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CBT Automotive Newscast: August 26, 2020

Today’s Featured Interview:

CEO Alex Goldfayn Discusses Key Communication Strategies to Generate More Sales
Many of our personal and professional lives have been altered since the start of Coronavirus, but that doesn’t mean optimism and positivity have to take a back seat. Sales and profit are still happening! Today we’re talking to Alex Goldfayn, CEO of the Evangelist Marketing Institute, about how optimism and positivity can actually boost sales and about his book released this week titled 5-Minute SellingWatch the full segment here.

Top Headlines:

News Stories & Opinion:

Asbury Automotive has officially completed the acquisition of Park Place dealerships. The company announced that the acquisition will add approximately $1.7 billion in annual revenues. Park Place owns and operates several award-winning luxury dealerships with Upremier real estate. The acquisition will also include the Park Place auction and two collision centers.

The United Automobile Workers labor union has strong objections with operations at a General Motors auto plant. The UAW said that GM violated a clause in the 2019 union contract and issued the automaker a warning for putting white-collar workers in union jobs. GM started using salary employees to help build pickups at its Wentzville assembly plant near St. Louis due to high absenteeism amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Elon Musk provided a glimpse into what could be expected from Tesla’s battery capacity growth. Musk suggested that the electric carmaker may be able to mass produce batteries with 50% more energy density in three to four years. This capacity has the potential to enable electric airplanes. His comments come ahead of Tesla’s highly anticipated “battery day” event where the EV brand is expected to reveal how it has improved battery performance.

Ford Motor Company is moving forward with plans to build an electric version of the F-150 pickup. Bloomberg reported that the automaker is undergoing construction of a new facility adjacent to its Dearborn, Michigan truck plant to begin construction of the electric pickup. Prototype production is expected to start within the next year.

hoursRethinking Auto Retail: The Shift from Leads-Based Sales to the Transaction
In a few short months, digital retailing in automotive jumped forward about five years. The Cox Automotive Future of Digital Retailing Study reveals that 9 in 10 shoppers want to buy somewhere that offers the ability to complete at least some of the steps online. But during COVID-19, dealers were forced to offer nearly all steps completely online although few were equipped to do so. Read More

Text Your Way to Higher Customer Satisfaction
This morning, I dropped off my 145-pound Newfoundland, Tess, to be groomed. I scheduled and paid over the phone, and then I received reminders via text. When I arrived and texted PetSmart, an employee met me at the front door to escort Tess to her appointment. Wow! It was like a concierge service, and I found myself wondering: why hasn’t it always been done this way? Read More


Did you enjoy today’s automotive newscast? Please share your thoughts, comments, or questions regarding this topic with host Jim Fitzpatrick at jfitzpatrick@cbtnews.com.

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For over 11 years, CBT News has been informing and helping automotive retail professionals grow their businesses and thrive in their careers through an awarding-winning, on-demand streaming platform. With exclusive interviews featuring the biggest names in the industry, daily newscasts, up-to-date market data, and exclusive articles covering the latest trends, CBT News is your #1 source for auto industry news and content.

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