Inside Automotive
Has the United Auto Workers strike gone too far? — John McElroy | Autoline
The historical United Auto Workers strike continues to expand as more manufacturing employees are called on to join the picket line. With no sign of a resolution between automaker executives and union leadership in sight, dealers are bracing for a prolonged battle with worrisome implications for the retail sector. On this episode of Inside Automotive, host Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by John McElroy, automotive analyst and show host at Autoline. Watch full segment here.
Top Stories
Stellantis and Ford launched a new wave of layoffs at facilities in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan as the United Auto Workers union enters its fifth week of strikes against Detroit-Three automakers. On Friday, Stellantis announced it would furlough 700 employees at two Indiana plants shortly after a livestream hosted by UAW president Shawn Fain. Read More
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 579 that mandates all new school buses be electric starting in 2035. In terms of the adoption of electric school buses, California has already set the pace in the U.S. with over 2,078 committed buses, at least 34% of which are either delivered or in service. Additionally, Newsom’s approval of Bill 579 makes it the fifth state, joining Connecticut, Maryland, Maine, and New York, to require electric school buses. Read More
Ally Financial and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) have recognized 25-year-old Filipina dealer general manager Gabrielle Abinion for her inspirational leadership and work ethic. Abinion received the “Ally Sees Her” award during NAMAD’s yearly conference earlier this month. Read More
At the Japan Mobility Show later this month, Toyota intends to give a sneak peek into its upcoming sports car. However, the initial teasers reveal a coupe with a futuristic appearance that is entirely different from the current generation GR86 or Supra. It appears to be an enhancement of the Sports EV concept- one similar in shape, with a black roof and an orange body. It could also be a closer-to-production variation. Read More
For Dealers
5 trends impacting your fixed ops profits and how to address them
Since the dawn of the car business, dealerships have been focused primarily on selling cars. Fixed ops has often been an afterthought. Ironically, fixed ops profit margins are significantly higher than margins for new and used vehicle sales. According to Mercer Capital, fixed operations only contributed to 12.4% of sales, but was responsible for a whopping 50.5% of total dealership gross profit in 2019. Read More
If your dealership has been making a concerted effort to hire more from the Gen Z pool of job seekers for your F&I positions, there are a few key things to keep in mind. It’s important to really dial into what makes this applicant tick and what they respond to when looking at a job opportunity. Gen Z’s timeline varies a bit depending on what demographer you talk to, but it’s generally accepted that they are the generation born between 1995 and 2010. Read More
