Automotive News, Press Releases, and Events

Black Book has partnered with Cars.com to provide official trade-in valuations to the platform's 30+ million monthly visitors, giving consumers access to the same valuation tool used by dealers nationwide. A Texas dealer notes that this partnership could reduce valuation disputes since Black Book is more balanced than competitor KBB, which historically overvalued imports but undervalued domestics and trucks. The key insight is that standardizing valuation sources may help align dealer and consumer expectations during trade-in negotiations.

Dealers discuss Moz Local, a new local SEO tool for managing business directory listings, comparing it favorably to competitors like Yext on price while acknowledging it's not a complete solution. The conversation emphasizes that effective local SEO relies on NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across citations and that Moz Local is one of several tools available, alongside alternatives like Bright Local, WhiteSpark, and SweetIQ. The key takeaway is that while Moz Local offers good value, success requires understanding that citations are just one component of local search rankings and that listing consistency matters significantly.

Josh Knutson is promoting the AppConext Auto Conference taking place in Detroit on May 13-14, 2014, and asking other forum members if they plan to attend. He highlights that his company president, Ben Anderson, will be presenting on how mobile-focused consumers are impacting sales and service opportunities in automotive retail dealerships.

The thread shares data highlighting that consumers spend nearly 19 hours per week on mobile devices, with apps accounting for 86% of that time. A key automotive-specific stat shows a 73% growth in mobile automotive shopping in 2013, underscoring the urgency for dealers to prioritize app-based and mobile strategies. The post serves as a data-driven call to action for dealer professionals to reconsider how they reach car shoppers.

A guest post uses a personal story about a pharmacy mishap to illustrate the business cost of poor listening, drawing parallels to the automotive retail experience. The central insight is that truly listening to customers — not just hearing them — is a foundational skill that drives loyalty and trust, and one that many businesses, including dealerships, have let erode.

Jeff Kershner announces plans for a DealerRefresh/Dealer ThinkTank one-day conference in the Maryland, DC, Virginia area in April 2014, seeking community input on logistics and venue. Respondents debate location (with preferences for Reagan/Dulles airports and venues between Baltimore and DC), support an unconventional bowling alley setting over traditional conference rooms, and request the event be expanded to two days to justify travel time. The thread reflects early-stage event planning with generally positive reception but unresolved details about duration and exact location.

A car dealership sued a customer who posted a YouTube video documenting his dissatisfaction with their repair work, raising questions about how dealers should handle vocal, tech-savvy unhappy customers. The thread invites automotive professionals to weigh in on whether legal action is the right response and what they would do in a similar situation. The case highlights the growing challenge dealerships face when customers use social media and video platforms to air grievances publicly.

Dealer Joe Pistell highlights "showrooming"—customers using smartphones to research competitors' prices and inventory while on the lot—as an unavoidable industry challenge that dealerships are poorly equipped to handle due to outdated sales processes that leave customers unattended. He argues that ignoring smartphone usage at point-of-sale, leaving shoppers alone, and neglecting mobile-optimized websites are critical failures, while suggesting dealers should instead embrace this reality and leverage technology like location-based incentives to compete. The thread reveals broad agreement that this trend mirrors challenges across all retail sectors and requires dealerships to fundamentally rethink their approach rather than resist it.

Eric Miltsch recaps his experience at the 2014 Mobile World Congress, opening with a powerful anecdote about two physically handicapped individuals using accessible mobile technology to communicate with each other for what appeared to be the first time. The story serves as a reminder of mobile technology's profound human impact beyond automotive applications, setting an emotional tone for broader congress takeaways.

Jeff Kershner highlights the rapid shift toward mobile browsing, noting that 58% of Americans owned smartphones in 2013 and nearly half of Cars.com's 30 million February visits came from tablets or smartphones. The core message is that dealerships must adapt their online presence to meet cross-platform shoppers where they are. The thread serves as a wake-up call for dealers still relying on desktop-only web experiences.

Kevin Frye posts a satirical, tongue-in-cheek 'press release' announcing a fictional CRM called iHookup, cleverly reframing online dating concepts — lead management, inventory, and presentation tools — as automotive CRM features. The joke plays on the flood of vendor press releases in the space by applying dealership CRM language to personal matchmaking, poking fun at both industries simultaneously. It reads as a lighthearted jab at CRM marketing hype rather than a serious product announcement.

Jeff Kershner highlights findings from Pied Piper's annual mystery-shop study on dealer responsiveness to online leads, noting that luxury brands like Lexus, Porsche, and Land Rover outperformed mass-market brands like Chevrolet, Scion, and Mini. A striking 7% of 14,500 submitted leads went completely unanswered, while the data showed that personalized responses drive market share gains over automated CRM replies. The thread invites discussion on why Lexus ranked first and what separates top-performing brands from laggards.

A marketing consultant outlines four practical, low-cost methods for dealerships to grow their email lists organically, positioning newsletter opt-ins as a stronger long-term alternative to expensive email append services. The core insight is that simply asking customers directly — through intentional touchpoints — is often the most effective and affordable approach. The post is aimed at dealers looking to build lasting customer relationships through email marketing.

Stephen Jackson from ActiveEngage promotes a free eBook titled "Epidemic! The 8 Diseases Plaguing Dealer Websites" that identifies eight conversion-killing mentalities affecting dealer websites and offers solutions for each. The post frames common dealer challenges—declining vehicle sales and ineffective digital marketing—as symptoms of systemic website problems that need diagnosis and treatment. Jackson seeks community feedback on whether the eBook's tips prove helpful for dealers facing these digital performance issues.

New Jersey implemented a ban on direct-to-consumer auto sales, effectively prohibiting Tesla from operating dealerships in the state. A forum member notes this regulatory decision will likely become a significant industry issue in 2014-15, with the outcome establishing important precedent for how other states may handle direct sales models versus traditional franchise dealership structures.

The thread covers the rapid convergence of automotive and tech giants, highlighting Apple CarPlay's launch with major OEM partners, Google's Open Automotive Alliance with GM and Audi, and Ford's Microsoft SYNC system reaching 8 million vehicles. The central insight is that connected car technology has moved from concept to mainstream reality, with multiple competing ecosystems now vying for dashboard dominance. Dealers and industry professionals would find value in understanding how these partnerships signal a fundamental shift in how consumers will interact with vehicles.

Jeff Kershner sparks a discussion around Dennis Galbraith's article on what constitutes the ultimate Vehicle Detail Page (VDP) for dealership websites, covering essential elements like photos, video, pricing, history reports, and condition reports. The thread invites industry professionals to weigh in on which VDP features drive the most engagement and conversions. The core insight is that while many components matter, the debate centers on prioritizing and optimizing the right mix of content to turn VDP visits into actual leads.

JessicaRuth promotes a website called #lovethecarbusiness that invites automotive professionals to share their career stories, with potential prizes available. The post highlights an example video from a salesperson and encourages forum members to submit their own stories. The underlying message is an appeal to those passionate about the automotive industry to document and celebrate their career satisfaction.

Dealers are discussing whether to implement an "Exception Rate Justification Form" recommended by lenders and insurance companies in response to CFPB scrutiny over discrimination in auto lending. The form would document the business rationale whenever a dealer offers a customer a rate that differs from their standard pricing. While acknowledging the form may seem excessive, dealers indicate they're implementing it anyway as a defensive measure, though some hesitate about potential impacts on profit margins.

PGI (a vendor partner) announced their 6th annual free training seminar scheduled for February 20th in Bellevue, WA, featuring presentations on social media marketing and PPC analytics. An attendee inquired about online participation options, but the organizer indicated no virtual attendance was currently available, though they expressed openness to exploring simulcast options in the future.

Fiat-Chrysler's decision to establish its holding company in the Netherlands and set its tax domicile in the UK rather than Italy prompted criticism from dealers, with at least one commenter viewing it as a betrayal given Fiat's Italian heritage. The move came after Fiat completed its full acquisition of Chrysler in January 2014, creating the world's seventh-largest automaker with primary NYSE listing. The thread captures dealer sentiment about what was perceived as a corporate maneuver that shifted the company away from its home country for tax efficiency purposes.

ALG released its 2014 Residual Value Awards, with Honda and Mercedes-Benz winning brand honors, and the post lists all winning models across manufacturers. A dealer replies that while Audi's A5 earned residual value recognition, this strength doesn't translate to favorable lease programs, suggesting a disconnect between residual values and lender lease calculations.