AIADA Launches Testimonial Tuesdays
With a robust and diverse family of Affinity Partners, AIADA is launching dealer testimonial videos leveraging cutting video technology provided by Formatic Video, powered by OneDay. On the third Tuesday of each month, watch dealers from around the country give their real life, in-dealership assessment of various services and products.
Join us here as John Connelly, owner of Acura Columbus, discusses how Citrin has assisted in elevating the customer experience thru professional greeters, drop-off pick-up staff, and the overall service drive experience. Staffing, provided by Citrin has assisted John achieve and maintain a professional and satisfying customer experience, resulting in higher CSI Scores and customer loyalty. Click here to watch John's testimonial.
Genesis Dealer Says Standalone Stores Are Critical
The young Genesis luxury brand continues to hit growth milestones in the U.S., even though its dealer network has been slow to step up and construct standalone stores. The automaker just had two more dedicated retail locations open this month. But out of 270 dealers for the brand, which launched in 2016, only four so far have opened standalone stores. The factory and its retailers acknowledge that the dealership effort is critical. Without standalone facilities that enable an elevated, luxury experience, Genesis will remain at a disadvantage to established premium makes it aspires to compete against, said Tim Bergstrom, dealer principal of Genesis of Appleton in Wisconsin. His store, which opened this month, is only the brand's third standalone facility and the first in the Midwest. "Genesis has an incredible product, so we're excited to invest, but we know throughput is a challenge, as far as how many dealers they have and how many vehicles they produce," Bergstrom told Automotive News. Bergstrom, who made a multimillion-dollar investment to build and open Genesis of Appleton, believes the differentiator between a mainstream and premium brand is delivering top-notch service and that Genesis' guests deserve that treatment. Click here for the full story.
What do Americans Think of EV Ownership Today?
The percentage of EVs among new cars sold in America continues to rise steadily, and in fact it took a 65 percent jump in 2022, according to Kelley Blue Book. EV sales last year were over 800,000 units, reports The Detroit Bureau. But that number is coming up from near zero just a few years ago, and still represents just 5.8 percent of the total number of new vehicles sold last year. Cox Automotive, is projecting more than 1 million EVs to be sold in 2023. The Federal goal for EV adoption is 50 percent of new vehicles by 2030, which would be about 7 million based on the 2022 sales of almost 14 million new vehicles. Will the EV market grow by a million units or more every year for the rest of the decade? Perhaps not, according to a new survey by ValuePenguin. ValuePenguin performed the survey by asking more than 2,000 U.S. residents about their attitudes toward EVs today. They found that initial purchase price is the biggest barrier to EV ownership. Although tax breaks help, 36 percent of Americans say the purchase price is their major concern about EVs. Click here for the full story.
Dealership Network Holds Steady Despite New-Car Sales Dip
The population of U.S. franchised dealerships remains stable, which has been pretty much the case since the recovery after the Great Recession, which many agree lasted from 2007-2009. It was almost exactly flat at year-end 2022, compared to year-end 2021, according to the annual Urban Science Franchise Activity Report. Urban Science reports 18,257 U.S. franchised dealership rooftops at year-end 2022, up just 27 dealerships for the year, an increase of far less than 1 percent. “The increase this year is the lowest I’ve seen in over 20 years,” Mitch Phillips, Urban Science global director of data, tells Wards. Urban Science is a consulting, research and technology firm specializing in retail dealerships, their throughput, and the territories they represent. The flat dealership population is actually a sign of good health for the dealership network, as there was no attrition despite the fact that U.S. new-vehicle sales dipped about 8 percent from 2021 to 2022. Urban Science says average new-vehicle sales per dealership in 2022 was 750 units, down about 9 percent vs. 2021. However, since the pandemic starting in 2020, low inventory and high consumer demand have driven transaction prices to or near-record levels. Click here for the full story.
EV Charger Makers Brace for Slowdown as New Made In America Rules Kick in
Manufacturers and operators of electric vehicle chargers in the United States are bracing for a slowdown in production and deployment as they scramble to comply with "Made in America" terms of a $7.5 billion federal program meant to accelerate the industry. Long-awaited rules laid out by the White House last month are part of President Joe Biden's effort to build an electric-friendly highway system by 2030, tackling climate change and creating local jobs. Requirements to immediately start assembling the chargers at U.S. factories and to use U.S.-made iron or steel enclosures have caught many in the EV charging industry off guard, reports Reuters.
The biggest makers and network operators of EV charging stations include Tesla, ChargePoint Holdings, EVgo, and Electrify America. Companies and some state officials who will manage the federal funds are warning that the country currently lacks the domestic production capacity — particularly on high-speed chargers — and that strict enforcement will slow the rollout, drive up costs and possibly hurt the industry Biden seeks to nurture. Click here for the full story.
Around the Web
Kia EV5 Concept Revealed as the EV9's Compact-SUV Sibling [Car and Driver]
The 2024 Acura Integra Type S Will have 320 Horsepower [Autoblog]
Ferrari, Porsche, & BMW to Battle for Racing Supremacy at Le Mans' 100th Anniversary [Maxim]
These Old Automotive Spy Photos Are a Blast from the Past [Jalopnik]
