected prices at the auctions, mainly because they have been able to maintain the retail-gross profits on used vehicles.
Spanish Market May Be Nearing Bottom Jun 24, 2009 11:01 AM, WardsAuto.com, By Jorge Palacios Sales to individual buyers fell a modest 6.7%, meaning the 2000E Plan is having a bigger impact on this sector of the market.
Fixed Ops to the Rescue Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Cliff Banks We all know the story. By the end of the year, new-vehicle sales will have dropped at least 6 million units since the end of 2007.
That means your dealership is generating significantly less traffic. The shoppers that are coming in, you're having a tough time financing. Used-vehicle sales aren't much better.
Need a Repair Pal? Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
At first glance, dealers might groan at the new website RepairPal.com. It's promising to do for the service shop what the Internet did to new-vehicle
A Treasure Trove of Ideas Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Looking for ways to jumpstart or improve your service or parts department or your body shop? You can visit us at www.wardsdealer.com. We have a treasure
Gonna' Be a Whole Lot of Business Out There Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
In the next six months roughly 2,000 dealerships will go out of business. That's a lot of service business and parts business to be had. But you have
2009 Ward's Dealer 500
Rough Days for the Ward's 500 Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Cliff Banks It is stating the obvious to say the Ward's Dealer 500 ranking numbers are down across the board this year. But the depths to which the numbers have fallen
Editorials
And What If They Are Wrong? Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, BY STEVE FINLAY What if the auto makers' grand plans of cutting domestic-brand dealerships don't boost sales per store and bring greater profitability to the survivors?
Whoopee, We're Bankrupt! Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, BY PETER BRANDOW Every dealer advocate I know is reeling from the news alerts about Chrysler and GM cutting dealers' throats to right their failing businesses. May 14,
Are They Smart or What? Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, BY JOHN McELROY In the 1950s and 1960s, Detroit auto makers dominated the global automotive market. They thought they owned that part of the universe, and they almost
This Is America? Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, Cliff Banks Editorial Director 248-799-2649 cbanks@wardsauto.com You grew up watching your grandparents build a business, investing their life savings along with tears and sweat. Your father and perhaps mother learned
Finance & Insurance
Not Just Dodges and Fords Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Orlando Donald Steen just took possession of two Maseratis and a Maybach, ultra-luxury cars. And he recalls recently having a pricey Bugatti that sure
VW Credit, Audi Financial Boost Support for Their Dealers Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Volkswagen Credit (VCI) and Audi Financial Services (AFS) recently kicked off a United We Drive plan to support dealers with flexible financing solutions.
Fixed Operations
Know Your Parts Manager Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Gary J. Naples The effects of the declining economy on the auto industry are likely to change the way business is conducted. One potential change that will be welcome
Service Makes Store a Star Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Mac Gordon Merrillville, In Mike Anderson Chevrolet consistently has finished first or second in metro Chicago sales despite stiff competition from many same-brand
Webasto and Katzkin Form Team Effort Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
Aftermarket industry players Katzkin Leather Inc. and Webasto Product North America have combined their sales organizations. Katzkin is the largest provider
Raytheon: Ready, Aim, Train Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Mac Gordon A defense contractor will offer new web-based simulated training to Chrysler dealership sales and service employees. Raytheon Co. first did simulation
A 1st: Award for Lexus Collision Shop Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
A special recognition dinner was held to honor Westside Lexus as the recipient of the 2008 Toyota/Lexus Certified Collision Center of the Year. Westside,
News
Ford Not Looking to Slash Dealer Ranks Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, Byron Pope Ford Motor Co. is not looking to significantly reduce its U.S. dealer network, which currently stands at 3,770 stores, the auto maker's top executive
Survey Says Most Dealership Customers Just Show Up Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Eighty percent of vehicle shoppers just show up at dealerships, says a new study by Northwood University and AutoTrader.com Dealers tended to think many
Bankruptcy or Fear of It May Hurt Sales of Affected Vehicles Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Bankruptcy or talk of it may hurt sales of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC products, a recent consumer survey says. In BIGresearch's survey of customer
Auto Executive of the Year Cites Great Mazda Dealers Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Mazda North American Operations President and CEO James O'Sullivan credits great Mazda dealers in this room and across the country as a reason he received
Out of Trust, Out of Business Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Orlando A car dealer needn't be on an auto maker's hit list in order to become an ex-dealer. Being persona non-grata with a lender will do the job, too.
Ins and Outs of Those Surveys Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Christie Schweinsberg When J.D. Power & Associates recently announced a first-place tie between the Buick and Jaguar brands, overtaking Toyota and Lexus in its closely watched
Dealership Management
Self-Financing Stirs Interest Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Tony Noland First of all, to the many Chrysler and General Motors dealer friends and colleagues who received the letters that their franchises were either being cancelled
Preparing for a Factory Audit Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Michael Charapp I was looking at a dealer's plans for a new building a few years ago. The blueprints showed a small room about the size of a broom closet with a simple
Will the Other Shoe Drop? Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Phil Villegas While the actions taken by Chrysler and General Motors to reduce their dealer counts are necessary for purely competitive reasons, the costs associated
Remarketing
From Inefficient to Efficient Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Tony Albertson I was invited to speak at a recent manufacturer conference in Las Vegas. With me were some of the best trainers and vendors in the business, all bringing
Never Had Year Like This Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Orlando, Fl The value of a car is like a block of ice on the pavement. It's always melting, always depreciating, says Charlie Vogelheim, an auto-industry
Used-Car Business Good, But Dealers Reluctant to Stock Up Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Consumer demand for used cars is up, and franchised dealers are more focused on that part of their business. But they appear reluctant to stock up accordingly.
Pre-Owned Dealer Alliance Is Formed Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business
A new business organization aims to help the used-vehicle efforts of franchised and independent dealers. That includes thousands of General Motors Corp.
Sales
10 Ways to Ensure Success Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Richard Libin Even in tough times, there are opportunities for car dealers who intend not just to survive, but to thrive. While there is no simple recipe, these 10
Dealers Nervous, Not Panicky Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay New York Although many anxious domestic-brand auto dealers are biting their nails these days, Nissan retailers are less edgy. That's not to say they're
Survey: Tight Credit Hampers Most Potential Car Buyers Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay Tight credit is hampering the purchase plans of most U.S. consumers in the market for a new vehicle, according to a study by Accenture, a management consultancy.
Ditch the Stale Sales Pitches Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Steve Finlay The sales script said to say it, so that's what was done repeatedly and lamely by a telemarketer trying to dial up business for a car dealership. I heard
Internet Marketing
Are You Tweeting? Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By Laurie Halter Does it seem like everyone is over Twitter these days? Even people who aren't on the application are passing off words like tweet, retweet and twing like
Measure Your Way to Success Jun 1, 2009 12:00 PM, Ward's Dealer Business, By David Kain As a youth, I thought I was a fast runner. Then I saw what world-class speed was at a track meet. You may think you are doing great with your Internet
Bridgestone’s New Run-Flat Tires Offer Smoother Ride 
Fixed Ops to the Rescue 
