Through our Dealers Do Good campaign, AIADA is recognizing dealers for the positive impact they have in the communities they serve. If you’re a dealer doing good, let us know here, tag us on Facebook or Twitter, or join the conversation with the #DealersDoGood hashtag. Premier Automotive group partners with Giving Hope, an organization that gives hope to people in practical ways. Profit for a Purpose is an integral part of their business culture. that in order to grow and prosper we must serve the communities in which reside. Each of their dealerships accumulates funds on a monthly basis solely to plant seeds in their respective communities by serving their local non-profits and partaking in community efforts. Through $25.00 dollars per car sold for a Purpose, their nationwide group is able to connect on a deeper level. Click here to watch a video about the work they do.
Nissan Leaf EV Will Be Phased Out
Nissan is facing up to the fact that it struggled for more than a decade to sell a pioneering electric vehicle that the U.S. market was not ready for — and which, in the end, fell behind the competitors that followed it. Long before Tesla made EVs cool, Nissan attempted to spark the segment with the first affordable, mass-market electric car, launched in the U.S. in late 2010. But the compact Leaf has since been largely elbowed off the road by a wave of more stylish and more capable offerings. Nissan does not plan to bring out a next-generation Leaf and instead will replace it with a new model more tuned to the needs of the modern EV buyer, sources told Automotive News. Production of the Leaf should end by mid-decade. Nissan spokesman Brian Brockman declined to speculate on the future of the Leaf but noted "renewed" customer interest due to the vehicle's "value proposition" and the growing demand for EVs. Click here for the full story.
Iowa Dealer Jason Willis on His Group’s Recent Acquisition, Electric Cars, and Protecting Franchise Rights
Willis Automotive has been operating out of Iowa for 75 years, and this year, they expanded by acquiring the only Nissan dealership in the Des Moines area. Today on CBT News’ Inside Automotive, Jason Willis, CEO of Willis Automotive and Chairman of the MINI National Dealer Council, talks about his operation in Iowa and the strategies working for his group today. As of filming this interview, Willis Automotive has around 500 employees and represents nine new car franchises, including brands like Cadillac, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, MINI, Lexus, Volvo, Chevrolet, and Nissan. The group also owns two pre-owned outlets and three large tire stores. In May of this year, Willis Automotive completed its acquisition of Hummel’s Nissan, and Willis says he is excited to add the brand to his group’s portfolio. As the group grows, it is vital to find dealerships with similar or matching company cultures. Willis considered several different stores owned by the Hummel family, but the Nissan dealership stuck out. He says the Hummel organization is full of great people and very involved in the Des Moines community. Click here to watch the full interview.
Toyota Revives Crown Marque for U.S. With Fullsize Sedan
Toyota introduces the 2023 Crown, a fullsize 4-door sedan offering standard all-wheel drive and a choice of two hybrid powertrains, to the U.S. market where earlier generations of the Crown were sold from 1958-72. The Crown’s CUV-like ride height — it sits nearly 4.0 ins. (102 mm) higher than the Toyota Camry midsize sedan — and fastback silhouette set it apart from other fullsize sedans such as the Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger, Nissan Maxima and Volkswagen Arteon. Toyota says the Crown, offered in XLE, Limited and Platinum trim levels, will arrive in showrooms later this year but doesn’t disclose pricing reports Wards. Toyota’s all-new Hybrid Max powertrain, exclusive to the Platinum trim level, pairs a turbocharged 2.4L inline 4-cyl. and rear-wheel e-axle with a 6-speed automatic transmission to produce 340 hp, reach peak torque between 2,000-3,000 rpm and a manufacturer-estimated combined city/highway fuel-economy rating of 28 mpg. Driving modes are Normal, Eco, Sport, Sport+, Comfort, and Custom. The XLE and Limited trim levels are equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System with a 2.5L 4-gasoline cyl., two electric motors and a continuously variable transmission that can achieve a manufacturer-estimated combined city/highway rating of 38 mpg. Click here to learn more about the 2023 Crown.
A Quarter of Americans Say Their Next Car Will Be an EV
A quarter of Americans surveyed say they will buy an electric vehicle as their next automobile as gasoline prices soar to record levels. Millennials are the most eager to electrify their ride, with 30 percent saying they plan to buy an EV next, according to a national survey by AAA. Of those looking to buy a plug-in vehicle, 77 percent said the interest was driven by a desire to save on fuel costs. Bloomberg reports the last time the organization gauged Americans’ interest in EVs in 2019, 16 percent said they were likely to buy one. Consumers don’t necessarily act on their impulse — only 3.2 percent of US vehicle sales in 2021 were EVs, according to researcher Cox Automotive. And in 2019, the number of available plug-in models was very limited. But the level of interest reported in the survey suggests that plug-in vehicles are gaining momentum. Sales may also be bolstered by the fact that there are now many more EV choices available as automakers invest more than $500 billion to bring new models to the market. Click here for the full story.
Around the Web
Vroom to Pay $87K Fine Over Vehicle Title Transfer Delays in Fla. [Automotive News]
Lamborghini Huracan Successor to Get a Bespoke Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain [Carscoops]
7 Tips to Improve Your Auto Dealership’s Email Marketing Strategy [CBT News]
Parallel Parking May Get a Lot Easier with This New Steering Tech [Fox News]
