6 Steps to Successful Change

In the automotive industry, if there is one thing we know for certain it is that change is constant and necessary for survival.  Whether it’s changes in management, sales people, service writers and/or what incentives are in place at the dealership, change is bound to happen -- and frequently.  Every dealer would love to put into action a permanent sales plan and deal flow but that won’t lend itself well to reality. Here are 6 steps to successfully implementing new processes and change at your dealership:

1. Think your solution through first.  It’s okay to make minor changes, but don’t put yourself in a position to have to make major changes every couple of weeks in order to reach your “final destination”.

2. Share the problem with your staff members.  It’s imperative that your employees understand why the current change is needed (and perhaps even required).

3. Get employees’ commitment to implement the new process/change.  In other words, have them take some  “ownership” in the process.

4. Create obtainable/tangible landmarks within your process.

5. Explain your measuring “tool” when and how you’ll evaluate improvement.

6. Micromanage the project for at least 21 days.

Steve Dozier, National Director of Training at DMEautomotive can be reached at info@dmeautomotive.com or 1-866-714-9449.

Chrysler to Post a Profit for 2Q
Chrysler Group LLC CEO Sergio Marchionne says the company will report its first profitable quarter next month with an operating profit of $143 million, representing continued growth after emerging from bankruptcy in 2009 and a net loss of $3.785 billion that year.
Detroit News, July 22, 2010

Lincoln Makes History With Pricing for America's Most Fuel-Efficient Luxury Sedan - 2011 MKZ Hybrid
Ford makes automotive history by being the first automaker to offer a hybrid version of a car at the same price as the gas-engine style -- advertised as the most fuel-efficient luxury car in America, priced below the 2010 Lexus HS 250h.
PRnewswire.com, July 22, 2010

AutoUSA Says Dealers Finding Ways to Get the Most Out of Leads
In survey results just released, AutoUSA finds 47.6% of dealers share marketing messages with their service departments as potential buyers, not just those coming into the showroom looking for a new car.
AutoRemarketing, July 22, 2010

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Domestic Models Outperform Imports in Vehicle Appeal for the First Time in 13 Years
Ford leads domestics to retake the lead over imports with 5-segment leaders in J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.

AOL Autos Picks Top 10 CPO Vehicles
AOL Autos conducted its own analysis of certified pre-owned vehicles currently available from the 2005 through 2007 model years and came up with 10 recommendations. The listing consisted of a myriad of brands.

Buying a Corvette? Now You Can Build the Engine Yourself
It's been looked at as one of America's dream muscle cars for the better part of 50 years, but until now if you wanted to buy a Chevrolet Corvette, you had to trust the engineers at General Motors to put the horsepower under the hood. Now, as a new marketing ploy, if not a nod to DIY enthusiasts everywhere, that's all changing.

ShipCarsNow Helps Keep Dealer Costs Down

The weak economy and tight credit of 2009 left new car sales and auto production at lowest level in 27years, resulting in fewer used car trade-ins. In 2010, with low supply, wholesale prices for used cars are up. Car hauler like ShipCarsNow is working with used car dealers, remarketers and Internet auto auctions to offer affordable, reliable multimodal auto transportation services that include both truck and rail options. For solid, affordable car hauling solutions visit www.ShipCarsNow.com.

Get Red Flags Compliant -- It's the Law!

Simplify compliance with Red Flag Manager from Credco Services. Powered by Compli in consultation with Hudson Cook, LLP, RFM is an easy-to-use, online compliance application for drafting, rolling out, training, and monitoring your dealership’s Red Flag Program. You'll want to use Red Flag Viewpoint, an integrated online reporting dashboard that combines, summarizes and delivers easy-to-read reporting on your Red Flags compliance efforts. Visit CredcoServices for more info.

Compli Presents FREE Webinar on Avoiding Litigation

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) are the source of confusion and increased litigation around the country.  Join Compli and Guest Speakers: Talar Herculian and Sean Kundu, Partner and Associate at Fisher & Phillips, LLP, on August 4, 1 p.m. Eastern, to recognize and avoid potential pitfalls that exist within your business.  Click here (not a toll-free number) to register and obtain Webinar information. Live Q & A at end of session.

Become a “Student of the Internet”
By David Kain

If you truly want to be the BEST when it comes to the Internet you’ll want to become a “Student of the Internet”.  Sounds good…but what’s it mean and how will it help me sell more cars and make more money?
 
The Online Shopper Equation: 90 – 10 – 10 - 90
About 90% of Automotive shoppers use the Internet to gather information and about 10% don’t.  Of the 90% who do use the Internet for car shopping only about 10% actually submit a request using a form on a website online whereas ~90% just call or come in to the dealership.  This means that most of the people you talk to either via email, telephone or in person have been to some automotive website prior to your conversation and it may be one that you have never heard of.  
 
Know where your customers hang out online
We use the term greeters at the dealership to acknowledge a person employed to orient customers when they arrive at the dealership and we have to accept that Search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing are the virtual greeters online. The shopper types in what they want and the search engine returns a number of options.  For example:  Type in 2010 MINI Cooper S Convertible and in my market there were 11 sponsored listings in addition to the organic listings. Just for the fun of it fill one of these forms out and use your dealership zip code and see if you receive the lead from one of your manufacturer or 3rd party sources.
 
Invite them to your Virtual Dealership
The best place to clear up any confused online shopper is to help them navigate to your virtual dealership and click through your inventory.  This can be accomplished easy enough with a phone call and the request to “please click to our website at ourdealership.com and I’ll show you what we have available” or to simply provide links to your live inventory in an email.
 
David Kain, President of KainAutomotive, can be reached at david@kainautomotive.com. To read this article in its entirety, click here.

All it takes is a tiny little memory chip, with wireless programming, to allow technicians to upgrade the functionality of a vehicle from somewhere other than the service bay at your dealership. It's a whole new world -- a new way of looking at servicing vehicles with drivers in the fast lane of society. So along comes a memory chip capable of holding the serial number, customer information, board revision and other pertinent information which allows the technician to access the file even when there is no power. Click here or click on the image for a look at future fascination that is here today!

Federal Agencies to Address Distracted Driving
Ford improves SYNC to offer drivers safety options

Texting while driving has become a serious issue for safety experts. For some, text-messaging has become the "default communications method for consumers of all ages," says Ford multimedia and infotainment engineering chief, John Schneider. As a result, Ford has made some changes in its SYNC program, adding a "Do Not Disturb" button so they can decide the level of connectivity and communications they want to manage while in the car. Look for these features on upcoming 2011 models, starting with the Ford Edge and LIncoln MKX:

•  Ford adds "Do Not Disturb" button to block incoming calls and texts on new MyFord Touch-equipped vehicles and proactive feature content "lock-outs" to encourage use of voice control

•  Ford integrates new Bluetooth Message Access Profile (MAP) into SYNC for all MyFord Touch-equipped vehicles so more drivers can have texts read aloud to them while driving

•  Research In Motion (RIM), maker of BlackBerry smartphones, plans to adopt MAP and enable SYNC audible text messaging capability to work with all new smartphones; Ford urges other phone manufacturers to follow suit.

Click here to find out specific functions that are locked out when the vehicle is in motion. Then click here to learn what the National Safety Council and Department of Transportation have to say on distracted driving.

Today's Complex Transmission Systems Get More Complex
The Chevy Volt is a horse of a different color

Hybrid electric vehicle transmissions generally fall into two categories: the "parallel" hybrid or the "series" hybrid. The former blends the power from the electric motor and the internal combustion engine, while the latter keeps the two separate. But along comes the Chevy Volt, with a 53kW gas engine generator and a 16kWh lithium ion battery pack. It appears to fall under the category of being a "series" hybrid, but that may not necessarily be so. From the beginning, GM has insisted that the drive system in the Volt is...different.

So what can we come to expect of the Chevy Volt Voltec drive? Probably almost anything, when it hits the market later this year. But it does appear that this "series" hybrid has a bit of "parallel" in its bones -- and this can make a big difference in mileage, so it seems.Yes, you'll want to READ MORE...

It also appears that Chevy Volt owners are going to have the ability to "fill up" in their own garages. At least 4,400 Chevy Volt owners will get a free home charger. Others will have to pay about $2,000 for one. Exactly how will that work? Click here. And if you'd like to see the upcoming Chevy Volt in action (video) click here or on the image!