Inside Automotive
Setting realistic goals for electric vehicle sales — Christine Erickson | SDADA
South Dakota was the first state to challenge Ford’s Model e program, which sought to standardize electric vehicle sales practices and required dealers to make substantial investments to prepare for new technologies. EVs have become increasingly polarizing as OEMs continue to set lofty targets for the segment that seem unrealistic given the slow growth of demand. Watch full segment here.
Top Stories
General Motors president Mark Reuss responded to criticisms of the company’s treatment and compensation of United Auto Workers members in an editorial published this morning on the Detroit Free Press website. In the piece, Reuss defended the automaker from numerous claims which he referred to as “myths.” Although he did not go into detail about current pay rates, the president rejected the notion that the company’s workforce earns “poverty wages.” Read More
In response to federal EV incentives favoring domestic production, a top Hyundai executive claimed that the company is rushing to begin producing EVs and batteries at a $7.6 billion complex in coastal Georgia. Jose Munoz, Hyundai’s president and chief operating officer, remarked to reporters in Atlanta after the company and Georgia Tech agreed to cooperate to advance research into hydrogen-fueled vehicles and develop personnel for the Korean business. Read More
Service departments were busier and more profitable in August thanks to rising demand and cost increases, according to data published by Cox Automotive. With summer ending and cold weather approaching, car owners have started to visit their dealers’ service departments in greater numbers. Although total volume fell slightly behind last year’s pace, repair and maintenance orders rose 8.2% in August. Read More
Owning an electric vehicle is a lot like owning a gas vehicle. However, a few factors can be considered while buying and selling used EVs. The past locations of a secondary electric car may be more important than you realize because prolonged heat exposure may lead to battery degradation. According to a recent study by Recurrent, Teslas owned and operated in cold and marine temperature zones had higher average range scores than Teslas owned and operated in warm climate zones. Read More
For Dealers
From overwhelmed to aligned action: Empowering service advisors for success
Over the last three years, dealerships have had to rely on service to bring in more profit than ever. And service advisors play a crucial role in bridging the gap between customers and the technical world of automotive repair. However, it’s no secret that the daily grind of multitasking, addressing customer concerns, and meeting ever-increasing targets can push even the most seasoned service advisors to the brink of burnout. Read More
The time is now for F&I transparency
Even before the pandemic, the auto industry was undergoing a transformation. Operations like CarMax and Carvana were delivering “no surprise” experiences to customers, while Tesla sought to skip the dealership process altogether. The onset of COVID-19 helped push things further online, removing many fluctuations that occur with person-to-person transactions. Read More
