Why Training Is a Dealer’s Best Weapon
When it comes to training, Leadership Expert and President of LearnToLead, Dave Anderson, believes “The more you sweat, the less you bleed in battle.” Anderson joins us on the latest episode of CBT News’ Lessons in Leadership to break down the third commandment in his “15 Commandments for Organizational Peak Performance” program, a principle he credits to the NAVY SEALs. Over the years, Anderson has heard people cite the primary reason they neglect to train as the simple fact that, once they do, they leave. He attributes the saying Zig Ziglar used to say, “There’s one thing worse than training people and having them leave. It’s not training them and having them stay.” The message reinforces the risk of underinvesting in employee development. He further argues that the “cost of ignorance” far outweighs the cost of training, which he stresses negatively impacts performance. He encourages dealers to evaluate how much time they dedicate to training, how they address shortcomings, and when. It’s imperative, he asserts, to effectively train employees during the “game time”, which refers to the training time between customer interactions, through repetition, drilling, rehearsal, and accountability, rather than only during formal sessions. Click here for the full interview.
Will Anyone Buy This Cheap EV Truck with Hand-Crank Windows and No Radio?
A new automotive startup is betting that Americans are so fed up with high car prices they will consider buying a two-seat, all-electric pickup truck with hand-crank windows and no radio. Slate Auto, a Michigan-based carmaker backed by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, is racing to begin production later this year of its first model: an overtly spartan, compact truck that will start at $24,950, the company said on Wednesday. Trucks like these have been missing from U.S. roads for over a decade.Car buyers today have only eight new models to choose from under $25,000, with automakers warning that it is difficult, if not impossible, to turn a meaningful profit on such vehicles, reports The Wall Street Journal.Slate thinks it can buck that trend. “A U.S. automaker can make an affordable vehicle — and not only an affordable vehicle, but an affordable vehicle that people love,” said Peter Faricy, Slate’s chief executive. Faricy said gross margins will be positive for the base truck, and he expects costs to decline further for customers once Slate proves itself to its suppliers. Click here for the full story.
Automakers Could Halt Car Sales in California Without Delay in Vehicle Tracking Law
A group representing major automakers warned on Tuesday that car companies may be forced to halt sales of both new and used vehicles in California on July 1 unless the state delays vehicle technology rules that aim to prevent perpetrators of domestic violence from tracking survivors. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, and most other automakers, said unless a legislative proposal is signed into law by July 1 “there is substantial risk that auto sales in California will be suspended.” The group said automakers are implementing the domestic violence victim protections required under the 2024 law “but compliance with some elements of the law is impossible this year.” California is the single largest U.S. auto market, accounting for about 10 percent of sales. According to Reuters, the 2024 California law requires automakers to set up a clear process for drivers to submit a copy of a restraining order or other documentation and request termination of another driver’s remote access within two business days. It also mandated that carmakers enable drivers to easily turn off location access from inside the vehicle. Click here for the full story.
AutoNation Buys 3 Premium-Luxury Dealerships to Expand California Footprint
Auto retail giant AutoNation Inc. grew its California footprint with a June 22 purchase of three premium-luxury stores in Fremont from Fletcher Jones Automotive Group. The acquired stores, all in the San Francisco Bay Area, are: Audi Fremont, Mercedes-Benz store Fletcher Jones Motorcars of Fremont and Porsche Fremont, reports Automotive News.The stores combined represent $400 million in annual revenue and 4,800 retail new- and used-vehicle sales, publicly held AutoNation said.“This acquisition strengthens our premium-luxury portfolio in a highly attractive California market and reflects our disciplined approach to deploying capital into high-quality assets,” AutoNation CEO Mike Manley said in a news release. “Over the past 12 months, including our Baltimore, Chicago, and Atlanta area acquisitions, we have added approximately $1 billion in annual revenue, enhancing our scale, supporting long-term growth, and positioning us to deliver attractive returns for shareholders.” AutoNation said it now has 25 Mercedes-Benz, 11 Audi and eight Porsche stores. This is AutoNation’s second purchase this month after its June 8 purchase of Toyota of Newnan in Georgia from Tameron Automotive Group, owned by Danny Braden and Rob Gallik. Click here for the full story.
Subaru Shifts to ‘Ultraefficient Production’ Amid $362 Million EV Write-Down, Product Delay
Subaru is betting on a new “ultraefficient production” strategy to keep the small carmaker competitive in the age of electrification by flexibly manufacturing hybrids, internal combustion and electric vehicles on the same line. The company kicks off the gambit in August at its Yajima assembly plant north of Tokyo, adding the Subaru Forester hybrid and gasoline models alongside the Subaru Trailseeker and Toyota bZ4X Touring all-electric crossovers. Subaru Corp. suspended one of two lines at Yajima last August to retool it for the task. Output of the Trailseeker and bZ4X Touring began in early February. The overhaul is part of Subaru’s push to achieve a new level of production that can respond nimbly to changes in demand and external shocks such as tariffs, reports Automotive News. It marks the first time Subaru has produced vehicles with three different powertrains in mixed output. Subaru expects to adopt the technique elsewhere, including its U.S. plant in Indiana and at its new Oizumi plant being built in Japan. By employing the flexible production system in Japan and in the U.S., Subaru wants to be able to quickly shift production between factories and shuffle the mix. Click here for the full story.
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