What is the one thing you’ll find on every showroom floor aside from four wheels and the fear of a bum deal? The window sticker. Also known as the Monroney label, the window sticker is a universal data sheet mandated on all new passenger vehicles 10,000 pounds or less sold in the U.S...Read More»
Five decades ago, a man by the name of Malcolm Bricklin brought Subaru to America. More than a few people thought the guy was crazy, including plenty of Subaru executives, but today, we realize that Bricklin was on to something big.* That's not to say that Bricklin's instincts have always been...Read More»
Donald Trump's protectionist policies have been lauded in some corners, but they've also sparked outcries and protests from private individuals, government officials, and more than a few companies. As we reported earlier this week, the auto industry is included in that mix. Ford execs have slammed...Read More»
The internet has forced all of us to grow up. It's presented us with streaming images of wars around the globe. It's changed our opinions of people we thought we knew. It's made us realize that innocent-sounding videos like "Two Girls, One Cup" may not be all that they seem. The internet has also...Read More»
America's auto dealership model may not be fully broken, but most folks--especially consumers--would agree that it's in need of a 21st century overhaul. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles apparently thinks so, too. The car company recently announced plans to begin selling vehicles on Amazon. Doing so won't...Read More»
Shopping for a new car can be pretty exciting--until the point that you have to head to a dealership. That's when the migraine meds can come in handy. At least one dealer wants to improve the experience, though. He's got his work cut out for him, because there are many reasons people hate...Read More»
If you've ever had to participate in a leadership seminar or management training workshop, you know some of the keys to good communication: Speak with enthusiasm and passion (but don't overdo it) Smile (but make sure it's genuine) Use the right body posture You also know to avoid technical jargon...Read More»
With less than a month to go before election day, most of America's news headlines are focused on the presidential election--and rightly so. But in the background, the non-stop fiacsco known as Dieselgate has been lumbering on. Here are a few of the recent items you might've missed: America's VW...Read More»
Autonomy, electrification, ride-sharing: tomorrow's auto industry is going to look very different from today's. Some automakers and dealers are fighting the tide of change tooth and nail; others, like Tesla, are charging headlong into the unknown, often without much success. A new app called...Read More»
Shopping for a new car is often an exercise in frustration. Sure, researching your next ride can be enjoyable--even entertaining--but the fun abruptly stops when you have to schlep to the showroom. Much of that unpleasantness is directly related to the arcane car-buying process. When you're...Read More»
Few questions have black and white answers: Is wine really good for you? It depends. Is Kanye West's fashion line as dumb as everyone says? Maybe. Is everything bigger in Texas? No comment. For the most part, we live a universe of gray. But some things aren't up for debate. For example: Do people...Read More»
Cadillac's head honcho, Johan de Nysschen, loves to ruffle feathers, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that his grand vision for General Motors' premium brand is bold, brash, and a little controversial. However, critics charge that de Nysschen's plan isn't just unorthodox, it may be illegal. De...Read More»
The gloves have been loosening for years, and now, they've finally come off: Tesla Motors is preparing to throw punches in the courtroom as it sues Michigan for the right to sell cars. If the company makes its case successfully, it could have implications far beyond the borders of the Wolverine...Read More»
Growing up, you probably received plenty of advice about the car-buying process from your parents, siblings, friends, and neighbors. Today, few of you would consider shopping for a new ride without getting pre-approved for an auto loan or carving time out of your day to take a test drive. But what...Read More»
This may come as a shock, but many people think that car salespeople are dishonest. A recent Gallup poll ranked nurses, pharmacists, and doctors among the most-trusted professions, but car salespeople landed at the bottom of the list, tied with telemarketers and members of Congress. Only lobbyists...Read More»
For many car shoppers, haggling is a relic of days gone by. To them, haggling feels like mimeographs or three-martini lunches: once part of a business person's daily routine, but woefully out of date. Lexus feels the same, and it's rolling out a pilot program that could rid Lexus dealerships of...Read More»
It's Friday, and that means it's time for a review of the week's headlines related to Volkswagen's ongoing Dieselgate crisis. Over the past few days, VW U.S. dealers had something of a meltdown, a former employee alleged that Volkswagen engaged in shady record-keeping practices, and investors filed...Read More»
For years, Tesla Motors has fought to undo, overturn, and slip through loopholes in state franchise laws that prevent automakers from selling vehicles directly to consumers. But now, in an interesting twist, Tesla has begun applying for a dealership license -- in the state of Michigan, no less...Read More»
Earlier this week, two Fiat Chrysler dealerships filed a lawsuit accusing FCA of asking them to falsify sales figures, giving the media and investors an inflated sense of the company's growth. FCA has responded by saying that the allegations are completely false. THE CLAIM The racketeering suit...Read More»
