Inside Automotive
‘The days of the boys club are over’ — How the Price Simms Women’s Circle is reimagining dealership culture
We frequently ponder what we can do about the frequent exclusion, hostility, or mistreatment of women in the retail automobile industry. As we’ve previously reported, the Price Simms Women’s Circle was founded by three women from the Price Simms Family Dealerships after they saw the value of discussion and mentoring. On today’s Inside Automotive, we will receive an update on the 14 stores owned by the Group. Joining us is Savannah Simms, general manager of Volvo Cars Palo Alto, and Diana Kennedy, general manager of Volvo Cars Marin. Watch the complete segment here.
Top Stories
In separate monthly reports, automakers Hyundai and Kia posted record-breaking sales numbers for February, reaching a combined total of 117,903 units. Hyundai sold 57,044 units last month, achieving a 9% increase over the same period in 2022 and its fourth consecutive month of record-breaking numbers. Excluding freight, which accounted for 7% of the total, the company’s retail volume was a record 52,932, a year-over-year gain of 1%. Read More
Volkswagen finally jumps on the in-car app bandwagon. A preview of the corporation’s major plans for a unified in-car software platform, will soon release an app store created to suit its wide portfolio of car brands. Drivers will discover well-known third party apps inside, like Tiktok, Spotify, Yelp, and more, that have been added to enhance the in-car experience. Read More
Tesla has opened up the first batch of its Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs as part of its fast-charging networking plan. Tesla is utilizing a unique socket for these charging units that includes an adaptor for vehicles that use CCS plugs, which are bigger than the original plugs. With the exception of a few EVs that utilize the Chademo connector, most non-Tesla vehicles can use the combined charging system. Read More
General Motors is unexpectedly terminating 500 staff members after concluding a round of performance evaluations. These terminations seemingly conflict with recent statements made by the brand’s leadership. In January, CFO Paul Jacobson detailed a plan to cut costs and save an additional $2 billion, but noted that the brand was “not planning layoffs.” Although small staff reductions were anticipated, he claimed these would be the result of attrition. Read More
For Dealers
Every car has a story: How to jazz up your used inventory website listings
If you’re thinking of a quick lunch, you may choose to “Live Más” and pick up Tacos and Nacho Fries from Taco Bell®. Let’s be clear, there’s no logical nutritional reason to do it, and one could argue that regularly eating that kind of food is harmful. But there’s something else behind the choice, and that’s emotion. Read More
The ultimate company culture checklist for your dealership
What does it feel like to work within the walls of your dealership? Do you feel like your values apply to your everyday work, or have you felt that they’re less relevant? Your company’s culture significantly influences your dealership’s functional areas. It can result in your team collaborating like a well-oiled machine or creating a revolving door through departures. A checklist can help you see what you excel at and where to improve. Here are four things to ensure that you include in your company culture checklist: Read More
