November 6th, 2017 — “The era of the human-driven automobile, its repair facilities, its dealerships, the media surrounding it — all will be gone in 20 years.” So wrote automotive extraordinaire Bob Lutz yesterday for Automotive News as part of its Redesigning the Industry series. Lutz, who is in his mid-eighties, has a rich history… Continue Reading
November 3, 2017 — As automakers begin flooding the market with electric vehicles (EV) the next couple of years, a key question yet to be answered is just how much tax credits drive demand for a segment that makes up 1% of the new car market. Meanwhile, the uncertain future of the federal tax credit is…
UPDATED — October, 21, 2017 — Last month, the Trophy Automotive Group completed the purchase of four dealerships that were part of the eight-store Sage Automotive Group in the Los Angeles, CA area. Trophy, which was started by Nasser Watar in 2014 with the acquisition of Mercedes Benz of Encino, acquired West Covina Nissan, Universal… Continue Reading
October 13, 2017 — Hyundai Motor America last week unveiled its Shopper Assurance program – what the company calls an industry-first nationwide program that streamlines and modernizes the car-buying experience. The key elements of Shopper Assurance are intended to align with auto consumers’ major pain points: transparent pricing; flexible test drives; streamlined purchases; and a three-day… Continue Reading
September 7, 2017 — Several dealerships owned by the Braman Automotive Group filed three lawsuits this week against Audi and BMW in federal court alleging their business practices drive down dealership profit margins while coercing them to give up control of their businesses. Two of the lawsuits also include Terry Rhodes, Florida’s Executive Director of…
August 7, 2017 — Less than a year ago, Gary Flom was building an automotive empire consisting of eight dealerships in the heart of New York City with plans to sell more than $600 million worth of vehicles this year. Today, that empire is in tatters, due to a frenetic growth pace railroaded by a bitter… Continue Reading
June 4, 2017 — CDK Global’s pending acquisition of competitor Auto/Mate is a brilliant deal that should make investors happy. With only 1,300 or so dealerships in play and a price tag that won’t dent the bottom line (although Auto/Mate will get a nice multiple) it isn’t that big of a deal on the surface.…
May 22, 2017 — Imagine a world where automotive vehicles are no longer depreciating assets, but are profit generating machines. That world may be here much sooner than we think. Automakers are beginning to explore blockchain, a new and disruptive technology that may prove to be critical to the creation of a mobile ecosystem where autonomous… Continue Reading
May 22, 2017 — Coming off its second most profitable year ever, Ford Motor Co. has decided to replace its CEO and President Mark Fields. The announcement is expected this morning, according to numerous media reports breaking Sunday night. Jim Hackett, former board Ford member and current head of the automaker’s mobility division, is being named… Continue Reading
May 9, 2017 — Tesla’s moment of truth is nearly here. This year’s introduction of its Model 3 may be the auto industry’s most critical vehicle launch since Ford’s Model T took over America’s roads more than a century ago. Whether the fledgling company becomes the ultimate disruptor and a truly viable automaker will be determined by the…