Earlier this week: Detroit Giants donated $1M to Trump’s 2025 inauguration. Stellantis U-turns on Ohio layoffs amid leadership challenges. Musk vs. Congress: spending bill sparks dramatic showdown. Cars Commerce partners with WOCAN to fund $20,000 for women in automotive [Jan. 10 deadline]. Carlos Ghosn warns Nissan faces “carnage” in Honda potential merger. EVs and hybrids shine in IIHS 2024 Safety Awards. Dealertrack’s November 2024 report shows increased approval rates and favorable loan terms. Vic Vaughan Toyota of Boerne spreads holiday cheer with a charitable fundraiser for Arms of Hope.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
1. Detroit Giants donate $1M to Trump’s 2025 inauguration
As the automotive industry prepares for President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming January inauguration, both Ford and General Motors (GM) announced substantial contributions, each donating $1 million and supplying vehicles for the event. This gesture comes as the automakers face potential policy shifts under the new administration, particularly regarding tariffs and electric vehicle (EV) regulations that could impact their operations. Read More
2. Stellantis u-turns on Ohio layoffs amid leadership challenges
Stellantis has reversed its decision to lay off approximately 1,100 employees at its Toledo South Assembly Plant in Ohio, just weeks after the sudden resignation of CEO Carlos Tavares. The company announced on December 21 that it will no longer proceed with the indefinite layoffs, which were initially scheduled to take effect on January 5, 2025, due to a planned shift reduction. Read More
3. Musk vs. Congress: spending bill sparks dramatic showdown
Elon Musk’s initial attempt to rein in Congress and its excessive spending nearly caused a government shutdown. Musk torpedoed Speaker of the House Mike Johnson‘s end-of-year government funding proposal on Wednesday (December 18 . Taking to X, Musk expressed his strong dissatisfaction with the bill, calling it “criminal,” and posted a barrage of tweets pressuring Congress to kill it. Read More
4. Cars Commerce partners with WOCAN to fund $20,000 for women in automotive [Jan. 10 deadline]
Cars Commerce has been a strong advocate for the Women of Color Automotive Network (WOCAN) since its inception and is excited to continue this commitment with a $20,000 donation to the WOCAN-Bob Ross Legacy Scholarship. This contribution aims to empower minority women in automotive retail by funding educational opportunities and accelerating their journey to leadership positions within the industry. Read More
5. Carlos Ghosn warns Nissan faces “carnage” in Honda potential merger
Former Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has raised concerns that Nissan would be severely impacted by a potential merger with Honda, predicting a “cost-cutting carnage” that could hurt the company. Ghosn, who led Nissan for 19 years, emphasized that Honda would likely dominate the merged entity due to their lack of complementary strengths. Read More
6. EVs and hybrids shine in IIHS 2024 Safety Awards
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has announced its latest safety award winners for 2024, highlighting strong performances by electric and hybrid vehicles in its rigorous testing protocols. Among the top honorees are the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Rivian R1S SUV, both receiving the coveted “Top Safety Pick+” designation. Read More
7. Dealertrack’s November 2024 report shows increased approval rates and favorable loan terms
November 2024 saw a significant uptick in auto credit access, with the Dealertrack Credit Availability Index reaching 95.4—a 1.0% increase from October and a 0.8% rise year over year. This marks the highest level of auto credit access since October 2023, signaling positive movement across all channels and lender types in the auto financing landscape. Read More
8. California dealers challenge VW’s direct sales plan for Scout vehicles – Brian Maas | CNCDA
The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) is taking a stand against Volkswagen’s plan to sell its Scout-branded vehicles directly to consumers, issuing a cease-and-desist letter that calls the move a violation of state franchise laws. In today’s episode of CBT Now, Brian Maas, President of the CNCDA, discusses why this decision could set a concerning precedent for dealer-manufacturer relationships and the automotive retail industry at large. Watch the full segment here.
9. Jens Suzuki’s three-step formula for overcoming objections
In today’s competitive automotive landscape, overcoming customer objections is critical to success. Jen Suzuki, founder and president of eDealer Solutions and host of Loyalty-Based Sales Strategies, delivers actionable insights tailored for sales departments. This episode breaks down a practical three-step process to transform objections into opportunities, emphasizing the importance of personalization, value, and genuine connection. Watch the full segment here.
10. Mastering objection handling with five principles of influence – Adam Marburger
On today’s episode of Training Camp, Adam Marburger, the Black Belt in F&I operations, dives deep into the psychology of selling, sharing five powerful principles of influence that every F&I professional needs to master. From reciprocity to likability, these strategies are designed to elevate the customer experience and maximize F&I product sales, all while enhancing customer trust and loyalty. Watch the full segment here.
