Today’s Featured Interview:
Corina Diehl on building her auto group, digital retailing, attracting more females into the auto industry
After the tragic passing of her husband in 2007, Corina Diehl was left with a critical decision concerning Diehl Automotive Group. Keep the business or sell? Corina made the decision to keep the business and has overcome enormous obstacles to earn a tremendous amount of success. Today she joins anchor Jim Fitzpatrick to discuss her journey and the importance of uplifting and encouraging women in automotive. Watch the full segment here.
Top Headlines:
An automotive veteran is turning the page to a new chapter. Paul Edmonds has joined Digital Motors as vice president of customer success, leading the company’s sales and service teams. Edmonds brings over 15 years of experience to Digital Motors serving in leadership roles with TrueCar, Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book, and Cox Automotive. Digital Motors CEO Andy Hinrichs said that the company works to empower dealerships with a strong online sales platform, and Edmonds will produce tangible results for Digital Motors’ clients.
Ford is implementing new pay-per-mile insurance on new cars through a newly formed partnership with Metromile. Ford said that the partnership will help millions of Americans save money on insurance as they continue working from home and drive less due to COVID-19. The announcement was made the day after Ford said that it would be cutting 1,400 jobs while investing in new technologies. The startup insurance company targets people who drive less than 12,000 miles per year offering money-saving options that are significantly less than traditional insurers.
Dealers may have a little more time than anticipated to track customer behavior for ad targeting. The iOS 14 update for Apple was supposed to limit tracking capabilities by allowing users to consent before being identified by advertisers on apps and social media platforms. However, Apple recently told developers that it will delay the enforcement of anti-tracking features. Dealers advertising on Facebook will have more time to utilize customer-behavior targeting, but should also expect limitations to be implemented in the future.
A stray dog proves that persistence pays off. The dog kept showing up at a Brazilian Hyundai dealership and was eventually given a job and a badge. The dealership named the dog Tucson Prime and even gave him his own Instagram account. The page has blown up, as the friendly pup currently has over 166,000 followers. The initiative was first set in place to offer shelter for the dog, however, Tucson showed that he had a natural ability to greet and interact with customers, earning him a promotion. Tuscon has helped improve the overall customer experience, and many car buyers have even come back to the dealership just to say hello.
News Stories & Opinion:
U.S. Putting Pressure on China, Considers Blacklisting Chipmaker
Earlier this year, Chinese carmakers were attempting to be the first to crack into the American auto market. Brands such as GAC Motor and Vantas were expected to target the auto industry in the US with low-cost models, capturing a part of a 17 million-unit per year sector. Instead, the tables have turned as the Trump administration is considering blacklisting the Chinese tech industry. Read More
Tips for Fixed Ops Marketing on Little to No Budget
It’s widely accepted knowledge that only 45 percent of customers remain loyal to their dealership’s service department within the first two years of vehicle ownership. Like any relationship, work is required to keep things fresh, growing, and long-term. The often-attributed quote of Theodore Roosevelt says, “People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.” Marketing is relational, so let’s look at some low-cost marketing tips that will help you care for and grow your relationship with current and future buyers. 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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