As if you needed any more proof that the Cash for Clunkers program was a success — It was recently made known that dealers across the United States have reached their lowest inventory levels since 1975. And, while this may seem like a bad thing, this is great considering the slow auto sales caused by the recession.

However, this isn’t all peaches, considering demand is expected to shrink a hefty amount considering there are no more Cash for Clunkers incentives. Luckily though, due to the low inventory, automakers will now be able to supply dealers with an appropriate amount of vehicles to keep up with demand. So, in turn, there won’t be a ridiculous amount of cars sitting on the lots which got us into this mess in the first place.

via kickingtires

Tags: Auto Dealers, Cash for Clunkers, dealers, dealerships, economy, inventory, recession

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Answering the need to be more eco-friendly as far as their business operations are concerned, Team Honda, Team Nissan and Team Toyota have announced the launch of their first carbon neutral dealerships in Lithia Springs, Georgia. After starting out with their tire and oil recycling measures, the auto dealers are now focusing their attention on offsetting their carbon footprint to become the first carbon neutral dealers in Georgia.

The concentration now is to bring down their energy use, a practice that has drawn prices and queries from their customers on where they can get one for their own homes or offices as well. Additionally, employees are given thermal porcelain cups in lieu of the usual Styrofoam which itself is an eco-friendly hazard.

All AutoNation dealerships, Team’s parent company, make it easy for car buyers to shop for more fuel-efficient vehicles with its E-Vehicle program. The program identifies cars and trucks that produce at least 28 miles per gallon or deliver 10 percent better fuel efficiency than average for their class. AutoNation also singles out what they call “F-vehicles” with a yellow leaf logo; these are cars and trucks that use flex-fuel technology.

With the combined efforts of these popular auto dealers, the call to lower carbon emissions and the various practices to attain it should be something customers and employees will learn from. Hopefully they will be the catalyst to improve on the call for better green living needed these day.

(Source) Press

Tags: Auto Dealers, autonation, better fuel efficiency, business operations, car buyers, carbon emissions, fuel efficient vehicles, fuel technology, honda team, launch, leaf logo, lithia springs georgia, miles per gallon, more fuel efficient vehicles, oil recycling, porcelain cups, styrofoam, team honda, team toyota, yellow leaf

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People are expected to hit the roads traveling to certain places and embarking on long trips. Now many of them may be carrying around their portable devices such as their iPods or even their portable DVD players. But if there is one thing that most people on the go would want is Internet access. Thanks to Autonet Mobile, this is now possible.

Do away with the irritating questions of your kids on the long journey and equip your car with Autonet Mobile’s in-Car Internet Entertainment System. It is the best thing to add for people who are expecting long roads ahead and want something better to do. Normally due to the lack of hotspots, travelers would have to wait until they get to one but now, that has all changed. Access the web wherever you are and browse, chat or maybe even go facebooking!

Autonet Mobile is available for purchase at Amazon.com’s electronics store, at any Advance Auto Parts location, as a dealer-installed option on any Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Volkswagen Routan or Cadillac CTS vehicle, and at independent auto dealers and specialty and automotive shops nationwide.

(Source) Press

Tags: advance auto parts, Auto Dealers, automotive shops, Autonet Mobile, Cadillac, cadillac cts, Chrysler, chrysler jeep dodge, electronics store, entertainment system, independent auto, internet entertainment, ipods, Jeep, long journey, long roads, portable dvd players, Routan, volkswagen

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Perhaps Midas knows something that other car manufacturers don’t. Regardless, it is preying on the embattled dealers, employees and customers to try out what they have to offer, promoting their company as the alternative towards the sagging fortunes of companies like GM and Chrysler.

There are a lot of people affected by the debacle hitting the automotive industry and while the cloud of gloom roams over the dealerships, employees and customers, Midas plans to turn all that into brighter days ahead.

“Midas shops provide a full range of services on domestic and foreign vehicles, so there are employment opportunities for auto dealership service staff regardless of their specific vehicle brand or system repair experience,” Feldman said.

Call it taking advantage or not, Midas may have something to offer that auto dealers don’t know. Whatever that may be, you can bet they will get a lion share of these befuddled people. Besides, if you were among the dealers, employees and customers, what have you got to lose by checking out the Midas offer?

(Source) Press

Tags: Auto Dealers, auto dealership, auto dealerships, automotive industry, car manufacturers, Chrysler, employment opportunities, fortunes, GM, midas, repair experience

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Kelley Blue Book has announced the BMW Group’s up2drive.com is their choice as its executive online lender for the kbb.com website. Kelley Blue Book is a leading provider of automotive information including new car prices; car reviews and news; used car Blue Book(R) Values, auto classifieds along with car dealer information and locations.

An automotive financing Web site that features convenient loan services, up2drive.com is designed to empower consumers through every step of the car buying, refinancing and selling process. Launched in the fall of 2007, up2drive.com is a direct-to-consumer lending business unit of BMW Group Financial Services that is backed by the same award-winning customer service that provides automotive loans to BMW Group customers in the U.S.

Qualifying potential buyers researching the purchase and financing of a vehicle on kbb.com can access a direct link to up2drive.com, where they easily can apply and be approved for a loan. Once approved, buyers can use up2drive.com’s unique loan process, the drive check(TM), to negotiate with private sellers or auto dealers as if they have cash on hand – saving them valuable time and money.

One of the few companies specializing in direct-to-consumer automotive financing, up2drive.com offers competitive rates, award-winning service, and time-saving tools.

(Source) Press

Tags: Auto Dealers, automotive information, award winning service, BMW, bmw group financial services, business unit, car blue book, car dealer, group customers, group financial, kelley blue book, loan process, loan services, new car prices, private sellers, up2drive

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The National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) is holding its annual conference in New Orleans through January 27th. More than 20 automaker-dealer franchise meetings have been scheduled with attendees including Rick Wagoner, General Motors chairman and CEO; Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales USA; Jim Press, Chrysler vice chairman and president; and Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co. Some automotive experts have estimated that as many as 3,000 dealerships could shut down over the course of the coming year, as automakers and dealers both compete for a rapidly dwindling pool of qualified buyers, many of whom are hampered by blocked credit access due to the global economic crisis.

GM, Ford, and Chrysler have been the target of intense public criticism due what many believe are an unsupportable number of dealerships nationwide, and Saturn, a GM brand, is only guaranteed until 2012.

Tags: Auto Dealers, Conference, NADA

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