ICYMI: FTC names the 97 dealerships and groups it warned about deceptive pricing. New-vehicle sales are expected to hold steady in May, despite economic pressure. Scout Motors to bring 1,200 jobs to new Charlotte HQ. Volvo secures U.S. approval to continue vehicle sales despite China-linked restrictions. Ferrari launches Luce, its first all-electric vehicle.
Here’s a closer look at these top stories and more headlines to stay on top of this week’s automotive industry news.
FTC names the 97 dealerships and groups it warned about deceptive pricing
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made public the names of the 97 auto dealership groups it warned about deceptive pricing practices in March, revealing that several of the country’s largest retailers were among the recipients. Initially, the FTC sent the letters in March, warning dealers that advertised vehicle prices must reflect all mandatory fees. At the time, the agency declined to identify the recipients. However, those names are now listed on the FTC’s website, alongside copies of each individual warning. Read More
May auto sales expected to hold steady despite economic uncertainty.
U.S. new-vehicle sales are expected to remain stable in May, despite economic uncertainty, high fuel prices, and geopolitical tensions, as a stronger stock market and higher-income buyers are supporting demand. According to Cox Automotive’s latest forecasts, May’s seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) is expected to be roughly 16.1 million units. Read More
Scout Motors to bring 1,200 jobs to new Charlotte HQ
Scout Motors has chosen Charlotte, North Carolina, as the location for its new corporate headquarters, expanding the company’s footprint in the Carolinas ahead of planned vehicle production in 2027. The emerging automaker said the investment will create more than 1,200 jobs in the Charlotte region over the coming years as the company prepares to launch the Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pickup. Read More
Volvo secures U.S. approval to continue vehicle sales despite China-linked restrictions.
Volvo Cars has secured approval from the U.S. government to continue importing and selling connected vehicles in the U.S., despite new federal restrictions targeting Chinese-owned automakers and vehicle technology tied to China. The automaker announced that it has received specific authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce to continue selling vehicles in the U.S. Read More
Ferrari launches Luce, its first all-electric vehicle.
Ferrari unveiled its first fully electric car on Monday in Rome. The Luce, Italian for light, is a $640,000 five-seat performance sedan. The Luce has four electric motors delivering 1,050 horsepower and a top speed of 192 mph. It can go from 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds and has a range of more than 310 miles. Read More
Next Week: Exclusive Interviews You Can’t Miss
5 key things killing your service advisor training (and how to fix them)
Service departments continue to invest heavily in advisor training, yet many dealerships still fail to see lasting gains in CSI, sales performance, retention, and customer experience. Joining us on an upcoming episode of Service Drive is Lee Harkins, President and CEO of M5 Management Services, to discuss five key reasons service advisor training often fails and what dealers can do about it.
Dealers must act on GEO now as AI shifts car-buying behavior
Artificial intelligence is changing the way people shop for their next vehicle and that’s having a big impact on how dealerships do their marketing. Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is rewriting the rules of automotive search, and many dealerships are not ready. On an upcoming episode of Inside Automotive, we’ll speak with four automotive marketing experts to break down what GEO means for dealers and what they should be doing now.
