More in Retail

May 11, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Honda Thailand Post-Flood Output at Full Speed

Honda dealers who went nearly six months with no vehicles to sell face new pressure from the Japanese auto maker, which has reduced their credit period from one month to just 10 days....More
May 10, 2012

Commentary

WardsAuto

How to Handle ‘Just Looking’

When car shoppers tell a dealership salesperson they are just looking, it’s a defense mechanism. Even sales staffers say that when they shop....More
May 9, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Floorplan Woes No Longer Floor Car Dealers

Ally Financial is increasing wholesale credit lines for dealers as they ride the wave of improved sales. The lender expanded wholesale limits for more than 40% of its dealer clients....More
May 8, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Car-Buying Service Draws Dealer-Shy Crowd

Greg Semack will locate a vehicle from a dealership, bring it to the customer for a test drive, sort out financing, prepare paperwork and make the delivery....More
May 7, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Lending Eases, But Some Car Buyers Still Face Credit Issues

Dealerships still see a share of credit-challenged customers coming from three primary areas of distress: bankruptcy, unpaid medical bills and slow paybacks of student loans....More
May 4, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Chrysler to Dealers: More Mopar, Please

Ideally, the auto maker would like a Mopar presence in all areas of a dealership, says Tricia Hecker, who heads marketing for the brand, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year....More
May 2, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Fiat to Take Over Distribution in JV With India’s Tata

Under the new agreement, Fiat will set up a wholly owned company to oversee distribution activities and begin setting up a new dealer network in the country....More
May 1, 2012

Commentary

WardsAuto

Dealers Should Draw Line Against Questionable Redistricting

Dealers whose primary market areas are revised should challenge results that are contrary to their interests....More
Apr. 30, 2012

blog

Text-Happy People Skip Phone Part of Smartphones

The text set skews towards young people with fast and nimble fingers that can type terse messages on tiny keyboards....More
Apr. 30, 2012

blog

Tales From the Dealership F&I Front

Frustration can reign when showroom salespeople and finance and insurance managers clash at auto dealerships....More
Apr. 30, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Car Dealers Go After More Repair Work

Dealers are doing an array of things to boost their fixed operations, from building new facilities with prominently located service lanes to using CRM software for systematic marketing....More
Apr. 30, 2012

Commentary

WardsAuto

Managing Inventory Saves Dealers Money

At some point, dealership floor-plan rates will increase to a more normal level. Having a process in place will help manage this huge expense....More
Apr. 27, 2012

Commentary

WardsAuto

Big Picture Includes Small Dealers, Too

Family businesses aren’t inferior to corporate enterprises. A properly run car dealership will do well, whether it is owned by a major corporation or mom, dad and the grown kids....More
Apr. 27, 2012

Commentary

WardsAuto

Develop Social-Media Policy for Staffers

Many auto dealership staffers who are active with the various social-media outlets hit the “send” button before they filter the message....More
Apr. 27, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Spanish Dealers’ Losses Fall Short of Forecast

Reduced income from repairs, services and parts sales left 63% of Spanish dealers in the red last year, compared with 32% of dealers in other EU countries....More
Apr. 26, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Ringing Up Car Sales Music to Dealer’s Ears

For a Nashville BMW-Mini dealership, country-music celebrities may be shopping in the showroom, kicking the tires on the lot and sending playfully worded thank-you notes....More
Apr. 25, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Volvo’s U.S. Chief Forecast Sales Gain in 2012

A new finance company, more fuel-efficient engines and an accent on performance and styling are among strategies the auto maker will use to grow demand....More
Apr. 25, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Lithia Steps Up Used-Car Sales

Publicly owned Lithia, a perennial top player on the WardsAuto Megadealer 100, sold 58,398 used cars in 2011, nearly 10,000 more than the year before....More
Apr. 25, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Top Dealer Praises Auto Makers’ Improved Ways

Overproduction, particularly by domestic auto makers, glutted the market, forced dealers to take cars they didn’t want, drove down prices, hurt residual values and betrayed customers, he says....More
Apr. 24, 2012

Commentary

WardsAuto

EVs Great, But Getting KO’d in Market

A new dynamic is at work with the government becoming more involved in trying to force the market to make major car-buying shifts....More
Apr. 24, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Megadealers May Lead Customer-Experience ‘Revolution’ 2

Some dealership groups on the WardsAuto Megadealer 100, such as Asbury Automotive Group, are testing new ways to sell vehicles....More
Apr. 20, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Buy Wholesale, Think Retail

The Internet makes the used-car industry one big car lot, but it takes more than luck to successfully sell a pre-owned vehicle, remarketing experts say....More
Apr. 20, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

CRM Tools Help Dealers Get Good Reviews

Social-media customer ratings are important to car dealers, and even bad reviews can help make the store a better place, say experts....More
Apr. 19, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

Dealers Strive to Become Social-Media Experts

Brand reputation is at stake when it comes to social media applied to the retail auto space. Misused, the tools can backfire and impair customer relationships, experts say....More
Apr. 18, 2012

Article

WardsAuto

WardsAuto-DME Webinar Tackles Service-Customer Loyalty

Research data indicate a growing number of younger consumers service their cars at aftermarket chain outlets rather than local dealerships....More