Inside Automotive
Emerging trends in digital marketing and data collection for dealers — Glenn Pasch | PCG Digital
Customer data and digital marketing are crucial tools for running a profitable dealership. On this episode of Inside Automotive, host Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by Glenn Pasch, the CEO of PCG Digital and auto marketing expert, to discuss data in the car business and highlights from the recent Digital Marketing Strategies Conference (DMSC). Watch the full segment here
Top stories
New vehicle quality decreased in J.D. Power’s annual Initial Quality Study under industry-wide shifts to new features and emerging technologies. J.D. Power researchers calculated vehicle quality trends by counting problems per 100 units based on survey responses from 93,380 new-car owners. The study, published Thursday, June 22, found that the number of issues grew by 12 points in 2023, following the previous year’s increase of 18 points. Read More
Sonic Automotive, one of the largest dealership groups in the U.S., is closing eight EchoPark used-vehicle stores in response to supply and demand pressures, as revealed in a press release published Thursday, June 22. Sonic Automotive did not disclose which of its EchoPark locations it planned to terminate but did note plans to end operations at additional delivery-buy storefronts as well. Read More
In its latest effort to streamline operations and reduce costs, Ford is preparing to initiate another round of layoffs in the upcoming weeks. The layoffs are expected to include U.S. salaried workers and accept employees in Ford’s gas engine, EV, and software divisions. A Ford spokesman said, “Part of the ongoing management of our business includes aligning our global staffing to meet future business plans and staying cost competitive as our industry evolves.” Read More
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that Honda is recalling 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. because of cable problems that prevent the rearview camera from working when the vehicle is in reverse. Between May 2017 and June this year, the Japanese automaker received approximately 274,000 warranty claims. Read More
Forward-thinking car dealers have seen fixed operations department profits and efficiency significantly improve over the last year, according to new research by Cox Automotive. As the automotive industry looks to recover from pandemic-related disruptions and accommodate changing consumer preferences, car dealers have increasingly implemented new frameworks and toolkits for service departments. Read More
For Dealers
Opinion | Why EV chargers at dealerships are more than just virtue signaling
Before we delve into this discussion, let’s clarify something: I’m no fan of electric vehicles (EVs). Yes, you heard it right. Given their destructive environmental impact during production and the lukewarm public reception they’d likely receive without government intervention, I’m not convinced these trendy RC Cars on steroids are our green savior. Read More
AutoNation purchases 5 stores in California, Goode Motor Auto Group enters Alaskan market
The following notable M&A deals were finalized in the past few months, involving numerous brands and a few high-profile dealer groups. AutoNation has expanded once again, this time buying five dealerships from the Bob Baker Auto Group in Carlsbad, California. The acquisition, which was finalized on June 5th, consists of Hyundai-Genesis, Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram-Fiat, Volkswagen, Mazda, and Subaru dealerships along with their service lanes. Read More
