Automotive News, Press Releases, and Events

Ian Wittig solicited expert opinions from DealerRefresh members for a blog post on three questions about the future of online car sales: whether manufacturers, dealers, or tech companies will dominate online sales in 10 years, the main barriers to online car buying, and which technology/websites consumers use first when shopping for vehicles. The post sought approximately 10 expert responses with flexible crediting options for publication on Vin Advisor.

Forum members debate whether a reported data breach at DealerBuilt DMS is legitimate, with initial skepticism giving way to evidence that the breach likely occurred based on technical details and customer confirmation. Key concerns include DealerBuilt's complete lack of public communication about the incident and the automotive press's failure to cover the story despite heightened industry focus on data security. The thread underscores the importance of dealers thoroughly vetting their software vendors' security practices and understanding potential liability exposure.

Fiat Chrysler's partnership with Amazon to sell vehicles online at discounted prices sparks discussion about whether this model could expand to the U.S. market. A respondent notes that online vehicle sales are already happening in the U.S. through independents and that Amazon has experimented with automotive sales internationally, highlighting the industry challenge of balancing e-commerce with traditional dealership experiences. The thread identifies that managing this balance and developing partnerships to streamline in-store processes represents the real hurdle for becoming a national player in online automotive sales.

Scott Painter's new company Fair has raised $16M to launch a fractional ownership/subscription-based mobility model for cars, prompting debate among dealers about whether it represents genuine industry innovation or just another confusing layer for consumers. While some are skeptical that adding complexity helps an industry already burdened by lease stigma, others argue the subscription economy has conditioned consumers for this model and that major automakers are already developing similar offerings. The consensus leans toward cautious optimism—recognizing Fair as a trend worth monitoring, particularly for its potential to serve underserved markets like ride-share drivers, though key details about how dealers will actually partner with Fair remain unclear.

Jennifer Suzuki argues that standard car sales phone greetings immediately surrender control of the conversation to callers seeking only price and availability information. She advocates for rethinking the opening question strategy—using different wording and timing to regain control and increase the likelihood of booking appointments. The core insight is that intentional language choices in initial greetings can significantly improve call outcomes for salespeople.

A dealer discusses how to optimize dealership websites to meet modern online shoppers' expectations for convenience and simplicity, positioning the digital transition as an opportunity rather than a challenge. The post outlines five strategies for improving the website shopping experience, including smart targeting and customer engagement, to drive leads and ultimately convert digital browsers into showroom visitors.

Steve Stauning warns that autonomous vehicles will severely disrupt new car dealers sooner than his original 2025 estimate, citing rapid developments like Uber's self-driving pilot fleet and accelerating industry momentum. He outlines steps dealers can take now to prepare for a future where personal vehicle ownership—and thus new car sales—could decline dramatically. The thread invites dealers to confront an uncomfortable but increasingly near-term reality and begin strategic planning before disruption hits.

Automotive professionals debate John Oliver's Last Week Tonight segment criticizing subprime auto lending practices, with critics arguing the piece identified problems without offering solutions and relied on outdated examples, while others acknowledge valid concerns about predatory BHPH practices and Wall Street's role in the market. The thread reveals industry skepticism toward the segment's accuracy and narrative framing, though some participants concede the subprime lending segment does warrant ethical scrutiny.

Vicimus, an automotive technology solutions company, acquired Powered by Dashboard, a Toronto-based innovation agency specializing in SaaS marketing tools for dealers (including platforms like Glovebox, Bumper, and RevUps). The acquisition was announced in August 2016 as part of Vicimus's strategy to expand its automotive technology offerings across its offices in Dubai and London, Ontario.

Dealers are being warned that some conquest email service providers are sending emails to invalid or out-of-state addresses, wasting dealership marketing budgets while artificially inflating campaign analytics. Industry professionals share cautionary tales and skepticism about the practice, with one vendor (Autosweet) responding defensively and committing to audit their own clients' results, while critics argue that buying or renting email lists is fundamentally flawed and that dealerships should focus instead on building their own customer data. The thread suggests that Brian Pasch's investigation into these practices has struck a nerve, with some vendors reportedly issuing cease-and-desist orders against him.

Cars.com announced its acquisition of DealerRater, prompting discussion about the strategic implications for the review platform's future and the competitive landscape with AutoTrader. The thread confirms Chip Grueter (DealerRater's founder) as the creator being acquired and celebrates the deal as validation of the importance of customer reviews in automotive retail. Key insight: industry professionals view the acquisition as both a personal win for Grueter and evidence that reputation management at the salesperson/service advisor level has become a valuable asset worth major investment.

The thread challenges the traditional dealership rule that phone calls should be kept under 3 minutes, arguing instead that call length should be determined by customer engagement and relationship-building rather than arbitrary time limits. Participants agree that success should be measured by advancing the customer relationship—whether through securing an appointment, scheduling another conversation, or creating a positive experience—rather than by call duration alone. The key insight is that in modern dealership sales, prioritizing customer satisfaction and continued dialogue matters more than rushing customers off the phone.

Mercedes-Benz expanded its approved website vendor options from a single mandated provider to four alternatives, giving dealers more flexibility in choosing their digital platform. The announcement was well-received by the community, with at least one dealer commending the new vendor list. This move represents a shift toward greater dealer autonomy in website selection.

Ryan Gerardi recaps DealerRefresh's presence at NADA 2016 in Las Vegas, highlighting a busy schedule of interviews, networking, and expo hall coverage across multiple days. He notes that many attendees called it their most successful NADA in years, and shares a highlight video featuring cameos, interviews, and a clip from the Cars.com party.

Jeff Kershner highlights the DrivingSales Presidents Club 2016 event as one of his favorite industry gatherings, praising its intimate format, high-caliber presenters, and focused content delivery. The thread emphasizes how the event's structure allows attendees to fully absorb best practices and current statistics without the chaos typical of larger conferences.

eBay has acquired Cargigi, an auto industry advertising and marketing services provider with significant presence in Canada, to integrate its technology for streamlining dealer inventory onboarding onto eBay.com. A commenter notes he had overlooked Cargigi as an inventory syndication option despite searching for vendors in that space. The thread is brief with no broader discussion or consensus emerging beyond acknowledgment of the acquisition announcement.

Dealers discuss whether tech giants entering the automotive market and the rise of autonomous vehicles pose an existential threat to franchised dealerships, with particular focus on whether car ownership models will shift to rental/service-based systems. Participants debate the timeline and feasibility of self-driving cars, with skeptics citing technical and cost barriers while optimists invoke historical examples of rapid technology adoption, ultimately concluding that the real question isn't whether autonomous vehicles will arrive but when and how much of their potential will be realized given regulatory and economic constraints.

Ryan Gerardi reports on key trends spotted at the Chicago Auto Show, highlighting the widespread adoption of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across 2016 and 2017 models, with predictions that these systems will become standard across the industry. He also notes the rapid introduction of autonomous driving features that are improving both driver convenience and overall road safety. The post includes multimedia content (Snapchat story and videos) documenting these observations.

This thread debates whether dealerships should retain their "sacred cow" top salespeople (typically selling 25-30+ cars monthly) who resist modern processes like CRM systems, iPads, and lead management protocols. While some argue these performers deserve flexibility given their results, the emerging consensus is that dealers should manage expectations and enforce consistent processes, particularly when these high performers rely on dealership resources (BDC leads, systems, etc.) rather than purely self-generating their own business—otherwise their exemption from rules demoralizes staff and undermines organizational change.

Napleton Automotive Group sued Fiat Chrysler for violating federal racketeering laws by allegedly pressuring dealers to falsify sales numbers through excessive incentives, though FCA denies the claims and industry participants note that aggressive end-of-year sales incentives are standard practice across manufacturers. The thread's key insight is that proving whether FCA crossed the line from legitimate incentivizing into illegal coercion will be difficult without concrete evidence, with participants skeptical the lawsuit will succeed.

Automotive professionals debate the implications of major tech-transportation partnerships (GM-Lyft, Google-Ford) and autonomous vehicles for the dealer industry. While GM's Lyft investment may provide short-term revenue through vehicle rentals and service opportunities, contributors emphasize that fully autonomous vehicles will fundamentally disrupt car ownership, service demand, and dealer profitability within 5-10 years as electric drivetrains require significantly less maintenance. The consensus is grim for traditional dealers: the long-term structural shift toward ride-sharing and driverless cars will eventually make car ownership obsolete, leaving dealers to find alternative business models.