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.
Jeff Miller, owner of Mark Miller Subaru enriched the lives of all 258 employees by investing in $1,418,625 worth of direct payments to each employee, an average of $5,498.55 per an employee, all in spirit of the Love Promise. Why? Because, in Jeff’s own words, ‘caring for our own family is more critical than it has ever been. The Subaru Love Promise is a powerful tool for creating an immense amount of good in our world. Typically, the emphasis on investing financial resources leans in the direction of local charity which is, and will always be, a critical element in ensuring that Subaru continues to be more than a Car Retailer Sadly, the past 18 months have been incredibly challenging for our workforce in a myriad of ways, and the foundation in their community was beginning to crack. The Millers have long believed that ‘if you take care of your employees, they’ll take care of your customers and community, and the rest will take care of itself.’ In fact, this belief instantly manifested itself into reality following the news of the financial investment into the Mark Miller Subaru team. Not only was positive energy palpable across sister stores, but employees began expressing their gratitude by doing what Subaru employees do best: by giving back to the community. Countless employees not only began paying off childcare, housing, and other forms of debt acquired because of the pandemic, but employees began making substantial gifts to local charity in the spirit of the Love Promise. Click here to learn more about Mark Miller Subaru.
50 Million U.S. Vehicles Still Subject to Recall, Carfax Says
New data from Carfax shows that 50 million U.S. vehicles have an open recall issue that drivers are expected to get repaired. Automotive News reports that's a 6 percent decrease from the number in 2021 and a 19 percent decrease since 2017, but it's still a significant concern for driver safety. Information — such as recall costs being fully covered by automakers — must continue to spread, said Faisal Hasan, general manager of data and public policy at Carfax. "The goal is to get the information out there. But why aren't people coming in? That's probably the hardest question to answer," Hasan said. Dealers are attempting several solutions to bring more people into the service department to get issues fixed, said Hasan. "Consumers today are inundated with all types of emails and stuff coming to your house. We have a tendency to throw that stuff away, to delete an email," he said. Carfax has "partnered with DMVs like in California, New York, Texas, Ohio, Maryland and so on," Hasan said. "We've reached out to insurance companies, fleet companies, finance companies, all the rental car companies, Uber, Lyft and auctions, too." Click here for the full story.
Sony & Honda Officially Establish New EV Company, Sony Honda Mobility Inc.
Sony Group Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. have signed a joint venture agreement to establish a new company to engage in the sale of electric vehicles (EVs) and provide services for mobility. Auto Futures reports the new company, a 50-50 joint venture, will be called Sony Honda Mobility Inc. It will bring together Honda’s environmental and safety technologies, mobility development capabilities, vehicle body manufacturing technology and after-sales service management experience, with Sony’s expertise in the development and application of imaging, sensing, telecommunication, network and entertainment technologies. Sony and Honda plan to establish the new company within 2022 and to begin the sale of EVs and provision of services for mobility in 2025. Kenichiro Yoshida, CEO, Sony Group Corporation, says: “Based on our vision to ‘make the mobility space an emotional one,’ Sony’s initiatives in the mobility business are centered around the three areas of safety, entertainment and adaptability. As we continue our learnings in these areas, we are excited to have met a partner, Honda, with extensive global achievements and knowledge, and to sign the joint venture agreement between the two companies…” Click here for the full story.
Car Shoppers Seeking More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Come Up Empty
With gasoline prices topping $5 a gallon, fuel economy is suddenly top of mind again for car shoppers, reinvigorating interest in the small cars, sedans, and hybrids that have fallen out of favor in recent years. The problem: Those are among the vehicles in the shortest supply. The Wall Street Journal reports in recent months, the average price of gasoline in the U.S. has soared to new records, pushing up fuel costs for drivers and prompting many Americans to seek out smaller, more economical rides. The shift is sending yet another shock wave through the car business, which has spent much of the past decade giving priority to pricey fuel-thirsty pickups and SUVs that drive big profits — often at the expense of smaller models with lower price tags and higher miles-per-gallon ratings. Supply-chain disruptions have further complicated the market, leaving dealership lots sparse of any type of vehicle — both new and used — and auto makers scrambling to restock. “As [interest] rates go up, and gas goes up, the pendulum swings back toward affordability,” said Michael Kistemaker, an assistant vice president for American Honda Motor Co. Click here for the full story.
Thousands of Accidents Might Be Prevented with New Technologies
Advanced technologies such as intersection-assistance may be relevant to 650,000 crashes per year and could prevent hundreds of thousands of accidents, new data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows. "Left turn assist and other, upcoming intersection-assistance technologies could deliver big safety benefits for drivers in their 70s and 80s," said Aimee Cox, IIHS research associate and author of the study. With a growing number of older drivers in the U.S, according to the IIHS, new features will help keep drivers of all ages safe on the road. "We know that older drivers can be at a greater risk for crashing and especially at a higher risk for being in a fatal crash," said Jessica Cicchino, IIHS vice president of research. Automotive News reports front crash-prevention features could alert drivers through a warning chime or apply the brakes to avoid a collision. "We've seen some more automated driver-assistance features that are not necessarily rolled out with safety in mind. But for crash-avoidance features, which are rolled out with the express purpose of improving safety, we've seen that the technologies that we have today are effective at reducing crashes," Cicchino said. Click here for the full story.
Around the Web
2023 McLaren Artura Hits its Numbers [Car and Driver]
Feds Likely to Find Tesla’s Autopilot Causes More Crashes Than Other ADAS Systems [Carscoops]
These Vehicles are Sitting on Dealer Lots the Longest [Road & Track]
2023 Mercedes-AMG G63 4x4 Squared First Look: Portal to the Past [Motortrend]
