Here is something that should lift the spirits of the dampened hopes of car dealers today. Thanks to a study made by Edmunds.com, the past week alone showed that over 100,000 car shoppers are prepared to buy a car but have not closed deals yet. While the reason/s were not disclosed, for sure there will be something lacking like perhaps documents, car availability or preference or even apprehensions.

Regardless, this should be a good sign for car dealers who are looking for customers. With the surge of used cars pretty obvious with the current market conditions in the automotive industry, perhaps car dealers are looking in the wrong direction.

So what should they do? Re-evaluate their strategy. Perhaps they have overlooked some areas of their entire process which should more or less get them back on track as far as car sales is concerned. This and some new approaches can be beneficial for them. They just to adjust and study the market better .

(Source) Press

Tags: apprehensions, automotive industry, car availability, car dealers, car sales, car shoppers, Cars, current market, preference, spirits, wrong direction

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At least for one year, new Hyundai car owners can worry less about the fluctuating prices of fuel thanks to this partnership between Hyundai and Pricelock. Pricelock and Hyundai have joined together to implement a new program which will lock the price of fuel to $1.49 per gallon for a year on select new car models under the Hyundai brand.

This event promises to help spur car sales in the midst of a faltering market that is being affected by the governing fuel prices which have made motorists ponder about alternatives (such as hybrids and electric cars). But with a year of no worries in price fuel, the program may just work. Also, who knows what would happen after a year’s time on the fuel issues plaguing the world today?

For the Hyundai program, Pricelock will issue car buyers fuel cards, similar to credit cards, which drivers will use to purchase gasoline at any of the 165,000 participating gas stations, approximately 93% of all service stations in the U.S. Using the Pricelock card, the car buyer will be charged $1.49 per gallon for fuel, regardless of the price on the pump. Of course, if the pump price is below $1.49 per gallon, the cardholder will not use the fuel card, but instead will pay the lower pump price using cash or a credit or debit card and still be able to participate in the upside.

(Source) Press

Tags: car buyer, car buyers, car models, car owners, car sales, cardholder, debit card, electric cars, fuel card, fuel cards, fuel issues, fuel prices, gas stations, gasoline, hybrids, hyundai car, motorists, new hyundai, world today

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It has been a gloomy atmosphere anywhere in the auto industry and while many are practically giving up, here is something that should wake up the sleeping retailers to put to good use the various car incentive schemes and make it work in their favor.

We are all aware of the celebrated “Cash for Clunkers” and sales tax deductions and while most car dealers barely know what it is all about, they can really be made towards the favor of car dealers if they study it closely.

“Salespeople who quickly identify prospects with clunkers and get them into the store position themselves to win more than their fair share of the deals.”

And for that, Cars.com offers a free webinar to explain these options. Much of the topic that will be covered include:

• Implement the CARS program at their store.
• Reach prospects with “clunkers” and bring them into the dealership.
• Build an effective online marketing strategy to reach in-market shoppers.
• Leverage government incentives within their processes to close new-car deals.

With nothing much to lose, this is something that car dealers should really check out. Perhaps a better explanation on what the new alternatives are today can help shed some light towards their business performance.

(Source) Press

Tags: auto industry, business performance, car dealers, car deals, car sales, effective online marketing, fair share, free webinar, gloomy atmosphere, government incentives, incentive schemes, leverage, new car, online marketing strategy, performance source, prospects, sales tax, sales tax deductions, salespeople, shoppers

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Despite the recession and car sales issues, Toyota and Lexus have earned 10 Segment Awards in the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study. Lexus continues to lead with the LX 570, boasting of being one of the problem-free vehicles available in the market today.

“We’re quite pleased to lead 10 segments and Lexus’ top position overall,” said TMS President Jim Lentz. “The dependability of our vehicles has always been a major factor in the company’s success. The IQS 90-day feedback is just one measurement – along with warranty claims, long-term durability, resale value and buyer loyalty – that helps us gauge our overall quality.”

With these citations and feedbacks, it is apparent that Toyota and Lexus have continued in the injection of quality without compromise for its vehicles. And with these awards, Toyota can only look forward to improving its goal, making car production quality better and enhanced, something that motorists look for today.

(Source) Press

Tags: car production, car sales, citations, compromise, free vehicles, j d power, j d power and associates, Lexus, motorists, president jim, production quality, quality study, recession

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The issue on up to how much gas prices would increase is still wandering in the minds of many. But thanks to the efforts of Kelley Blue Book, a survey was conducted among the potential new car buyers, the group expected to increase as the summer comes in.

Based on their feedback, it seems that many are bracing for the worst as far as expected price per gallon of gas is concerned. We have been seeing an erratic market and it seems that this is nothing compared to what may happen in the following months. There are a lot of factors but generally, looking out for the worst is not surprising anymore.

Some are speculating a $5 to the gallon and others at $3. Whatever the case may be, it seems that the bottom-line is that they are ready for it even though many fear it. And if there is one factor that one area that will be affected by it, it has to be the fact that car sales will be severely affected.

Actually we are experiencing this now. Seeing these big car manufacturers close or groping for survival is a sign that the consumers are playing it safe. And while crazy discounts are being given, the fact is that people need to be financially wise nowadays. For that aspect alone, the demand and outlook for new cars is not yet established and may even become worse for the time being.

(Source) Press

Tags: big car, bottom line, car buyers, car manufacturers, car sales, consumers, erratic market, gallon of gas, gas increases, gas prices, kelley blue book, many fear, new car, new cars, price per gallon, survival

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It looks like the UK car scrappage theme is leading the way towards new hope for car sales. Yesterday, Mazda was the car manufacturer that was getting back on its feet and now Chevrolet unveils its own program, offering a great deal that should lure in potential buyers for their Chevrolet Epica saloon and Chevrolet Captiva.

Chevrolet is offering the Chevrolet Epica saloon under the scheme from only £10,495 on-the-road and the Chevrolet Captiva from only £13,495, subject to a customer’s vehicle qualifying for the discount. To qualify, it must have been registered before August 31st 1999, have a valid MoT certificate and been registered to the same person as the all-new car for at least 12 months prior to being traded in as scrap.

Now how is that for a great deal? If things look up, don’t be surprised if other car manufacturers devise a trade-in deal of their own soon. Soon we may see a car scrappage scheme pricing war on the horizon which should benefit consumers all the more!

(Source) Carpages

Tags: car manufacturer, car manufacturers, car sales, car scrappage scheme, Chevrolet, chevrolet captiva, chevrolet epica, Mazda

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The key point in introducing a product or service is handling inquiries well. This holds true for any business. As for the used car industry, it is surprising to find out that 72% of calls are mishandled, a glaring figure that can later on be backtracked as a reason as to why some dealerships are having a hard time selling their stuff.

Dealix released today the results of a multi-part research study of phone inquiries consumers made to dealerships about used cars. The study, which evaluated over 3,000 phone calls into dealerships from consumers who saw a vehicle of interest on a website that is part of the Dealix UsedCars.com Network, revealed that dealers miss opportunities nearly three-quarters of the time. This is despite statistical results that show that phone leads are among the highest-value inquiries for dealers, with high close rates and fast turn-around times.

The most notable areas where dealers failed in phone lead handling were:

• 72% of dealers did not ask for an appointment with the caller.
• 35% of dealers did not suggest alternatives if the caller’s first vehicle of interest was already sold.
• 24% of dealer voicemail systems were full or not functional, so the customer was unable leave a message.

In addition to reviewing phone calls, Dealix also conducted primary research, surveying the consumers who placed the calls. In this respect, the survey found good news. As compared to consumers who contacted a dealer via email, buyers reported being more satisfied with their shopping experience if they had used the phone. And those who talked to the dealer were successfully converted to buyers at that dealership with more frequency.

(Source) Press

Tags: appointment, car industry, car sales, consumers, dealix, frequency source, hard time, key point, phone inquiries, shopping experience, statistical results, three quarters, voicemail systems

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In any shopping or consumer buying situations, discounts will always spur customer interest. This includes car buying as well to which Skoda brand manager Vlad Rusu has been witness to a lot of car buying cases where people will always ask for a discount before actually buying a vehicle.

“Under the current circumstances, no car can be sold unless the client is offered a discount. Even when offered a good price from the beginning, they still ask for a discount,” says Vlad Rusu, summing up the situation on the local automotive market.

The representatives of Porsche Romania, the importer of the Skoda brand on the domestic market, believe the increase in sales in March was because of the discount campaigns, estimating the sales to revert to where they were in the first two months after they run out of stocks.

“In March we had more than 1,500 orders, almost double the number in the previous months, because of the discount campaigns conducted by dealers,” Vlad Rusu explained.

(Source) ZF.ro

Tags: automotive market, campaigns, car sales, Porsche, romania, shopping

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The falling trend in the car industry continues and to sustain their business, expect some tire manufacturers to lower their prices to stay afloat as well. It is practically a chain reaction. With most car companies suffering from low car sales, the demand for rubber tires is likewise expected to encounter rough sailing.

Tire makers, the biggest consumers of rubber, could report a 6.8 percent sales slump in 2009 as the global recession cuts auto demand, according to the government-funded International Rubber Study Group in Singapore. Supplies from Thailand, the top exporter, will increase after a seasonal drop, producers say. Prices of $1,530 a ton are 18 percent higher than alternatives made from oil, data compiled by Bloomberg News shows.

Demand will drop because people are buying fewer cars and delaying the purchase of replacement tires. U.S. auto sales plunged 37 percent in March, and the annual rate fell to the lowest in more than 25 years in February, according to Autodata Corp. Japan’s sales tumbled 32 percent in March to a level not seen in more than three decades. U.S. vehicle miles traveled fell by 7 billion, or 3.1 percent, in January from a year ago, the Federal Highway Administration said.

(Source) Ohio

Tags: auto sales, autodata corp, car companies, car industry, car sales, chain reaction, federal highway administration, global recession, international rubber study group, more than three decades, ohio rubber, replacement tires, rough sailing, rubber industry, rubber tires, tire manufacturers, u s auto

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China may be the only country right now that is showing positive sign of life as far as the car industry is concerned. Hence, with that in mind, the Shanghai Motor Show officially opened in China to which carmakers are expected to unveil 13 new models.

China has just overtaken the US as the world’s largest car market, with buyers spurred on by government incentives. US and European car sales are sharply down in the global recession.

Porsche kicked off the show on Sunday night by unveiling the Panamera, the German luxury carmaker’s first foray into the sedan segment. In another world premiere on Sunday, German automaker Daimler AG unveiled the remodelled Mercedes-Benz S65 AMG sedan. AMG sales nearly tripled in China last year.

The company says it expects government incentives to give sales of luxury cars a major boost this year. Beijing has introduced tax cuts on fuel-efficient cars and incentives for people in rural areas to buy newer models.

Organizers say the Auto Shanghai 2009 will feature 13 launches, mostly from local brands, but up from five at the show two years ago.

Most Chinese carmakers have so far focused on competing mainly on price with basic and often rudimentary vehicles, leaving foreign-branded cars to sweep up the mid- to high-end segments.

The show opens to the public for a week starting on 22 April.

(Source) BBC

Tags: car industry, car market, car sales, daimler ag, foray, fuel efficient cars, german automaker, global recession, local brands, luxury carmaker, luxury cars, mercedes benz s65 amg, Mercedes-Benz, panamera, rural areas, shanghai, world premiere

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These days, car owners are trying to wise up, foregoing the acquisition of a new car and turning to other means to keep their vehicles afloat, the Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act is back in the spotlight as car companies seek to reduce overhead and car sales continue a rapid decline.

With motorists keeping vehicles longer and dealership service bays closing at a swift pace, growing numbers of car owners are expected to turn to independent auto repair shops for service, according to Kathleen Schmatz, president and CEO of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

Because vehicles are becoming increasingly sophisticated with virtually every system either monitored or controlled by computers, servicing these vehicle systems to keep them in safe and efficient working condition requires ready access to complete and accurate repair information from the car companies.

The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act offers protections for vehicle owners by making it illegal for vehicle manufacturers to withhold information necessary to diagnose, service or repair motor vehicles.

“Without the Right to Repair Act, millions of motorists would be forced back to fewer dealers for service, making convenient and affordable local auto repair a thing of the past. In fact, many motorists may forgo important vehicle repairs because there is no dealership in the area,” continued Schmatz. “Clearly, using advances in technology to deny motorists and their trusted repair shops the ability to service vehicles is a misuse of computers and certainly not in the best interest of consumers. Passage of the Right to Repair Act will ensure that car owners can conveniently and affordably have their vehicle serviced at the repair shop of their choice.”

(Source) Press

Tags: accurate repair, advances in technology, auto repair shops, automotive aftermarket, best interest, car companies, car sales, independent auto repair, motor vehicle owner, motor vehicles, motorists, new car, service bays, vehicle manufacturers

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Two familiar names in the world of car audio entertainment are making the necessary provisions to keep operations feasible. Car audio and electronics suppliers Alpine Electronics and Clarion Co. plan to cut global expenses by a third due to a weak outlook for car sales.

In line with the report, Alpine released a statement on March 17 saying it will slash 2,500 jobs both in Japan and abroad, trimming its workforce to 11,500. The company also said employees including directors and management would take salary reductions, many of which will be 20 percent to 35 percent.

Overall, the company said it would trim its global corporate structure by 30 percent and it is working to “strengthen our organization to the point where we can be profitable even with 30 percent lower sales.”

(Source) Twice

Tags: alpine electronics, audio entertainment, car sales, clarion co, electronics suppliers, Japan

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It was something that many had predicted so the fact that the Toyota Hybrid has hit the 1 million car sales should not be totally surprising. Though the current economic indicators are a factor that many seem to count as hindrances towards allowing Toyota to achieve success, it seems to have had little impact on the hybrid sales as far as the U.S. is concerned.

US sales of Toyota’s hybrid cars have surpassed the one million mark, the Japanese carmaker said, highlighting the rising popularity of ecological vehicles.

It took seven years for Toyota, the world’s biggest carmaker, to sell 500,000 hybrids in the US, but has taken just two years to sell the next 500,000.

“One million hybrids in less than nine years indicates how quickly American consumers have accepted this important technology,” said Jim Lentz, Toyota’s top US executive.

(Source) Birmingham Post

Tags: car sales, carmaker, economic indicators, hybrid cars, hybrids, one million, Toyota, toyota hybrid

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The bad news is that Toyota Australia is scaling back in production but the good news is that they are not announcing any immediate job cuts. That is for now. The global car industry is in a deep downturn and figures released this week show February was the worst month for car sales in Australia since 2003. Sales were down 22 per cent from last year.

Toyota’s Max Yasuda has told ABC1’s Inside Business the company is hoping its new green cars will help generate a recovery in the market early next year.

“Our first priority, even in these difficult times, is to keep our workforce … to keep our jobs,” he said.

He says federal and state governments should commit to using the green car when it is released.

“This is the most serious challenge that we’ve faced … in the 50-year history of Toyota Australia,” Mr Yasuda said.

“I think we have to invent something that we have never done before in terms of production system as well as … in terms of how to sell a car.”

(Source) ABC News

Tags: bad news, car industry, car production, car sales, difficult times, green car, green cars, how to sell a car, state governments, toyota australia, workforce, yasuda

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As the downward trend on car sales continue, car companies like Toyota seems to be finding other locations to stock their unsold cars. And the latest word about it is that they are storing them on tankers since local regions are running out of places to hold them.

We already knew unsold cars were sitting in giant parking lots all over the world, but according to the port operators in Malmo, their 12,500 car capacity lots are full so the cars have to go elsewhere.

As a result, Toyota has been forced to contract the services of global car shipper Wallenius Wilhelmsen to park one of their 2,500 car capacity overseas ships in the port to act as a great big floating parking garage. If the cars cannot maintain these unsold cars on their dealer lots, you know things are getting serious.

(Source) Lloydslist

Tags: car capacity, car companies, car sales, car shipper, Cars, downward trend, global car, port operators, Toyota, wilhelmsen

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