Auto Retail News
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Sales & Variable Ops
Mastering the Car-Buying Journey: A Dealership’s Guide to Winning Customers
The car-buying journey spans from discovery to purchase and beyond, shaping trust and long-term loyalty. Each stage includes key touchpoints that dealerships must strategically align to engage and guide customers effectively. In this article, we’ll
May 23, 2025
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Dealer/GM News
Senate Votes to End California EV Mandate
The United States Senate voted Thursday to repeal California’s plan to end the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The vote was 51-44 in favor of blocking the state’s EV mandate which was set to require 35 percent of all cars sold in state to b
May 22, 2025
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Dealer/GM News
Honda Served Cease-and-Desist by CNCDA Over Afeela Sales
The California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA) issued a cease-and-desist to American Honda Motor Co. and Sony Honda Mobility of America ordering them to stop direct-to-consumer sales of new Afeela brand vehicles. The CNCDA alleges that Honda is v
May 22, 2025
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Dealer Ops & Leadership
The REAL ID Deadline: Challenges Auto Dealers May Still Face Verifying Identities
The May 7, 2025, enforcement of the REAL ID Act marks a new moment for identity verification in the U.S., and auto dealerships are squarely in the crosshairs. As the federal government now requires all Americans over 18 to present a REAL ID-compliant
May 21, 2025
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Dealer/GM News
Traver Connect Expands Training Solutions to Assist Dealerships
Traver Connect has announced the expansion of its Learning & Development programs to better assist dealers. Designed to address pressing industry challenges such as declining repair order (RO) counts and customer retention, the new offerings aim
May 21, 2025
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Sales & Variable Ops
LLMs, Agentic AI, and Vertical AI: How Machines Are Improving Dealer Retail Operations
As dealers face rising complexity in inventory management, pricing, and profitability, especially with the 25% tariff on imported vehicles, machine-driven technologies are stepping in as vital tools—not just to handle data, but to make better, fast
May 20, 2025
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Dealer/GM News
Dealership Outlook Optimistic Among OEM Executives: Kerrigan
The 2025 Kerrigan OEM Survey provided a glimpse into the perspectives of automotive OEM executives, and it appears they are bullish on the future of the franchise dealership model. 78 percent of those surveyed expect blue sky values to remain steady
May 20, 2025
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Dealer Ops & Leadership
Tariffs Are Hitting More Than Your Margins — Here’s Where You’re Most at Risk
Auto dealers understand the economic hit of tariffs — rising costs, inventory delays, shrinking margins. But what often goes overlooked is how external instability quietly chips away at internal culture, employee confidence, and even long-te
May 19, 2025
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Dealer/GM News
New-Vehicle Affordability Took a Tariff-Fueled Hit in April
The new-vehicle average transaction price was $48,699 in April, a 2.5 percent increase from March according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue Book. This price increase is more than double the average historical monthly gain of 1.1 percent and is surp
May 19, 2025