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.
Gettel Automotive Group has partnered with the Glengary Academy with a $10,000 donation which will be matched by Toyota Motors in the amount of $10,000, for a total of $20,000. Gettel Automotive Group is excited to be offering a Transitional Employment position to Academy members. They are firm believers in helping adults recovering in mental illness reintegrating into society and reach their potential through skill development and gainful employment. Values are central to our business operations, and are grateful to share a commitment to serve and improve the quality of life in our community. Click here to view a photo.
Toyota Marks 25th Anniversary of Sienna Minivan
Remember the minivan? While most Americans seem to have forgotten those once popular people-movers, at least some still find them the best way to move their families around. Toyota plans to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sienna with 2,525 anniversary models specifically built for the U.S. market. And Toyota has something special for them — a special edition of its Sienna minivan. The Detroit Bureau reports the Japanese automaker plans to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sienna with, 2,525 anniversary models specifically built for the U.S. market. The special edition will be based on the XSE, the sportiest version of the Sienna. It adds a number of more luxurious features normally found in the Limited mode. The list includes auto-dimming exterior mirrors with memory, puddle lights, black leather-trimmed seats — heated and cooled up front — illuminated door sills and 25th Anniversary badging. To mark the silver anniversary, the Anniversary Limited Model will come in Celestial Silver, though Wind Chill Pearl will also be available. Buyers will have the option of front- or all-wheel drive, and the anniversary model will, like all other Siennas, come exclusively with a hybrid drivetrain. Click here to learn more about the 25th Anniversary Sienna.
Honda's Rugged EV SUV is Designed in America, for America
Honda has some big plans to enter the electrified space with two new sports cars and affordable models built in collaboration with General Motors. The electrified product onslaught will begin in 2024 with the GM-co-developed Prologue SUV, which has just been teased officially for the first time. Carbuzz reports Honda released its first design sketch of the Prologue, which the Japanese automaker says will be an "adventure-ready SUV capable of satisfying everyday driving." The front-end styling is meant to remind us of the adorable Honda e, which sadly isn't sold in the US. While we can kind of see the connection if we squint a little, the Prologue looks far more aggressive to suit an American audience. This makes sense as the car is being designed at the Honda Design Studio in Los Angeles in collaboration with a Honda design team in Japan. The Prologue looks more unique than the European market Honda e-Ny1, which was also teased recently. Click here for the full story.
Mercedes Will Focus on High-End Models in Luxury-Car Profit Race
Mercedes-Benz will cut back its entry-level suite of cars as part of a strategic overhaul channeling more than three-quarters of the automaker’s investment to its higher-end vehicles. Automotive News reports Mercedes unveiled its plans to major investors placing the drive for greater profitability on its so-called Top End Vehicle segment, home to the iconic G-Class off-roader, the flagship S-Class sedan and the high-performance AMG division. “We are further sharpening the focus of our business model and product portfolio in order to maximize the potential of Mercedes-Benz even in challenging conditions,” CEO Ola Kallenius said. “At the heart of that is our goal to build the world’s most desirable cars,” he added. The strategy builds on a trend that pushed profitability to record levels during the semiconductor crunch, but the jury is out on whether it would be as effective if supply constraints ease and automakers return to chasing market share. Click here to learn more about Mercedes’ plan.
Retaining Techs Takes More Than Money
As part of its recent Automotive Service Manager Survey, Carlisle & Co. asked service managers from across North America to share their strategies for retaining technicians. Automotive News reports in 2021, Carlisle noted, 28 percent of technicians left their brand — adding these figures would be higher if they measured those who left the dealership, not just the brand. Why is retaining techs important for dealerships? Well, as one service manager wrote in the survey: "Technicians are the single most valuable asset to any dealer, and I feel like many dealers do not understand this." To emphasize that point, Carlisle estimated losing one tech costs a typical dealership $172,000 when considering lost production, lost revenue and the price finding a replacement. The survey also revealed that the average dealership would hire about three additional techs if they could find them. Factoring in the 16,000 dealerships in the U.S. shows the industry is short nearly 50,000 techs. Click here to read the rest of the survey results.
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Land Rover Defender 130 Teased s 8-Seat SUV Ahead Oo May 31 Debut [Motor1.com]
Android Auto Updated: New Look, Better Split-Screen Functionality [Autoblog]
Hyundai’s Motional Starts Autonomous Uber Eats Deliveries In Santa Monica [Carscoops]
