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Industry News in the Last 24 |
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February 24, 2010 |
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 Toyota's U.S. Chief Says No Problem With Electronics, Apologizes in Testimony
Jim Lentz, Toyota U.S. president, will tell the House panel (full text) no problem exists with the electronic throttle control system, instead blaming floor mats and "sticky" accelerator pedals, while acknowledging mistakes in communication within the company, regulators and consumers.
Wall Street Journal, February 23, 2010
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 Toyota Remains Third in Consumer Reports Brand Ranking
Toyota maintained same ranking it has held in Consumer Reports auto reports, despite all the controversy. Honda and Subaru tied for 1st place. Top 10 picks include Chevy Traverse and Silverado, Lexus LS 460L, Toyota Prius, Subaru Forester -- no Hondas.
New York Times, February 23, 2010
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 Toyota “All But Ignored” Complaints, Lawmaker Says
At a Congressional hearing, Rep Bart Stupak (D) MI, head of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, accused Toyota of blatantly ignoring customer complaints and have a lot of explaining to do, based on documents handed over to the committee prior to the inquiries that began yesterday.
Bloomberg.com, February 23, 2010
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WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS |
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Toyota Uses Olympic Ads to Seek Redemption
Toyota is fighting to restores its quality and dependability image. The campaign began in earnest during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. The automaker apologized for recent failures and promised to fix any problems as quickly as possible.
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2011 Hyundai Sonata Named 'Top Safety Pick' by IIHS
The new Hyundai Sonata has won the prestigious "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. This award is difficult to earn and confirms Hyundai's commitment to the goal of vehicle safety leadership.
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J.D. Power Reveals Latest Franchise Assessment
J.D. Power and Associates recently shared some details stemming from their Franchise Assessment which summarizes all the information they collect from consumers, PIN and its forecasting group. Chevrolet, Ford, Hyundai and Lexus all fell into the "excellent" category.
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 You Can't Sell What you Can't Find
One of the most common problems comes from an inventory that is so out of place, you really don’t know what you’ve got until you take a full physical inventory, and that is expensive and time consuming. As the title of this article states, you can’t sell something you can’t find. One of the most pervasive problems in parts departments are parts that are not where they’re supposed to be. Why is this an issue?
Location, location, location...
• First of all, even if the part is found there is time wasted finding it, both for parts personnel and technicians whose clock is ticking away while they wait. This can be a substantial contributor to lost workshop output.
• It’s embarrassing to tell a customer “come on down and pick it up” when the DMS says you have one, but it can’t be located when they get there.
• It’s expensive when another part has to be special ordered because the original can’t be found, only to be located at a later time.
Solutions...
• Bins are counted every day.
• Blind counts are best for accuracy.
• Have a plan. Set up a map or planagram of the entire warehouse.
• Make adjustments a day or two after the initial count to allow time for work in process to filter through.
• Count special order bins monthly.
• Try to do the counts at a time of the day when there is little or no activity in the bins.
• Everyone counts every day, except for the person who verifies the counts.
Click here to read the entire article by Jim Richter, a fixed operations consultant and trainer with Net Profit Inc. Contact Jim at jrichter@DFO-magazine.com.
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 NADA Used Car Guide Looks at the Inherent Risk in Recalled Models
Since used car values are affected by consumer reaction, both negative and positive, NADA is watching the auction prices and market reactions toward those Toyota models involved in a global recall. Certainly there is more downside risk when evaluating Toyota’s used cars over other automakers at the present time but, at the same, there have been a slew of recalls hitting the auto industry of late. Click here or click on the image for an inside look from NADA on the impact of recalls on wholesale values.
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 Start-Up Company Promises EVs For California
If Coda Automotive CEO Kevin Czinger has his way, Californians will have the chance to purchase a Chinese-built highway-capable all-electric car by the end of this year. Czinger told automotive journalists he will have a Coda sedan ready for purchase for around $30,000, after the $7,500 federal tax credit, that is. Coda produces its batteries in China and the vehicle is built from a mixture of "partner" components, but Czinger promises the next model will be built from the ground up. More info at the Coda website and more info on the company. Click here or on the image for more info on the Coda sedan.
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 Microcat Offers Online Selling and Ordering for Parts Departments
Along comes a new way to look at body shop and service department ordering, as Infomedia applies its Microcat program for use in the collision market and your dealership service department. Tools like "Auto PartsBridge," "Superservice Menus™" and "Microcat® LIVE™" will help dealers maintain profitability, add efficiency, accuracy and opportunity throughout the body shop ordering process. Eliminates the need to have a staff member create and maintain a menu pricing system. Click here or click on the image for more info on these products or visit www.ifmnorthamerica.com.
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 This Offer will Bring Customers into Your Service Center
Point-of-Sale Starter Kits Reduced 25%
The Car Care Council is extending a special offer for a limited period. The “Be Car Care Aware” point-of-sale starter kits will be offered at $59. Kit includes consumer education brochures, posters, bay banners, mirror hangers, vehicle inspection forms, an English/Spanish countermat and the Car Care Guide. As a bonus, repair shops and parts stores that purchase a kit will be included in the Find-A-Shop locator on the Car Care Council website. Can be easily ordered online.
Also available on Car Care Council website is a video demonstration on how car care events grow new business, increase traffic, improve employee morale and build community goodwill. Here's a great presentation for distribution as well.
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 Take Online Chat to the Next Level
By Kathy Kimmel
If you’re using online chat, you know the benefit of making real-time connections with in-market shoppers. Chatting with car buyers as they browse your listings creates a unique chance to answer questions, earn trust and set an appointment.
“Some dealerships are having great success with chat – they’re setting appointments and selling cars,” Kimmel said. “What we’ve found is the stores that are having a lot of success have defined steps to handle these customers – much like you have steps to a sale in your dealership or you have steps to an internet sale when you’re working a phone call or an email.”
To help you accelerate chat program results, use these techniques:
1. Build Rapport by Putting Your Face to Your Name
2. Get the Shopper’s Phone Number
3. Set the Stage for a Follow-Up Conversation (Read more...)
“It’s important at your stores that you develop a process for your chats, to make sure that you’re using these prospects to your best ability and that you’re working each and every one of them so you really are selling more cars.”
Kathy Kimmel is Director of Training for Cars.com. You can listen to this and other archived recordings of the DealerADvantage LIVE webinar series.
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Cars.com Adds Free Shopping App for iPhone
Cars.com, leading destination for online car shoppers, offering credible, easy-to-understand info, offers free iPhone Cars.com car shopping application to help mobile shoppers search dealer inventories and private-party listings to locate the vehicle they want from the App Store on iTunes. App also works on iPod Touch and upcoming iPad, or any mobile browser. Info/demo at www.cars.com.
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NADA Used Car Guide Introduces 'Auction Values'
NADA Used Car Guide introduced auction values to its electronic product line, updated weekly, to help customers better understand pricing activity and acts as complete source for vehicle valuations -- wholesale and retail. New offering complements NADA's traditional value offerings for lenders and dealers at no additional cost to subscribers. More info available at www.NADA.com.
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Autobytel Adds to Best-in-Class Content
Autobytel Inc., leader in providing online consumer leads and marketing resources, teams with Autodata Solutions Inc., leading provider of automotive technology solutions and services, to provide professional full-library high-resolution photos and detailed data on its network sites. More info at Autobytel.com or Autodata Solutions.
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