CBT News Week In Review for Friday, June 7th, 2019:
While it’s important to monitor year-over-year trends in the retail auto industry, it is arguably more important to focus on where the industry is headed. Here to give us an overview of this year’s numbers so far and what we can expect for Q2 and beyond is Charlie Chesbrough, Senior Economist and Senior Director of Industry Insights at Cox Automotive. Charlie also discusses with CBT some trends we might be able to expect from the remainder of 2019 based on what we have seen so far, and what underlying trends might be looking to spell trouble for the future of the automotive industry. Find out more by watching the full interview above. Watch Now
Comfort and complacency are the dealership’s worst enemies, and customers are quick to move on to competitors who meet their changing needs. That’s why continuous improvement in all dealership departments is crucial in order to achieve long-term success. Here to discuss some effective ways managers can help their teams set and achieve their goals year after year, is Glenn Pasch, auto marketing expert, and CEO of PCG Digital. Watch Now
May, typically one of the best sales months of the year, posted a SAAR of 17.4M, well above the 16.9 million that was forecasted and up from 17.26 million in 2018. May’s performance usually tells us how the rest of the year will play out. However, with low-interest rates, high vehicle prices, and uncertainty in Washington, there are numerous factors to consider before making any long-term predictions. Here to discuss May’s winners, losers, and overall industry health, is Karl Brauer, executive publisher for AutoTrader and Kelley Blue Book (Cox Automotive). Watch Now
In today’s digital landscape, more and more customers turn to websites, forums, and reviews to find reliable and transparent data. However, with a one-price selling model, the dealer and the customer are working with the same exact information, which creates a trusting and loyal relationship. We recently spoke to Mark Rikess, CEO of The Rikess Group, and Mark Osborne, GM of Schomp BMW in Denver, to discuss the benefits of a one-price selling model, and how you can have optimal control over your dealership. Watch Now