Inside Automotive
What dealers think about the changing automotive landscape — Don Hall | VADA
Virginia dealers and executives in the car industry recently gathered to discuss electric vehicles and other hot topics at the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association’s (VADA) annual convention. On this episode of Inside Automotive, host Jim Fitzpatrick is joined by Don Hall, legendary defender of the franchise system and the president and CEO of VADA, to discuss the important takeaways from the event. Read More
Top Stories
Dealers continued to see a healthy new car supply in June, as inventories shrank slightly from May but remained much greater than the previous year’s total. By the month’s end, 1.95 million vehicles were waiting for buyers on dealership lots, slightly down from May but 75% higher than in June 2022. Cox Automotive reports that the average new car supply also declined slightly from the previous month to 53 days, although the measurement still represents a 39% improvement over the prior year. While ICE trends remained stable, electric vehicle inventory showed distinct characteristics from other segments. Read More
It’s arguable that a new regulatory pathway for self-driving vehicles to enter the roads will emerge soon. The deployment of autonomous vehicles without conventional controls like sterling wheels or brake pads will be authorized under a new national program, which was revealed by a top government safety authority earlier this week. Businesses can deploy many self-driving cars under the proposed ADS-Equiped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program, or AV STEP. Read More
Hyundai has unveiled the IONIQ 5 N, a performance-focused electric vehicle that the car manufacturer hopes will jump-start the new “N” lineup. The automaker showcased the new model at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on July 13, revealing new details about the car’s design. Compared to the standard IONIQ 5, the electric vehicle features a more powerful drivetrain, using two motors with a combined 600 horsepower output. Read More
Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, made a commitment to union members that he would conduct contract negotiations with the Detroit automakers differently this year. Fain has brought the UAW into the public eye with clever political tactics, compelling social media messaging, and the conviction that the afflicted union can ride a national wave of support for organized labor to win a “war” against “corporate greed” and multibillion-dollar companies like General Motors, Ford Motor, and Stellantis. Read More
For Dealers
Why Tesla’s grip on EV fast charging could be a major headache for dealers
Welcome to another edition of The Future of Automotive, with Steve Greenfield, Founder, and CEO of Automotive Ventures, where I put recent automotive and mobility news items into context, in terms of the broader thematic areas that will potentially impact the industry. I’m glad that you could join us. If you’ve been following the news cycle, many automakers, including Ford, GM, Volvo and now Mercedes, are conforming to the Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard or NACS. Read More
How to unlock the power of purpose and drive your dealership forward
The bar to becoming a successful automotive group is extremely high. Worth $2.86 trillion in 2021, the automotive industry is indubitably one of the most successful industries today. It is filled with hundreds of companies looking to dominate the industry by leveraging digitization, access to new technologies, and more sustainable policies to satiate the ever-changing customer preferences and trends. Read More