Process for a Seamless Transaction
 
Just as there are sequential steps taken in the production of an automobile so should consistent steps be taken in the sales process. From the sales person to the finance office every step should be taken to allow for a seamless sales transaction. When shortcuts are taken it tends to slow down the process. In fact there are no short cuts that improve the process. Here are just a few tips to help make for a seamless sales transaction.
 
•  Consolidate complete and accurate information.
The more you consolidate the information necessary the easier it is to spot and the smoother will be the process. The sales person should slow the customer down to get the most complete and accurate information.
 
•  Don't put off for later what you can do now.
Sometimes factors are missing in the equation that may prevent a delivery from happening on the same day you sell a car. Get all the information needed to have the deal approved in advance of their delivery.
 
•  Essential information includes:
Complete buyers order or worksheet
Complete, legible, accurate, and signed credit applications.  
Book out sheet or invoice
Complete Insurance information  
Copy of current drivers licenses on all applicants
 
Frank Martin, a Specialist with F&I Solutions, Inc. can be reached at fmartin@fandisolutionsinc.com or call 919-696-5138.

Auto Sales Slammed by Job Worries
Although Detroit 3 sales are up over June, 2009, figures indicate a sales slide from May. Ford and GM down 13 percent and Chrysler down 12 percent. However, Buick saw sales increase of 48.3 percent for year to date and Ford sales Jan-June are up 28 percent.   
MSNBC.msn.com, July 1, 2010

Want Teens to Stay Off the Phone While Driving? New Research Shows A Positive Approach May Be Best
Research from the National Young Driver Survey of 5,500 teenagers indicates that teens who seldom talk and drive were motivated by positive benefits: better attention to road, less likely to crash, following the law. Drive safe!
PRnewswire.com, June 30, 2010

Safety From the Ground Up This July 4th
With some 140 million vehicles on U.S. roads this holiday weekend, the NHTSA says under-inflated tires have contributed to hundreds of fatalities, thousands of injuries. The RMA says be sure to check tire pressure every month and before a long road trip!
PRnewswire.com, June 30, 2010

In Split From GM International Unit, S. America gets Own Sales Region
GM will create a separate sales region for South America. The market was part of GM International Operations, which handled all countries outside North America and Europe. South America makes up 12% of GM's global sales.

J.D. Power: Smartphone Owners Want More Vehicle Technology
The J.D. Power 2010 US Automotive Emerging Technologies Study reveals strong consumer interest in vehicles having some capabilities similar to smartphones. The study also measured interest in other technologies such as safety but found interest often dropped when prices were mentioned.

PACE Environmental Awards Given to Five Suppliers
Premier Automotive Suppliers' Contribution to Excellence (PACE) award winners;Continental, NGK Insulators, Delphi Corp., Durr Systems, and Henkel Corp. were recognized for their game-changing innovations contributing to environmental sustainability and solving environmental problems.

OneCommand Helps Dealers Host Auto Detail and Service Clinics
Service clinics are an excellent and easy way to introduce your customers to your service team. Case studies show incredible results for dealers who use the OneCommand campaign. Planning Ahead: Next weekend is the 4th of July!
Interested in hosting your own Detail Clinic? Click here to request more information or call 800.211.7614 today!

NADAguides.com Offers 2010 Model Data

Pricing and information for 2010 model vehicles is now available at NADAguides.com. Dealers can access info through the website. Pertinent information is updated daily, including wholesale, retail and asking price data, and is reflective of current and forecasted market conditions using advanced analytical tools and making it invaluable to dealers. Visit NADAguides.com for more information.

OPENLANE Expands North American Operations
OPENLANE announced today that it is expanding its footprint and capabilities in North America by adding new features to its online wholesale auction site in the U.S and by launching a new site in Canada (OPENLANE.ca). Contact at Canadian email or U.S. email for more info. Enhancements include:
•  Completely redesigned Vehicle Detail site
•  Upgraded Search and Bid/Buy Confirmation pages
•  One-screen web-listing page

Hire the Winners: Changing the Way Auto Dealers Hire
By Lee Kemp

Why has sales consultant turnover gone up and production gone down in the last 3 years?  Can you believe many dealers we talk to think 40% annual turnover on their sales team is a win?  IT’S NOT A WIN!  In fact, any turnover is devastating to your team and its productivity. Turnover and low performance is a symptom of poor hiring and management that allows it to continue.  Who owns your hiring? It must be the leaders of the dealership!  

What process and tools do you use to find and hire high performers? Look at the best teams in sports.  What makes them great? Great players, each personally recruited to fill a role, great coaches, again recruited.  Notice it all starts with the RIGHT PEOPLE!  Hire the Winners has the tools and the process to hire the right people starting with the best sales aptitude evaluation tool on the market today-- the Car Sales Simulator®.  You will know in about twenty minutes the level of closing, self motivation, empathy and investigative skills of your applicant prior to the first interview.

Stop allowing poor unproven people with low sales aptitude to permeate your sales teams.  Managers typically know how to sell automobiles, but how many managers are experts at hiring and interviewing?  Let us make your job easier, make your team more successful and MAKE YOU MORE MONEY!  Whether it is providing your team with tools to gather more information, or providing “qualified candidates” screened and ready to interview, we're here to help make a difference in your dealership.

Lee Kemp, of Hire the Winners, can be reached at 877.916.6377 or email LK@hirethewinners.com for more information. Click here to take our free demo.

Nissan North America (NNA) has launched a national wholesale parts loyalty program on behalf of its Nissan and Infiniti dealer networks. Designed to increase original equipment manufacturer (OEM) collision and mechanical parts sales, the "Rewards Loyalty" program allows independent body shops and repair facilities to earn points that can be redeemed for more than 3,000 premiums selected from an online catalog.

Once Nissan and Infiniti dealers enroll in the Rewards Loyalty program, they select the wholesale mechanical program and collision repair network facilities they wish to include (participation is free for the shops). Shops receive a monthly Nissan/Infiniti Parts Reward email statement with their points balance, points activity and participating dealer promotions. Click here for more info on the program. For more info on Advantage visit www.advantageDS.com.

Infiniti QX56 Selected for CCS Option
Infiniti chooses Amerigon climate control seat system

Amerigon advanced thermoelectric Climate Control Seat® (CCS®) system becomes an option on the front seats of the all-new 2011 Infiniti QX56, a full-size, luxury Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

The 2011 Infiniti QX56 has been re-engineered and redesigned to be more powerful with more lavish features, including CCS which will be offered on the 2011 Infiniti QX56 in North America. Other Infiniti vehicles that offer CCS include the Infiniti Q45, Infiniti M35/45, Infiniti FX35/50 and the Infiniti G Convertible.

Highly-efficient, solid-state thermoelectric CCS thermally conditioned in response to electronic switch input from ech indivisual seat by a specially designed fan through ducts in the seat cushion and seat back, focusing the cooling directly on the passenger through the seat, rather than waiting until ambient air cools the seat surface behind the passenger.

Fill 'Er Up, Please -- With Electricity

The electric car future path is strewn with challenges, not the least of which will be how to keep these vehicles charged up and running. Charging stations and equipment are the next big hurdle the U.S. government is attempting to address. Even the thought of running out of steam has coined a new phrase -- range anxiety. As one blogger writes:
"How long will it take to "fill-up". I have an electric golf cart that takes several hours to recharge. If you are on the road, are you supposed to pull into the recharge station, hook up and wait for a few hours before you can proceed? Click here to get in on the discussion and then click on the image for a close-up look at EVs today!